I’m committed to effecting meaningful policy changes

Jul 20, 2010 Letters

Dear Editor,
Mr. Harry is correct in stating that he might be misinformed and disadvantaged in being far removed from what transpired at the ERC meeting several weeks ago, living as he does in London. He would, therefore, be well advised to be cautious in arriving at the conclusions he reached in his July 19 letter to the editor captioned ‘when silence is betrayal’.
He clearly missed the essence of the points I raised when responding to Mr. Kissoon’s column, which called for a response from me. The core of my argument then as now, is that the ERC stakeholders’ meeting had a room full with several dozen stakeholders, only four of whom were Members of Parliament (two Govt. and two Opposition) and political activist Mr. Freddie Kissoon were present.
Surely, in those circumstances the onus should have been on the stakeholders to speak in their own defence on the issue raised by Mr. Kissoon, if they so desired! Note the stakeholders didn’t object to the removal of the media – Mr. Kissoon did. Further, if the stakeholders had supported Mr. Kissoon’s position why did they not advocate for the retention of the media?
You see Mr. Editor, the difference between Mr. Kissoon’s role and mine is stark. I’m obliged to take onboard the views of the majority of the people I represent. Mr. Kissoon has no such responsibility as a columnist.
As a member of the parliamentary opposition I’m also in the business of expanding the support base of the AFC, therefore I have a duty to persuade people to learn to fish and think for themselves; not give them fish by telling them what was good for them as Mr. Kissoon wanted me to do.
You see, the AFC took on the task of changing the political culture where traditionally the opposition members of parliament were expected to oppose for opposing sake; where Guyanese abdicated their duty to express their own views opting instead to leave such expressions to their maximum political leaders.
Without intending to be disparaging, the difference between my approach and that of Mr. Kissoon is in providing the space for civil society to advocate on their own behalf the ‘change’ they desire.
If that requires my silence at times I offer it gladly.
In emphasizing this point, I refer to studies done by International Institutions, which highlight the fact that Guyana has a high rating for ‘giving voice’ but nonetheless fails miserably in translating such voice into meaningful public policy changes that improve the lives of our people and society.
Which one Mr. Harry prefers? – Merely giving voice or effecting meaningful policy changes desired by the people? Mr. Harry I’m obliged to operate in the latter sphere.
Sheila Holder

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