Whataboutism is the practice of responding to an issue, accusation, or difficult question by raising a different issue. This practice is prevalent in Guyana especially among die hard supporters of our politicians. In a world where politicians are elected to serve the people, here in Guyana it seems like it is the people who serve these politicians.
It is in this country where after a VICE News investigation a prominent politician was accused of corrupt practices such as bribery involving the Chinese. Has anyone seen Su? There was little outcry for an investigation into these allegations. Instead, it was a hot topic for a week or two and those who are guilty of whataboutism ignored, or condemned and tried to discredit VICE News because they refuse, are dishonest, or scared to seek the truth.
It is in this country where a minister of government can be accused of grooming and raping a teenaged girl whose story has inspired other young women to speak about similar experiences. But followers of the cult of dishonesty and disgrace would instead choose to call this matter a plot of the opposition. They would instead choose to accuse the teenager of being a part of a plan to sully the reputation of a man who has shown himself to be uncouth and lewd. It was in the National Assembly when he told a fellow parliamentarian that she needed a dildo. With years of accusations against this person, what plot would there be to sully his reputation? By their works and words, we know them.
Those who choose whataboutism in this matter ignore the plight of the teenager. They tell people not to protest and let justice take its course when the plethora of injustices inform us of our flaws. These are some of the people who claim they love the children of Guyana. The same ones who shout because they care. Yet, twenty children could have burned to death in a fire in Mahdia because of negligence and all the blame is laid at the feet of a fifteen-year-old girl. An unknown number of Indigenous girls could have been raped, and these people are quick to defend the alleged perpetrators instead of first believing the accusers.
The minister amid this debacle instead of being sent on leave wrote the president and asked to proceed on leave. Is this country a joke?
It is in this country where people who have been selling for years on Plaisance Line Top, could have been given seven days to move because of a planned four-lane expansion on the railway embankment. It is in Plaisance where a meeting took place with government officials but all the people who will be affected by the road expansion were not allowed to enter the meeting. Whataboutism will try to justify this by calling the people of Plaisance hooligans because they chose to protest. Their lives and voices matter.
While I welcome development in Guyana even though development is not only about new roads and buildings but also the development of the people and eradicating the poverty many Guyanese are facing, giving people short notices, destroying their business and homes and ultimately their lives, is unacceptable. Haven’t the people of this country sacrificed and suffered enough? For a while the majority should have been living in bliss but instead look at us in a frenzy now because of oil talking about expansion and development while the people have been slapped in their faces for decades. We have always had the resources to be great and developed but the greatest beneficiaries of whataboutism who have mishandled our country and enriched themselves have stifled us.
Plaisance was purchased by former enslaved Africans whose suffering was for the benefit of their children who would inherit that land. Now people, who do not know or acknowledge the sweat and blood that went into purchasing that land after centuries of enslavement, would have to go into a community where direct descendants of those who purchased that land still live and destroy people’s establishments, because expanding a road seems more important than people’s lives. Those of the whataboutism cult will say destroying people’s lives is for development. Whether it is Plaisance or Mocha they like to accuse people who are uncomfortable with the suffering of their fellow Guyanese of not wanting development in this country. It was reported that the people have been now given six months to move. Whatever the result, the culture of Plaisance Line Top as a place where small entrepreneurs make their living is an intricate part of the East Coast experience and it will be a shame if it is completely obliterated because of road expansion.
It is in this country where promises would have been made to renegotiate oil deals and when power landed into the hands of those who made such promises the years are passing, and we are waiting. Whataboutism will ignore renegotiation and speak about the signing bonus and who made the poor oil deal but will not hold those who said they would renegotiate to their words. When people ask what is being done with the oil money, whataboutism will instead talk about rigged elections or sugar workers who were fired even though the sugar industry is dying. Every issue of alleged corruption or unfairness in this country, should be investigated with the same fervour and we all should demand accountability regardless of who sits in the seats of power.
It is in this country where flaring has increased due to increased oil production and many environmentalists are quiet. A smaller issue than flaring or unfair oil deals caused massive protests in this country a few years ago. Parking meters. Yes, it was parking meters that brought out a multitude who were previously never seen on the protest lines. They seem to have been more passionate about the corruption around the parking meter contract than that which can truly have devastating effects in the long term on our country. Now many of those same parking meter warriors are silent and we have not seen them protest since. Money is being paid for the increase in flaring and whataboutism again says it is about development even though we may also be inadequately insured in the case of an oil spill, delusion pats them on the back and tells them all is well. When development reaches its peak, and if the possible effects of flaring like climate changes, acid rain, increased cancers, and such take hold of the people, perhaps it is their ghosts that will enjoy the developed Guyana.
Whataboutism will continue to be a part of our demise. I long for the day when we can truly put country and our people first and not politicians. But I am not holding my breath.
