Has Guyana reverted to the status of a colony? Within the last few months, it is not the first or second time I have asked this question. I am a proud Guyanese. There is no place in the world I would rather live than here. I take pride in the fact that we are a sovereign nation.
Foreigners are welcomed to share their views on a political crisis in any country. I respect their voices once they are fair and respectful of the laws that govern that land. However, what we have witnessed during our election crisis raises the question of impartiality. I understand that those that have spoken may be concerned. Never mind most of them were silent when we were deep in crisis and drowning in corruption. Guyana was put on an EU money laundering blacklist, we were a narco-state and people were dying every day. Nevertheless, this piece is not about recounting history.
Like most Guyanese, I am disappointed that we have not yet concluded our election process. It has been more than three months. It matters not which political party you support or what you believe the results should be, we all have been affected. The political crisis and COVID-19 make for a recipe that has furthered the divide that exists here. The masks of objectivity have been completely removed by many individuals, some in the business community and even some in the media. The same can be said of some of the smaller political parties that contested the elections. When we expected that they would have been that voices of reason that would hold the two main political opponents accountable, they have chosen to align themselves and fallen into the same political culture we have become accustomed to. And certainly, the impartiality of some of the foreigners can also be questioned.
What seemed peculiar to me this week were the comments from the Prime Minister of Barbados and the CARICOM chair, Mia Mottley. I do respect that this brilliant woman has a right to share her thoughts on our political crisis. After all, CARICOM sent observers here. However, judging from her comments, she ignored the ruling of the Appeal Court on Monday on valid votes. The opposition party has since appealed to the Caribbean Court of Justice, and the hearing will take place on July 1st. I am quite sure Ms. Mottley was aware of this when she made her comments.
This crisis has passed the point of simply wanting a political party to win the elections. The layers of corruption that have been revealed during this election crisis should concern all Guyanese. I will not hold my breath for us to exhibit maturity enough to put aside our differences and work together to chart the best course that will benefit all Guyanese. That being said, I detest the fact that some of our people are comfortable with being passive while allowing outside influences to admonish and direct us on how we should conduct our affairs. Are we not intelligent human beings who can think for ourselves? I have no respect for anyone who is willing to be colonised again. Is this what Guyana’s future will look like? That we will sit quietly and accept statements as gospel from outsiders that are in conflict with the laws of our land? Do we really believe that some of these folks have our best interests at heart? What is different now to when most of those voices were silent? What has changed in Guyana within the last five years that they are now attempting to direct this tragedy that is currently Guyana on a world stage? Have we had the worst government in the history of our country within the last five years? Has there been no development in this country for the last five years? Are we still a narco-state? Are we still on the EU blacklist? Is there a civil war? Are our voices muzzled?
I will not pretend that any government that has governed this country has been faultless. I will not turn a blind eye to corruption whether it comes from government or opposition. There are politicians who have not listened to the people. There are politicians who have enriched themselves off the resources of our country. There are politicians who are only after power and do not care about what happens to this nation. I also know there are politicians who carry the burdens of this nation on their shoulders and strive to do what is best for our country for the benefit all Guyanese.
Nevertheless, the duty is for us, the people, to hold all of them accountable. We cannot highlight the failings of one and not all. And with this election crisis we cannot be selective on which errors or frauds we choose to highlight, while ignoring the rest because it does not suit our agenda.
Giving foreigners the right to disregard the laws that govern us or to direct us does not bode well for our country. Maybe I will see the day when a president of our country can instruct another CARICOM nation or any of the ABC countries about how they should conduct the affairs of their countries. Maybe I will see Guyanese running into their courts and shouting that the laws that govern their countries are hogwash. Maybe I will see the day when we Guyanese begin to treat our CARICOM brothers and sisters with the same contempt some of them have often treated us. But we are kind.
I also will not elaborate on the fact that some of these foreign nations that have positioned themselves to school Guyana are themselves drowning in corruption.
Many people on social media expressed outrage and chose to personally attack Mia Mottley. I do not agree with the personal attacks. We can disagree with a person’s statements without resorting to personal attacks.
With all that said, we can ask: has Guyana began to experience the oil curse? If oil were not a factor, would this election crisis have been prolonged?
With good governance, Guyana can become one of the wealthiest and most progressive nations in this part of their world. History will tell us how often some nations have deliberately used tactics to divide the people of another nation. In some places it has even resulted in war. And while the people fight, they invade their countries and rape their resources. Guyana’s story is unravelling. Hopefully it will not come to that here. United we can fly. Divided we will continue to sink and jeopardize the future of this nation.
