Without justice, there can be no prosperity

Apr 28, 2009 Letters

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Dear Editor,
There is an unsurpassed immorality being pushed on Guyanese of all races by our political elites. It is called local government elections without constitutional reform.  Over eight years ago, it was agreed in Parliament these reforms were absolute necessary. Today, a President of limited credibility and honour has unilaterally decided he will decide on what local government reforms will occur as his political party attempts to hold on to power by whatever means necessary.
Yet these same Guyanese politicians tell the world, Guyana has one of the most progressive constitutions in the world. Either these individuals are smoking illegal substances or they believe Guyana is in the underworld. Surely only idiots would accept Guyana has constitutional enlightenment.
There are two fundamental litmus test points for an enlightened constitution. The first relates to the power of the highest office, in our case, the powers of the Presidency. The second lies in the power of ordinary people to have a say in the affairs of their daily life.
Guyana has showed the world it has an autocratic and non-benevolent monarchy masquerading as an executive presidency. Where else in the world is there a President who is above both criminal and civil law, in and out of office. Even President Obama does not have this democratic absurdity. Even Fujimori did not have this. This simple reality negates any argument about constitutional enlightenment. It rather suggests constitutional lunacy. This type of presidential power nurtures, rewards dictatorial and often criminal behaviour. May the Gods have pity on us!
The second litmus test centers about the rights of ordinary citizen to have a say in things that affect them everyday. In this second test, Guyana shows it has constitutional cockeyedness. Guyana has Party lists such that a functional illiterate from one part of Guyana can be selected to represent another part of Guyana. The Leguan and Wakenaam airports vividly illustrate this principle. Now, instead of local government reform that allows village councils and local residents to govern themselves, we are being told by omnipotent homo sapiens that it is “my way or the highway”. Such despicable idiocy is surpassed only by the acceptance by Guyanese of all races of someone coming into their home to tell them what to eat, read, write, drink and pray about and at what times these tasks should be performed.
For this is the essence of local government reform. Residents of a community should have a say in who collects garbage, fixes the road etc. Not some uninformed and uneducated politician who constantly gives us a 6 for a 9.
Our politicians need to have stakeholder inputs into local government reform. Not two politicians. If Guyanese citizens had been such empowered eight years ago, instead of two bosses telling us what to do, we would not be in this mess eight years after a commission was put in place. What an expression of gross incompetence. Eight years later and work is incomplete and incompetently performed.
Some of the recommendations of the task force also reflect a special type of arrogance and illiteracy that is unique to politicians. This is because politicians, when ask to build a ship, often would build a submarine that can only float.
Combined with this special type of illiteracy is the immorality of our politicians in almost all areas of the Ten Commandments. Some claim they have never met Roger Khan. Thou shall not lie. Some claim they were married. Thou shall not commit adultery. Some claim they are not stealing from us and CLICO is just a minor problem, this crime of the century. Thou shall not steal.
Some claim Guyana has the best constitution in the world. Love thy brother as thyself.
In reality most Guyanese politicians are like Fishhooks McCarthy .
They go to their religious gods every day and pray the following: “God give me health and strength, the rest we will steal”. They only try to remember God is merciful. They forget his wrath.
They forget Sodom and Gomorrah.
I urge all Guyanese politicians to stop playing God with local government elections and with us. As the Bible states in Ecclesiastes 3:1: “To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under the heaven”.
Before the next elections, many of our politicians may be around to remember this promise.
Meanwhile, our Pastors will hopefully remember to pray for these lost souls and severely diminished humans. I hope our pastors also pray for justice instead of this new age thing called praying for prosperity.
Unless our Pastors too are illiterate or blinded by the lust of power or greed….. without justice, there can be no prosperity.
I hope the donors also have some shame and dignity. If they do, they would not fund this travesty and trickery being put on Guyanese. Have thee no honour or shame.
Regardless, like the CLICO crime, there are PetroCaribe dollars in the government coffers. Perhaps this is how CLICO will be solved while someone benefits from the bank account in Miami the money was sent to.
Oh Guyana, we the People are such fools. We continue to accept sixes for nines. Such is our love for barefacedness.
Yes, ‘Fineman’ may be gone but Ali Baba and his 40 thieves are thriving.
The Fat Lady must be preparing to sing. She was in Church today taking singing lessons.
Eric Phillips

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