At a trying time like this, we wish the nation was not plunged into mourning. But when lives of our servicemen are lost while defending our country we are once again shaken to the core and the moments of silence must linger with no time of expiration. This is a nation that is constantly in mourning but at a time like this when we are under threat by neighbouring nation Venezuela, this blow is incredibly devastating.
At a fragile time like this we must stand strong but are still buckling at the knees in this time of worry and hope in Guyana. With hands, envious and greedy reaching from all directions to claim our beautiful land and its resources, the people must once again write phrases like “so sad”, “rest in peace” and “sincere condolences”.
When we heard news about servicemen lost in the bordering region with Venezuela, it concerned us. In a time like this, when tensions are high, speculations in whispers and shouts reach our ears and it is up to us to filter the facts from the rumours while relying on credible news sources to keep us informed. The nation does not need to be burdened with additional worry and fearmongering. But still, the truth needs to be heard so the people know exactly what we are facing.
This should be a time of uniting with one goal of one people, one nation and one destiny. In a time like this the people need to be reassured that all 83,000 square miles of our country will remain safe and ours. The plans of our foes should not shake us, but cause us to remain vigilant, to be wise, to guard ourselves and be prepared. Our servicemen are at the forefront of our battles, brave enough to stand even when they might not be given the honour they deserve and any one lost is a mighty blow to this nation. The blow has hit us five times this week. High ranking officers are gone just like that. It is a time that will be remembered for generations to come. And the two who survived pilot Lt. Andio Crawford and Cpl. Dwayne Jackson, if they are ever ready will tell us of their fears and how they survived.
On the night the men were lost, the thought of darkness enveloping them while they battled rain and wind, terrified us. The vast forests of Guyana hold many secrets. Of people who have been lost never to be found. Of labyrinths difficult to escape. Of wild animals lurking to devour prey. Of mystery and a show of how breathtakingly beautiful and blessed this country is. With servicemen crashed there we held our breaths, clasped our hands, closed our eyes, and hoped for the best. But in the end, five out of the seven are now with the ancestors.
We must ask ourselves, what lessons can we learn from the loss of our servicemen this week? How far have we come and not learned lessons from our past about what true unity is for our country? Why are we not at that place where all Guyanese feel like this land is equally ours and that all are truly respected and valued? The issues with Guyanese waiting for years for land, having to pay bribes, and being bullied and bulldozed for what is rightfully theirs, continue to expose us. Will this finally be the time when the lines of division that continue to hold the people hostage and divided are erased? Will we stand truly united and not abide by the egos of men or the politics that continue to segregate us?
Is this the time when those who are stealing Guyana’s wealth while leaving the masses impoverished, will realize that in the twinkle of an eye they too can be no more? What does it a profit a man to steal the resources of a country, not equitably distribute the wealth, and not have eternal life in this earthly heaven and hell? What does it profit the minority to keep the majority impoverished when the race to death is on for all of us?
In a time like this when many people are feeling uncertain and heartbroken, we need leadership in which we can be confident. Those who face us from the seats of power must inspire us and we must believe that our nation will not crumble and be certain that this is true. But do the leaders inspire us? With the press conferences and speeches, are we the people as a collective convinced that we can trust those who have been involved in our oppression?
While Venezuela stands in their insanity, ignoring the rule of law with their bullet points on how to seize Essequibo, are the people confident that with the thousands of Venezuelans here, they will not cause unrest in our country? I asked the question a few weeks ago if the trojan horse was already here. We cannot say the threat Venezuela poses is not real or serious when we have seen what the egos of men have done to other parts of the world. That need for power, that need for control, that greed and now with our oil resources, how targeted and vulnerable we are. These new and ongoing troubles that have come to our country because of oil have brought some to the conclusion that the oil should have been left in the ground.
We know that all Venezuelans are not our enemies but with the voice of those who are shouting from the leadership of the country, we cannot be sure who is a foe and who is a friend. We want peace. We want the border issue to be settled once and for all even though we thought that was the case since 1899. We want the time to be that whether it be Venezuela or Suriname, no other country will ever be able claim our land again.
This is the time when we should seek to guard ourselves not only from the enemies on the outside threatening us, but the ones within. The enemies that are not for uniting the people and putting the Guyanese people first but are for their selfish desire for power and to enrich a small group – we the people must use our power to say no to them if we ever want Guyana to become the country it has the potential to be. We the people have been enemies to ourselves for too long and it has been to our detriment.
At a time like this, we the nation are mourning. We will remember their names – Commander of the 1st Infantry Battalion Col. Michael Shahoud, Veteran Pilot, Lt. Col Michael Charles, Lt. Col. Sean Welcome, retired Brigadier Gary Beaton, and Sgt. Jason Khan. May their deaths not be in vain.
