Dear Editor,
The existing international and local conditions are certainly not happy ones, and in fact, suggest a growing disquiet among Guyanese and a global situation. In both cases, apart from what appears to be a lack of moral sense, as contained in a letter published on Tuesday 21, 2022, of another conundrum, another mystery, another unexplainable condition where leaders lack the wisdom to learn from their own history, which in some cases brought death, destruction and damnation to the people they purported to lead and have their concern for.
One aspect is when, in a family or community, country or groups of the above, there exists suspicion, jealousy and therefore tensions. In each and every case, a minor incident can turn out to be the spark that ignites like a stick of dynamite. In Guyana, we had the famous Angel Gabriel riot and this month March, the anniversary of the Cent-Bread Riot, where the African population turned their frustration and destroyed many Portuguese’s Businesses in Georgetown.
It appears that this human disease of not learning from the past, is still extant. It would seem that this failure by leaders everywhere, unfortunately, still exists. In Guyana, we are now witnessing a disdain for any proposal from Civil Society, the Opposition, the three Trade Union Movements and a media that is not a hand-maiden or surrogate of the ruling elite. Those now in charge ignore the consequences of such behaviour, in our country, in every period, since Guyana was inhabited by various groups of people.
The consequences of such disdain and disregard for sections of the population is predictable. When people feel disadvantaged, the consequences are predictable. When the gap between rich and the poor widen, in spite of resources, and this is in spite of enormous resources, the patience of those at the bottom of the ladder is soon exhausted. Only a spark is required to ignite. Why? Our leaders ignore the plight of the majority and seem to think all is well as they live in their comfort zone.
At the global level, there are similarities, and if the sparks that are now evident in Ukraine and Europe are not extinguished, the prospect of a horrible Third World War is like the hangman’s noose around our collective necks. This would affect every Guyanese and everyone living on Planet Earth. In fact, scientists noted that the weapons available today are sufficient to make a reality of an Armageddon, when our own hands will destroy us.
Even in little Guyana, a Minister of Foreign Affairs and his advisors who lack an understanding of Europe, blissfully are taking sides. We forget or ignore the precursor of World War I (1914-1918). Recall in St. Petersburg, August 31, Britain and Russia signed Agreements, creating the Anglo-Russian Agreement or Pact, settling most outstanding Central Asian sphere of influence questions. The Hague Peace Conference failed to, in anyway, to slow down the escalating European arms race.
French naval and land forces took Casa Blanca and much of coastal Morocco, then moved inland, causing the dislocation of over one million persons, displacing many of their descendants settling in the United States of America. Its history is about to repeat itself. This contentious environment led to the start of what was essentially a European Civil War in 1914, but was widened with the entry of the United States when a German Torpedo destroyed a British ship with several American citizens aboard. The rest of this tragedy which took 20 million lives of soldiers and civilians was repeated by so-called civilized nations. A mere twenty-one years later with the event of World War II.
I ask, Editor, and seek an answer, when will we learn? Or is this an affliction that this and succeeding generations must face? That is if with modern technology and ignoring, we will all be reduced to ashes, and will fulfill the prediction of the end of the world. When will we learn – When will we learn. When will we learn the lessons available from the past?
Sincerely,
Hamilton Green
Elder