Dear Editor.
I was fortunate this past week to see the entirety of the budget presentation. I was curious, but in hindsight some called me mad for such an enormous waste of precious time. In my quiet moments I have to agree with them, given the recent vitriol coming out of the current Parliament. For the record, both major parties are guilty, it always seems a ‘them versus us’ argument. What came to mind after all the presentations last week, was the author George Orwell: “A people that elect corrupt politicians, imposters, thieves and traitors are not victims but accomplices”, this applies to both sides. I will leave it at that, to deal with more sacrosanct issues.
Well, drinking, speeding while driving in Guyana is outlawed, some do not get a second chance, death, unless you are a Member of Parliament. Ever wonder why our traffic deaths are skyrocketing – no rule of law. Who was the last minster of either party convicted and sentenced for a crime, come on, after 50 years are we so pure and exceptional as a nation? The people of our nation are conditioned by our leadership’s behaviour, bad examples that get away too easily, so we behave like them. Many get expelled or resign from Parliament and Congress around the world for far less trivial behaviour.
I applaud the appointment of our SC Chair on the constitutional reform
committee “Ms. Emily Dodson, my apology for making you walk 80 flights of stairs a few years ago”. All we ask are the amendments not only deal with laws for the citizenry, but also the conduct and behaviour of our elected and nominated officials – “Executive and Judiciary included”. No one should be above the law. Lastly, we would highly recommend that any future Speaker of our House spend a one-month shadow internship in the House of Commons England, to enhance our rules of behaviour and penalize parliamentary misconduct equitably. This should be the modicum of basic training for an emerging developing nation. Guyana! We never really let go of Mama Britannica, accept it.
I cannot sleep at night when thinking of the Corentyne river bridge contemplated, yes it will add some value for both nations, however when I think of our Essequibo regions, neglected and underpopulated for the past 60 years what comes to mind is the difficulty of transportation. We need to build many more bridges, road and rail (yes rail don’t laugh} to really make Essequibo ours. It’s not a short-term plan, it may take 20 years. But we need to start now. I would opt for a larger frequent ferry service to Suriname for now. Building a singular road to Lethem misses other sweet and critical spots in the Essequibo regions.
We decimated our rail service in the 70s & 80s, today rail is amongst the cheapest form of transportation moving goods and people. I saw firsthand in Japan, UK, France, China, Canada, Mexico, Thailand, US, Finland and Russia. “The land is the only thing in the world worth working for, worth fighting for, worth dying for, because it’s the only thing that lasts”, Margaret Mitchell – Gone with the Wind.
We seem to take the poor man’s approach when looking at what can be accomplished 5, 10, 20 years in regions 1, 2, 3, 7, 9 with the deficiencies that currently exist. If Essequibo is really ours, let us not neglect it. I am aware Guyana’s true wealth appreciation as a nation lies ahead, next 7 to 15 years, this is not the time for government handouts until we have built a resilient nation that can withstand the head winds to come, and the winds will come.
Sincerely,
Everton D. Morris