No one should be afraid to openly support the political party of their choice. In exercising that constitutional right, no one should fear persecution. For many Guyanese, however, political affiliation is weaved into every aspect of their lives, and typically from when they are still very young. In many families, the young are conditioned to support a particular political party. They are also taught to believe certain stereotypes about particular groups of people, and this can affect who they think is fit for leadership. This can hinder independent thought
In some families, if a member decides to stray from the traditional voting pattern of the family, it could provoke resentment and even estrangement from the family. Some communities are also known to largely support particular political parties. These voting traditions are so ingrained in some communities that others might not be welcomed. We have seen instances where politicians were driven out of certain areas by protests and even the threat of violence.
In some such communities however, it was not only because of party affiliation. Communities that may have been stigmatised and neglected, only to be remembered during campaigns, have also retaliated in some such ways. No doubt this culture has contributed to the breakdown in society. No doubt it has also affected the development of the country because some will never hold their leaders accountable when it is party above all else. Regardless of whether their party leaders are corrupted or of questionable character, some prefer to remain faithful until death.
Since the campaigning for the March 2nd election began, I have heard and read many nonsensical statements. I have seen men and women defend politicians to the point of ignoring or excusing their flaws, which has led to me questioning their sanity. They allow this to affect their relationships. Honesty seems to be a foreign concept as evidenced by the actions of some of these people. They seem happy to continue bickering while ignoring the fact that better relations among us will work to the benefit of the country and is best.
There are no perfect men or women and therefore there are no perfect politicians. But leaders should be self-assured. It is strong leaders who are not afraid to make the tough decisions and who will work on behalf of the best interest of all the people that will advance us. Many leaders of the world may appear arrogant and even cruel in some instances, but it is the strong that survive. It is those who have the most power that will make the most decisions. But when we look beyond their faults and delude ourselves into thinking that these are perfect men and women above reproach, it is the collective that will continue to suffer.
The culture in Guyana needs to change. We have seen some progress and the emergence of more independent thinkers. The rise of several new parties within the last year is an indication of this. However, I believe many of the new political parties may be at a disadvantage because they have no track record and many of the representatives are strangers to the populace. What new strategies are they using to convince the people? Good intentions and promises are not enough to win elections. I believe that any political party that is serious about Guyana’s progress would not make an appearance just a few months before elections but would instead take a few years to establish its presence in the communities. I believe that all political parties should be working continuously and not just at election time to gain the trust and support of the people.
The fact is that most Guyanese have already made up their minds about who they will support in the next general elections. The fact is also that most of the votes will go to the established political parties. And the fact is most of the people were groomed to support a particular party because of family, community or ethnic appeals. Is this a positive for the country? No. Has it resulted in a better Guyana? No. Has it produced leaders who believe that their actions will not affect the loyalty of the people? Yes. Is this slowly changing with the new generation? Perhaps.
The onus is on us to create a new reality for the new generation. People want to know that the politicians they trust are capable of managing and representing the needs of all the people. For a political party to rise just a few months before elections that could lead to a presence in parliament is challenging in Guyana.
Often such parties have support on spaces like social media but when the people go to the polls, the results tell a different story.
We all should take some time for introspection about why we have decided to support a particular party. It is our right to support whoever we believe is best suited to run this country, but can most of us be honest about why we would support one over the other?
After March 2nd we all still have to live together. Aren’t we tired of the hostility that occurs every five years because we have been conditioned to think a certain way? Is it fair to continue the traditions that will hurt our children as it has hurt us? When will some of us realize that our issues transcend party politics?
