Many Guyanese choose silence when the politicians they support are in power. Many loyal supporters would never raise their voices to criticise the servants of this nation even for blatant wrongdoings. Individuals have pledged allegiance to political parties and will not waver even in times when they would have been neglected or suffered because of them. I am even convinced that many faithful followers would sacrifice themselves if it meant that their leaders lived. Blind allegiance breeds a society of sheeple.
Would most Guyanese leaders give their lives for their flock? Many of them are disconnected from their supporters, the ordinary people who are often bought and paid with promises. Indeed, their supper tables remain almost bare while the feasts of the elitists they serve are plentiful. Truth, justice, equality, reciprocity and righteousness are what should govern societies. Wealth and power breed arrogance.
Some Guyanese support political parties because they are predominantly made up of one ethnic group, while others follow the traditions of their families. Blind allegiance breeds inertia.
The ones who vote on the issues are a minority. Those who assess the track records before choosing whether to support or not support politicians are a minority. Those who continuously use their voices to hold their leaders accountable, are also a minority. The ones who are impartial and passionate about starting movements that are strictly for the empowerment of all the people, often walk a path of difficulties. If such Guyanese were the majority, I am sure many of our politicians would not be found worthy of holding office. This cycle of repeating the same actions that have failed us breeds oppression, injustice, persecution and delays in Guyana’s development.
Fear is a major factor for many choosing silence—whether it is fear of losing relationships or fear of victimisation; persecution for critiquing and demanding accountability are known in this society. Fear breeds cowards.
Over the last month since we have had a change of government, some of the loudest voices have gone silent. In the midst of the rising COVID-19 cases and deaths, there are other tensions in this society. We have seen persons arrested for allegations such as electoral fraud; people have lost their jobs; we have seen disputes over lands; we have seen the threat to displace squatters in the midst of the pandemic; and we have seen the Belladrum protests and the protests in support of the accused Cuban Yuri Garcia Dominguez and his wife, who are said to have operated a Ponzi scheme here. Desperation breeds unrest.
The police have been heavily criticised by some sections of the society. Whether it is that people were unlawfully detained or had their rights violated while in detention, when the police are allowed to disregard the rights of citizens by ignoring the laws, order in the society is at risk. We all, therefore, are at risk. Arrogance breeds chaos and death.
In the midst of COVID-19, squatters at Success Canefield, on the East Coast of Demerara, are being threatened with displacement because the lands are said to belong to NICIL. Some are squatters because they could longer afford to pay rent. We are living in a dark time, but it is also a time of exposure. The squatters gathered and filmed. Some said they said that they are willing to die. They blamed governments past and present for their suffering. They pleaded for justice. They recognise that they are not first-class citizens in their own country. Where are people supposed to go when they are displaced during such a crisis such as COVID-19? Another pertinent question is, why must Guyanese resort to squatting? With the vast land we possess, no Guyanese should be without a plot. Some of us are fortunate to have inherited ancestral lands, some are fortunate to have bought lands, but for many Guyanese the wait after applying for land is years. Some have even died without ever receiving. Inequality breeds corruption and contempt.
All Guyanese should own land with little or nothing to pay. We are large country, considering our population. It is not impossible to imagine a Guyana where every citizen owns a plot of land. Maybe a time will come when oil wealth will flood our country and finally this will be a Guyanese reality. We can all dream. But dreaming without action breeds poverty.
For whatever reason people would have lost jobs and this is a time of despair. I had written before that regardless of who sits in the seats of power, no Guyanese should feel threatened. We all should be comfortable enough to have faith in our politicians that they will do right by all of us. No one should live in fear. No one should fear discrimination because of which political party they support. No one should fear discrimination because of where they live or their ethnicity. Discrimination breeds civil unrest.
The lives of Guyanese will continue to be affected until the rights and needs of people are truly the priority. It is not the politicians whose bank accounts will be empty when they create an environment where it is impossible for some of Guyana’s children to have equal opportunities. It is not the politicians who are predominantly in protests. It is mostly the poor people who suffer. Poverty breeds criminality.
Many Guyanese will turn a blind eye to the injustices against their fellow citizens because it does not directly affect them. They are voluntarily muzzled until the ghosts from the death of the soul of the nation knocks at their doors. Life is a cycle. When the society is in chaos the people will rebel; when the crime escalates and the people stop caring, all are at risk of the destruction that can follow. When we choose to remain silent and watch the tears of others without empathy, mock the misfortune of others, mock them when they are being unfairly persecuted, we continue to breed the contempt that has crippled this nation.
Sometimes karma is swift and sometimes it is slow, but it is always sure. We must ask ourselves what we can do for our country to ensure that it is truth, justice, righteousness, equality and reciprocity that rules this nation. Even if we choose not to speak, our voices can be heard by our actions. If we all use our voices to demand a just society, we all cannot be silenced. If we see the politicians as the servants they are to this nation and not prostrate ourselves before them like they are demigods, the balance of power will eventually truly shift to the people. But asking Guyanese to unite is like trying to get a camel through the eye a needle.
Ignorance breeds a corrupt society. Evil breeds death in a society. But still Guyana, we have a chance.
