Dear Editor,
I believe that this Election on 11 May, 2015 there will be a clear winner and a clear loser. If this happens, it would confirm some preliminary observations about Guyana moving more towards a small-power-distance country and away from a large-power-distance country.
Small-power-distance meaning that power is becoming more decentralized or the desire for power to be more decentralized is dominant and large-power-distance meaning power is more centralized. Sometime ago I stated the findings of an initial research that the country is becoming more small-power-distance. However, the scenario that is developing is one where the followership or citizens are moving towards small-power-distance or desire more decentralized power while the leadership, is still quite large-power-distance, power is still centralized.
Having noted that, I now wish to address something magnificent that is happening in Guyana at this time. In behavioural change, the term trigger is often used. This is that ignition moment when a person, community or people come to the realization that a situation is the way it is because of a behavioural pattern on their part and decide to take some kind of action to change that behaviour to get a different outcome. Albert Einstein said that, ‘we can’t solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them’.
The No-Confidence motion was definitely a trigger. It triggered a change in behaviour at the individual, institutional and societal levels in Guyana. It is primarily because of the No-Confidence motion that we are having early elections.
Now on the campaign; if one listens carefully, there are two sounds coming out from the campaign. One is vicious but that is expected; there is a lot to lose and much to gain. However, I would not address the vicious sound of the campaign but on the other hand there is a beautiful sound that is coming out of the bowels of the people and from this country.
Editor, as I read your newspapers – the stories, letters, the commenters and bloggers; listen to the news and political advertisements; attend political rallies and talk to fellow citizens, there is a hair-raising sound that is bellowing through this land. A sound I have never heard before. A strange sound, a different sound, a desperate sound, a painful sound but yet a happy sound. A sound of a people who passionately desire to live in a country that is different and united. A sound of a people who believe that if it does not happen now then when will it happen. A sound of people doing everything that is humanly possible for this country that they so love and desire to see change. I have never seen Guyanese this focused and resolute.
In short, this election has ignited a collective energy in Guyana that we have not seen in a long time, perhaps in sixty years and may not experience again for another 60 or 100 years. This collective energy is great for Guyana. In the short term, the supporters for the APNU+AFC and PPP/C are working for their parties to win the election but for the longer term, that collective energy is what is needed to propel Guyana forward.
Hence, the next President has to become like an excellent choreographer and music instructor. To choreograph all of the great formations and movements and the different but yet lovely sounds that is bellowing from the different corners of Guyana and harness these movements from the APNU+AFC and PPP/C camps; and synchronize the different sounds and transform them into one beautiful movement and symphony that will catapult Guyana to the next level.
The next Administration has an opportunity of a lifetime. My question therefore is will the next President be mature enough, smart enough, wise enough, compassionate enough, skillful enough, humble enough, insightful enough or caring enough, to not let this precious moment in Guyana’s history be wasted? Would we have melody and harmony come 12 May, or would there just be noise?
Beyond the obvious, there is something really magnificent that is happening; I sincerely hope that we can capitalize on it!
Yours faithfully,
Audreyanna Thomas