Dear Editor,
‘Something is rotten in the country of Guyana.’ Like Denmark, in Shakespeare’s play Hamlet, our beloved country is festering in a state of moral and political corruption, but the people of Guyana must look further into the reply offered by Horatio when he said, “Heaven will direct it.” Horatio meant that heaven would guide the state of Denmark back to health and stability. Indeed heaven has already assigned the people of Guyana the power to direct our beloved country out of the morass of corruption and moral decay in which we find ourselves; a morass which has resulted in structural poverty, massive crime, a stagnating economy, a compromised judicial system, failing health and education systems and a government bent on securing the right to lead in perpetuity by dividing and setting the people of Guyana against each other.
Editor, leadership and power come with great responsibility, and political leadership requires a commitment to serve; a love for country; a commitment to work for the development of the nation; a commitment to all the people, not just those to whom you owe your office; a commitment to develop and attract investments and to make the people’s lives more comfortable. Editor, political leadership also requires a commitment to protect the nation’s people and environmental resources and to offer opportunities for development in a responsible manner which does not leave our rivers and lands barren and polluted and our people sick and exploited.
Editor, who among us will say they feel secure in Guyana today? Which of us believes that politicians understand their role of service?
Who will stand up and argue that our beautiful country is being developed in an environmentally friendly manner? Who will argue that they are comfortable with our healthcare system and with the quality of education offered to our young citizens? Who will agree that the people’s money in the treasury is being responsibly invested to secure a bright future for the nation’s children? Editor, these are the very basic expectations that a people should have of their government.
The American political lecturer G Edward Griffin once said, “To oppose corruption in government is the highest obligation of patriotism.” Today in Guyana as the proof of corruption in high and low places continues to be revealed, the people of Guyana have not yet found their collective voice to say, ‘no more.’ Editor, those who love Guyana must stand up together and insist on change. In the book of James 2:17, we are advised that “faith without works is dead.” This means Editor, that simply believing that change will come one day is not enough. Good citizens must demand change by their votes, by their voices and by their actions.
The people of Guyana must recognize that government mismanagement, ineptitude and corruption have a very real and immediate impact on the quality of their lives.
The lack of a well-funded and professional police force is a manifestation of these problems. Poor roads, no water to the home, expensive and unreliable electricity, high taxes, poor schools and medical facilities are also manifestations of government ineptitude and corruption.
The national scourge of domestic violence leading to the daily murder of women is a manifestation of ineptitude and corruption. Underfunded local governments, the nationwide introduction of IMCs, the gunning down of young males by police ranks, improper garbage disposal and lack of training and jobs for youth are also manifestations of government ineptitude and corruption which causes immense hardship and suffering in the lives of citizens.
Editor, a direct connection to government ineptitude and corruption can be made in relation to almost all of the ills which force so many of our citizens to live in fear and poverty in Guyana and yet only a few brave souls have come forward to demand change.
Editor, all the people of Guyana must do what little they can to insist on an end to corruption, patronage and widespread discrimination. The citizens of Guyana must support existing movements for change like Occupy GT; the people must support the citizens of Kwakwani who stood up and took control of their own destiny. The people must support the citizens of Linden who stood together with others and are now rebuilding their town.
The people must stand up in every village, in every town and in every region where they are abused and their voices are ignored by an uncaring government. The people must stand together for better schools, for flood protection, for job opportunities, for a better funded university system, for better roads, and for timely access to quality land for building homes and farms.
The people must stand together and insist on a more professional police force, they must insist on equality and respect for women, and for an end to domestic violence. The people must stand together for access to opportunity without regard to race or class, and for the full participation of all citizens of Guyana in the vision of ‘a good life for all Guyanese.’ If the people do not stand together as they stand up, Editor, they will doom their children to lives of poverty, inequality, and suffering. The people have no choice; the people must stand together and insist on change.
Yours faithfully,
Karen Abrams
