How do we step on remnants of the remains of dead children and not think that these are gloomy times? Directed by the insensitive and perhaps those detached from their divinity. We watch in awe as the ashes of our ineptitude and sins multiply. A nation in distress. A people lost and hopeless while those who ride on carpets into the sunset delude themselves that this nation is whole, free, evolving for the better, and that the collective is happy. Like our ‘One Guyana’ dreams on tour. There were concerts in Canada and the United States like we are selling fairy-tale land and not one where all do not matter. ‘One Guyana’ events where blacklisted artistes will never be asked to perform. But some who lack talent but conform will display themselves and shine bright like a diamond.
It has been sixty-two days. Sixty-two days since the tragedy that claimed the lives of twenty children. This week we were shocked when we saw debris from the fire being used to fill potholes in Mahdia. We cannot measure where insensitivity and senselessness begin in Guyana, but we know there is no end. The fact that this idea was even conceived, and permission granted tells us that the schools some of our people attended do not exist. People had to object before those actions were stopped. Yet, there were those who saw nothing ill-conceived about such action. Who would be surprised that this would be upsetting especially since the tragedy is still fresh? And what we saw was that the scene of the tragedy was not even preserved. We saw officials parading on the scene shortly after the tragedy. Forensic investigation? Do we know of it? Perhaps they thought they had all the answers.
Are there no millions in contracts to repair Mahdia’s roads? Even if these contracts are given to those who have never built a road? We have seen it. Are the people not worthy to have tar and stones that there are those who had to ask for debris from the fire to fill potholes? Are those children not worthy of a memorial site?
It seems like there are efforts to erase the memories of Mahdia’s tragedy. One fifteen-year-old girl has been charged and we want to pretend like that answers all the questions and holds all those culpable for the deaths of those children accountable. Efforts by some to quiet calls for justice for the loved ones who lost their children to incompetence have been seen. The government offered each family five million dollars. The arrogance of those who offer such small mercies for endless suffering is irritating.
They said they should be complimented for the financial assistance offered to the families who lost their children. Like the funds are from their personal bank accounts. They said that they did not have to do anything. They need to be reminded that there is not enough money in the world to pay for a life, but the least that can be done is to generously compensate those families for their pain and suffering since it was negligence and incompetence that contributed to that fire. Commission of Inquiry? Will we see it?
The building was flagged as a hazard in November last year and February this year and nothing was done to fix it. And clearly there was not enough staff to manage the children. Perhaps it was arrogance, not caring about the risk to those children, that resulted in inaction. No one expected that the dormitory would burn but it did and whether the fire was electrical, an accident or arson by a fifteen-year-old, the results would have been the same.
They seek to snatch the power from the hands of those families. And sadly, in this desperate and docile season, the people may quietly accept, for many in this country do not have the fortitude to tap into their powers. Few think that infinite power runs in their veins to oppress and insult the Guyanese people.
The protests are often now but we need to raise our voices louder every day until this nation is truly healed and the people are one nation, one people with one destiny.
This week we saw the people of Hill Foot protesting at the Ministry of Housing because their homes were dismantled, and they have no permanent place to find comfort. This is our land. This is where our ancestors fought, bled, built, and died and yet, people are being made homeless where the price for their security has already been paid. Whether it is protests for the homeless, protests for the alleged raped, protests for the victimized, or for justice and equality, the protests are never ending in this season of Guyana. They are not large enough however, for fear seeps into the minds of some who think to protest. The fear of victimization muzzles them.
Yet, there are those riding into the sunset on carpets laughing and mocking many who protest. They sit in their self-righteousness to lie, condemn, and play blind. They are not honest or honourable people. They cannot take the plank out of their eyes to remove the speck from their brothers and sisters who are poisoning the air with their malice, incompetence, wickedness, and arrogance. They instead worship them. Like they are returned saviours. They are comfortable in a distressed country because they are pretending that the distress will not eventually choke them too. They are comfortable with the oppression of others. They are comfortable with immorality because they have deluded themselves that they are on the right side of history.
I am not one to wallow in sadness but thinking about Guyana these days results in deep despondency and heartache. One must be deliberate in choosing to look at the brighter side of things even though the light on the brighter side of things seems to be dimming.
