Elections day is less than a month away and for many it brings a sense of foreboding. There has been a lot of talk about the importance of this election to our future. Whichever administration wins will direct the path of our nation’s oily green economy and citizen wellbeing for years to come. There is justifiable fear from many ends concerning those we have vying to rule this land.
Young people particularly are uneasy about the uncertain direction our future will take. Our supposed apathy is frequently touted by political bards who see us as being otherwise engaged. An examination of Guyanese political leaders would leave little wonder as to why so many feel apathetic towards voting. From the mighty geriatrics, criminal elements and the boringly opaque, our options for good leadership seem yet another deferred dream.
This does of course have to do with the way in which we expect and demand very little from those who seek out our votes every election season. Blind support of parties sees many accepting whatever is thrown at them in the interest of ensuring party and ethnic paramountcy. This is unfortunate as racial voting leaves very little room for a pragmatic questioning of politicians’ agendas and their plans for the management of our country.
The youth vote has always been one of the most powerful demographics. Hence there is always an aggressive rallying of them by politicians aiming to tap into these votes. When young voters fail to materialize at the polls however, it is often blamed on their disinterest in the direction of their country. This remains one of the favourite stances of many who have aged out of what is actually happening on the ground amongst us youths. Certainly, there are the apathetic amongst us (with right) given how very little has been done for youths over the years. While they do not vote in a bloc and like their elders have allegiances, they are more receptive to the ideas of change and hope of a country free from racial division and inequality. Youths (persons under thirty) are one of the most politically engaged groups I know. While some shy away from entering electoral politics, they are actively involved in the politics of progressive transformation in their homes and communities. Their shying away from electoral politics largely has to do with inept leaders and unsound plans rather than any symptom befalling youth.
Youths are also sharply aware of the way in which they are pandered to and then forgotten once the bastion of power has been obtained. This of course makes them disillusioned about their role and power in having a say on who leads them. The common and inarguable belief is that regardless of who they rally behind and why, their issues and concerns will remain unaddressed and unsolved, only to be rehashed at a future election. When our votes seem fruitless, embracing voter apathy can be very tempting, but politics impacts our lives regardless of whether we vote or not. It’s only right that we have a say in who should represent us. We should not however follow the same voting patterns of our predecessors but rather demand clear plans, progressive ideals and accountability when it comes to political leaders.
As a young voter, this will be my second time voting. This time around I will be doing so with much less idealism given the way in which youth issues were placed on the back burner. Following a hype-driven campaign that waxed lyrical on youth jobs and a strengthened economy, the government once in office would state that it is not their role to provide jobs. Government it was said merely provides the environment for private sector creation of jobs and agro based self-employment was touted as being a main strategy for said job creation. This for me was a sign of the government’s disconnect from poor people. The promised environment for entrepreneurial growth remains lacklustre. Becoming and sustaining oneself as entrepreneur is a herculean task in any economy, particularly one like Guyana where policies and support grants are largely absent. The agro industry remains wholly undeveloped and those already involved in this sector are unable to find sustainable markets for their goods.
Guyana’s private sector is extremely small, creatively limited and much too centralized. Given this, Guyanese have a reasonable expectation that government should provide jobs for them. The belief that it is not their role is a dangerous one that has no place in our little Guyana. This theory of a state that places job creation in the hands of private businesses is one borrowed from first world countries committed to the perils of capitalism. It is a long-failed ideology of trickledown economics that has ravaged every country under which it has been practised. Corporations and businesses do not create jobs and anyone who tells you otherwise is trying to sell you something. Private sector businesses are started with the aim of earning a profit from provision of goods, services or perceived needs. Their first agenda is not job creation; that is merely a byproduct of their mission.
This idea of a pro-business state has seen our continued fawning dependency on international businesses and corporations for job creation. As we have seen time and time again with many companies brought in on that basis, this is an extremely flawed plan. Foreign businesses involved in our economy, from the extractive industry to the telecommunications sector have very little respect for Guyanese laws and the rights and protections of workers. Government as we know might feel they have very little control over them due to fears of capital flight. In placing the interests of these businesses above Guyanese workers however, it is becoming more and more apparent that Guyana is developing as a pro-business state that is fundamentally anti-people and anti-poor.
My fear is that whichever administration wins, there will be a centring of foreign interests and corporations ahead of the rights, protection and development of our people and that of our future.
