Dear Editor,
I have noticed reporting in sections of the media of politicians promising violence at the next elections. That being said, I would like to make one clear statement: As a young person, I absolutely condemn any form of race baiting or violent incitement by any politician in Guyana. This is where I stand.
We don’t have short term memory in this land. It is common knowledge that Guyana’s elections have a sordid affinity to violence. This toxic relationship manifested in burning, looting and public terror in the streets throughout various election cycles. There were even some reports of women and girls being sexually assaulted in the 2001 elections violence. These events have left a gaping scar in the psyche of our nation and we must NEVER AGAIN go down such a path in Guyana.
We are at a crucial juncture in Guyana’s history. What we say and what we do in this pivotal moment will define us for generations and generations hence. We are trying to find the soul of our nation, finding out what it truly means to be a Guyanese… who are we… where have we come from…and where are we to go? Electoral violence is an ugly feature of our history and it must remain buried in the past.
Any politician seeking to benefit from electoral violence is a relic and will remain in the past, as a mere footnote. Violence begets violence and we must use public platforms for truth, justice and building national unity. I hope this message reaches its intended recipients.
Sincerely,
Nikhil Sankar