One thing that is absolutely loved by governments who care more about staying perpetually fixed in their re-election campaigns rather than implementing progressive changes, is the allure of consultations. Every change worth making, which is well within its power to make, is constantly kicked down the road. This sees decisions being stalled due to the public’s misguided feelings being valued over verifiable facts. We see this time and time again.
There is a consultation for everything: LGBT rights, natural hairstyles, and more recently again, corporal punishment.
When the emptiness and delay tactics of these consultations are pointed out, respective leaders are quick to point out that Guyana is a democracy. I always find this a rich thing for them to say, because, for all intents and purposes, Guyana is not. We do, however, live under the guise of democracy while realistically being more aligned with autocratic leadership. Democracies are much more than just having open elections every four years. Democracies, while being based upon the power of the people which has a majority rules factor, should not translate to the tyranny of the majority.
Governments have a responsibility to also make decisions that expand the mindset of their constituents toward changes that have the capacity to equalize the most vulnerable or those in need of protection. An example of this was seen in the passage of the 1995 Termination of Pregnancy Act, which even today remains a contentious issue that the majority would vote against if given the chance. However, recognizing the significant harm criminalization of abortions was causing to women and girls, the government, largely prompted by women’s rights advocates, passed the act in the face of widespread criticism and anger in ‘95.
Today, for anything they see fit and often which is of direct benefit to them and the private sector, the government pushes through with ease. There is no consultations on oil deals, no consultations on mangrove destructions, and no consultations on development planning.
These are the things of course, that should benefit from consultative actions as there are immense harms that can and will impact citizens and their environment for decades to come.
It is clear that consultations are not utilized as an accountability mechanism or adhering to democratic principles, but rather is merely aimed at maintaining the status quo. In providing the public with an opportunity to weigh in on issues such as those mentioned in my opening paragraph, the government is able to take the mandate of decision-making and any possible drawbacks from the decision, off of themselves. They are also able to delay these changes for years on end. It provides the guise of doing something when the reality is that they are merely maintaining things as they are.
The proposed consultations regarding the removal of corporal punishment from schools is one that has raged on for decades in this country, and consultations on the matter have largely favoured those who believe that abuse of children is necessary to their learning and development. The Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand has issued a warning over the “black and blue” of children, stating that teachers must not beat children to that extent. I always find arguments like this so interesting, as they really solidify the othering of children. Imagine if the Minister had said that men must not leave black and blue marks on their women when they beat them, we would recognize the absurdity of this statement right? Abuse, regardless of the name it falls under, is still abuse. A child’s brain cannot differentiate between one hit from another, and what it teaches them is that being beaten and beating others, is a normal and justified action. Those are the messages the abusive corporal punishment practices are sending to children everyday.
Beating children does nothing other than teach them fear, and how to be more clever and evasive so that they do not get ‘licks. Consultations on the matter are not just and it is highly disrespectful to children and right-thinking Guyanese that such a practice is still allowed in our nation’s schools.
