Whether we want to admit it or not, most people are followers. Slick talking, promise making wolves in sheep clothing can lead their followers to a dungeon and leave them to fight each other once they have achieved the means to fly above them. In a world where it sometimes seems that the majority have lost their way, people are easily influenced and controlled. They draw on the strength of those who are brave enough to stand as their leaders.
There is no human being unscarred, however we expect that those who call themselves leaders will embody the warrior spirit where they will fight for the people and even be willing to sacrifice themselves for the greater good. We expect that they would be principled, and that they would not deliberately lead the people astray. In a world where evil is rampant, the evil often seems to overshadow the good, leaving the world in a state of imbalance and leaders must be able to stand in their warrior spirit and do what is necessary for the advancement and protection of the people.
We are living in a time where we are constantly exposed to the unpleasant and the painful. From the violation of children, abuse in all its forms, wars, genocides, we need assurance that we will eventually find our way. We need strong leaders. Those who will inspire. Those who will leave their mark as having done what they could to make this world a better place.
In a country like Guyana, we can see where poor leadership has led us. This society is more fractured than many want to admit, and I often wonder if we will ever recover.
In this country we let people that we know are vile advance with little opposition. They are praised by those who support them. Scandals have exposed prominent members of this society and yet they are admired and remain in positions of power. People have looked in the faces of their corrupt leaders and convinced themselves that they are the best to lead us. Even in the face of alleged corrupt practices and allegations of sexual violence or sexual misconduct, people have been allowed to remain in positions of power.
When one looks at the two major political parties, if one is honest, we will see that very few are fit to lead. We will see that it is the advancement of self that motivates most of these people. We will see that it does not matter how much the Guyanese people are suffering, that they will continuously stab the Guyanese people in the back to hold on to power or to gain power. We have seen that even those who are supposed to be standing as one operate like crabs in a barrel. They fight each other more than they fight for the Guyanese people. Reprehensible.
What we have endured as a population over the last few years confirms that these so-called leaders do not care. The cost of living is crippling the poor. Recently we saw a UNICEF report that about twenty percent of Guyanese children are living in severe food poverty, while forty percent are experiencing moderate food poverty. So-called leaders are quick to deny and denounce but do little else to change the people’s lives for the better. Once a year school cash grants are meant to make the poorest among us forget their sorrows and their struggles to feed, clothe and shelter their children. 6.5 percent is supposed to be enough for those who are expected to accept the insults thrown at them without any opposition. Public servants like teachers must be brought to their knees because they dare challenge these so-called leaders by asking for a piece of what is rightfully theirs.
The “Because we Care” and “One Guyana” crew have done nothing impactful to alleviate the cost of living or poverty. We the ordinary people who do not have access to oil funds or have contracts to build and splurge unqualified though we may be, feel this every time we go into the market or supermarket. In this fastest growing economy, in this big budget infrastructure country, Guyanese children are starving and yet we are waiting on those who have proven that they do not care to suddenly change their nefarious ways. Have they not already showed us who they are? Are we sick that we will continue believing them? Are we not embarrassed at how our weakness as a collective has ruined this country?
The main opposition crew want us to believe that they will rescue Guyana but look at them. Increasingly they expose their hostility and disharmony with those who are supposed to be their comrades. They seem power hungry and willing to destroy themselves as they embarrass and lose their supporters. Based on their behaviour they cannot even rescue themselves. There are snakes trying to bite the heads off other snakes while many of their supporters feel defeated.
There are those who do not want the people to protest. There are those who want the people to behave and wait even though the demons the people are fighting are trying to kill them now. Still, they call themselves leaders.
It cannot be emphasised enough how deeply troubled we are as a nation. We watch crimes and injustices escalate. Young people are turning more and more to drugs and alcohol because they are hopeless and depressed. Many of them have no role models because they have been led by serpents to the dark hole from which they cannot now escape. Yet, many of these so-called leaders show us that the needs of the people are second to their selfish ambitions.
What is left to be seen? We are in a state of despair and desperation. In this time of oil wealth from which the majority have not benefitted it seems that no matter who sits in the seats of power from the two main political parties that we are doomed.
Without hope, what do we have? If we do not focus on the silver lining, our deaths will be sooner. There might be a few who genuinely care about advancing this nation. However, though a leader or leaders may emerge that give the adherents hope, we must never forget that it is we the people who must stand and change this country for the better.
