Dear Editor,
The uproar has increased and the outcry can be heard from many. The Amerindian community cries for justice and has requested a Commission of Inquiry into the sexual violence and abuse in the villages. The indigenous leaders have expressed concerns over the growing allegations of rape, “including those in position of power, who have been allegedly using their political influence to hamper police investigations”. (Reference: News Source Guyana April 2024). New charges have been brought against an Executive Committee member of the PPPC, whose sexual activity continues to bring scrutiny and criticism of the government. Behaviour in Parliament was also previously an issue of concern. Yet delegates showed preference for this individual over the well behaved highly educated and hardworking members of the party who do not embarrass their party.
The PPP/C and the APNU + AFC go into national elections in 2025. Does either party have the upper hand when it comes to morality? Allegations of sexual misconduct and corruption have plagued both sides of the political divide. However, neither party has shown the will to have the allegations thoroughly investigated and neither side has cleansed their respective parties using the evidence available to them. When in power investigations are stalled and those of opponents are seldomly brought to conclusion. A seemingly collaborative effort between those that misbehave on both sides of the political divide. You don’t punish me and I will not punish you seems to be the implicit order of the day.
Where is the moral compass of our country? Where is the strength of morality in our parliament? The major parties cannot win a majority in our Parliament without the support of the Amerindians, and without the support of voters who reject the status quo. Those who demand clean governance that is free of corruption and free of the current moral deficit that is on display have the power to control parliament. This control is possible by giving their united voices increased authority via a party that is rooted in morality and integrity. Do we the people of Guyana desire a homeland free of sexual predators, free of corruption and free of disrespect for the hard working members of our society? Do we the people of Guyana desire a homeland where law and order is respected?
If so, then we must collectively stand together and make our voices heard. We must be the ones who sit with the unions and the sugar workers who are on strike instead of sitting with corrupt contractors who have unsafe worksites where workers have died. We must be the ones who ensure that the police make our roads and waterways safe. We must be the ones who make our schools and neighbourhoods safe for our children, where abuse does not take place and where the risk of death by fire has been eliminated. We must be the ones who ensure that the women in our country are not physically or mentally abused and raped. We must be the ones that put an end to the killings in the rum shops and on the roads due to the overconsumption of alcohol. We must be the ones who will restore law and order to our nation.
We must also be the ones who can reject Venezuelan aggression and help bring an end to the influx of illegal immigrants that make our country unsafe. We must also be the ones that say to Exxon that you will not rob us of our resources. We must also be the ones that say to Exxon you will renegotiate or be replaced. We must also be the ones that say that our environment and health matter more to us than the processing of dangerous chemicals, which we can safely buy from overseas. We must also be the ones that say that our people deserve their fair share of our wealth and that they should receive a check from the government. We must also be the ones that make this possible and we must always be the ones to prevent those who would recklessly harm our country from doing so.
We must prevent dictatorships and we must prevent the misuse of power. This will only be possible if we unite and obtain the pivotal votes to control the parliament by preventing any of the major parties from gaining a majority. This will prevent the giving away of our democracy and our natural resources. This will prevent the spreading nepotism that is destroying the moral values of our society. CRG stands ready to fight alongside others who share this vision for our country. CRG stands ready to fight alongside others who are determined to take a stand to return our beautiful nation back to its rightful glory. A glory rooted in integrity, honesty and the moral values we have learnt from our ancestors that are also thought in our schools. We are at a pivotal moment in our country’s history. Let’s choose a path that ensures that future generations live in a safe and prosperous society that reflects the values and morals that we all hold dear.
Sincerely,
Jamil Changlee
Chairman
The Cooperative Republicans of Guyana
