The Amerindian vote and young people can determine the next president of Guyana

Jan 13, 2011 Letters

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Dear Editor,
As the day to another constitutionally due election in Guyana approaches it is getting very interesting by the hour the direction in which our political ‘ship’ is taking us. Will it sail into new unchartered but exciting waters or will it sink in a hailstorm of rank, dirty and dangerous politics?
It is my strong belief that the Amerindian people of Guyana, together with young people of all the races, will prove to be the two main and decisive factors in who becomes the next president of Guyana!
The PPP I’m certain, are aware – already that Berbice (where I was born and grew up), a bastion of support for them for over half a century has lost much of its significance when we look at the number of citizens who have migrated or emigrated.
Many Berbicians over the years have immigrated to other parts of Guyana and this will have an impact on the configuration of especially the Region Four geographical area that has seen the rise of the AFC and a diminution of the PNCR and a leveling off of support for the PPP.
With the (migration) figures from the US embassy and I’m sure the Canadian embassy are not far behind with similar numbers, together with regional migration as well as “illegal” migration, the numbers this time around are not favouring the PPP and to a lesser extent the PNCR.
Bearing all of this in mind, that is why we may have seen the President fulminating against Norway to have funds released to spend on Amerindian communities! I believe as do many others that these funds will not be disbursed before general elections are held in Guyana.
In my view the international community is acutely aware of the rampant corruption in our country and even though they have signed on to pay carbon credits it comes with conditions – including but not limited to good governance.
Many Guyanese may not be aware, but the Amerindian population has been one that has enjoyed robust growth over the years as compared with the other ethnic groups mostly due to but not limited to their “locked-in” way of life in the interior of the country.
It does not mean that they are not immune to outside influence or pull factors but it is significant that they have stronger bonds to their communities since historically they have not been a community that left Guyana in droves as has the two main ethnic groups.
The Amerindian people like the aboriginals of Bolivia (who have achieved political power) have a great chance to make history this year by making their vote count and in a decisive way.
They should however, not make unreasonable demands but realistic ones that would better their lives and by extension that of the whole of Guyana. They have the power to either make or break the LCDS and or the new government by simply taking their votes elsewhere.
The young people of Guyana to a great extent have been taken for a ride for a very long time.
They have a great chance now to seize the moment and make a huge investment into defining the politics of their country by choosing to vote first of all and secondly to vote based on Programmme/manifesto of the various parties and not the personality of the prospective presidential candidates. I know many people may say that in the past many parties presented great manifestos and programmes but never carried them out. My question is who is to be blamed for that? The answer is – you the people – you have either by acts of commission or omission given previous governments carte blanche control over not only the resources of your country, but by extension over you. This is an historic time for you to make a difference by becoming involved not today but yesterday! You have to decide now if you want to live your life the same way it has been and accepting whatever is thrown at you (e.g. The Govt,.’ 5% take it or leave it to sugar workers).
Young Guyanese at this juncture should be asking themselves what does my country has to offer me that will guarantee security and a prosperous life. Also they need to realistically, look at all the things that are going on in their homeland and make a wise decision on who best can lead them into the future?
In this day and age many of our young people have access to technology and information which can help them make up their minds. I would like the young people in Guyana to take a look again at my letter which was published sometime ago and which outlined some of the basic things they should be looking for in a new and enlightened government. I had also proposed a cabinet. That was by no means an end all. My hope was that that should be a conversation starter for our people to debate how to get that brighter future in their own country. I am a realist but I dream of the day when our country can really and truly achieve its utmost potential and become the South American “Singapore”. To all the cynics I say a man without a dream is a dead man walking.
In the final analysis the PPP and the PNCR will no longer be able to play the race or ethnic game! With the Amerindians and youths calling the shots, it will be very interesting to see how this new dispensation plays out in our polity!
Clyde Pestano

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