Many believe that the COVID-19 pandemic is nearing its end; that the virus is entering an endemic phase. The infection and death rates are dwindling in many places, but the threat of sudden surges, new variants, continued hospitalizations, and death are ongoing. It was confirmed this week that the Omicron variant is in Guyana. Nevertheless, in many countries COVID restrictions are ending. A few such countries include England, Sweden, Norway, The Netherlands, and Denmark. There are also other countries adjusting their regulations and accepting that the world will have to learn to live with COVID. A couple of weeks ago the curfew was lifted in Guyana just in time for the Mashramani celebrations. Many partied at the stadium, National Park and other venues unmasked and free like COVID had never cast its shadow on Guyana.
Nevertheless, though it seems like a long night of terror is ending, we know that the dawn will not reveal the old world we knew. And many are also not sure that the dawn will not quickly transform to dusk to continue the night terror. Against the backdrop of the conflict between Russia and the Ukraine and whispers about World War III, we are reminded that universal peace does not exist. The invasion and bombing of countries have been ongoing but the reports about some conflicts are louder than others. While the world points fingers at Russia for the invasion in Ukraine, the United States African Command conducted an air strike in Somalia on February 22nd against al-Shabaab militants. This was in response to al-Shabaab terrorists attacking partner forces.
In 2019, the United States also conducted an air strike on Syria which killed dozens of civilians. According to a November 13th, 2021 New York Times report, Air Force lawyer Lt. Col. Dean W. Korsak believed he had witnessed possible war crimes and eventually emailed the Senate Armed Services Committee. “Senior ranking U.S. military officials intentionally and systematically circumvented the deliberate strike process,” he wrote in the email, which was obtained by The Times. Much of the material was classified and would need to be discussed through secure communications, he said. He wrote that a unit had intentionally entered false strike log entries, “clearly seeking to cover up the incidents.” Calling the classified death toll “shockingly high,” he said the military did not follow its own requirements to report and investigate the strike.”
Often the Islamic terrorists of the world are seen as the worst while some terrorists who wear suits and ties and sit in state houses or are of a certain hue, or from certain countries ruled by past and present colonizers, are seen as the saviours even when they are also responsible for the deaths of innocent people.
We know that many who sit in the seats of power are not without sin. They continue to cast stones at each other, while it is the people that continue to suffer. War and disease plague this world. Atheists, agnostics, and religionists all turn the wheels of destruction. There are billions of people on the Earth, but for the minority who sit in seats of power it often seems that their hands must remain reddened by blood for them to feel worthy and powerful. While the masses are plagued by diseases, sold temporary eases, and not cures for their illnesses and billions of dollars are made off suffering, many wonder if life was ever meant to be without suffering. We can deduce that hell and heaven are found in the experiences we have during our fleeting lives. There is always something to terrify and scar us even in times of happiness.
COVID not only terrified and scarred us but kept us imprisoned and in conflict for two years. Some became inmates in their minds and hid in their homes. The bars of the cells are still casting shadows and fear still taunts the peace of mind of many. COVID isolation and loneliness affected the mental health of many. Some cannot afford or do not want to sit on the psychiatrist’s couch so silently they have been struggling standing on the periphery of life and death. Their experience is like when the cage is opened for the caged birds to go free but have been in bondage for so long, they fear the risk of flying and so they refuse to leave the cage. For many it will feel strange to walk in public without a mask whenever the mask mandates are lifted or hug someone without fear.
The effects from COVID -19 will last for decades. In our memories are the faces of the loved ones we lost. We think about them in a hospital bed, some hooked up on ventilators suffocating in their last moments, alone in many instances. The grief lingers. There are days we think of them and even the hope of believing in a place where the ancestors gather does not comfort us. We imagine a world where this pandemic never happened and think about the experiences we could have had, how much more time we could have shared with them and how deeper they could have engraved their mark on the world. It is difficult in many instances to accept that it was their time.
Life must continue. Whether we are entering post-pandemic phase or not, the onus is on us to continue to do whatever we must to protect ourselves, to preserve our mental health and positively contribute to the world. Many are already broken, but once life continues the chance to heal, love, forgive and positively impact the world exists.
While we pray for those in war zones and condemn those who sit in seats of power who are barbaric and haughty and behave like they will never die, we must also pray for our country. We are still grappling with COVID as new cases are being reported every day and deaths are still being reported. And there are wars here, bomb free and quiet though they may be.
There is the war for the oil resources because most of the people are not benefitting, a war for fair deals, a war to protect the environment, a war against recolonization or is there? There is a war for the Guyanese identity as foreigners continue to come. Perhaps in a decade or two the faces of Guyanese would look different. There is a war against the rising cost of living and a war against social ills. Which war will the people win? Will our post-pandemic troubles be worse than what we have faced in the last two years? Only time will tell.
