The media and political parties have failed to unite the nation

Feb 11, 2011 Letters

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Dear Editor,
As I read the Editorial, (Kaieteur News, 05-02-11) captioned, “Getting Left Behind”, I found myself asking, what is the purpose of this piece of writing’ and as I got to the end, I was still asking the same question. My understanding of an editorial is that it serves to highlight a current problem/conflict with a view to raising awareness of the society served and hence, provide insight which will stir the mind and conscience of the readership.
However, I found this article to be very superficial and lacking any kind of potency of direction to stir anyone’s mind. I have noted that you raised a pertinent question, albeit in a rather passive manner, “whether something is wrong with us?” I will suggest that there is plenty wrong but the wrongs will not be put right in this manner. This was an opportunity to influence the masses and yet all it is likely to achieve is people saying to themselves, “I already knew that.”
Firstly, let’s take a look at the title: “Getting left behind.” I ask, isn’t this an understatement of the fact? Comparing Guyana with Singapore, Malaysia and Korea, any Guyanese will tell you that we are not ‘getting’ left behind, but we are already left behind. In the opening paragraph, you flippantly commented that ‘they planted something’, you couldn’t even be bothered to research and find out what it was they did plant. Well, it was rubber, hardwood and tea and that industry is still very profitable which is significantly more than what can be said of sugar and Guyana currently.
Guyana has been financially poor since the 1970s when they nationalised the sugar and bauxite industry, the other countries compared have improved consistently over the last four decades, ‘not a few years’. They all, have an established tourist industry with an established airline industry. They have all benefitted from the age of technological development and have utilised the opportunities resulting from such developments over the last four decades. The point made here Mr. Editor, is that if you wish to stimulate peoples’ mind then you need to provide food for thought in a credible manner.
Secondly, you identified the difficulties caused by racial divide and further more the reluctance of people to leave Jagan and Burnham in the past and move on. I will suggest that the Guyanese people only have as much difficulty in leaving the past behind, as the Guyanese press experience. Take a good look at your assertion in paragraph two. ‘Guyanese were more concerned with pursuing an
education that would see them working for the Mother country, Great Britain.’ Where is the substance behind such ridiculous assertions?
Do you really believe that all the hard working parents sending their children to school was thinking that one day they will be qualified sufficiently to work for the Mother country? No, they just wanted their children to have a better life. I will also inform you that both Singapore and Malaysia operated an educational curriculum based on the English system. On at least two other occasions, you made reference to the colonial masters in a less than positive light.
And if you care to review articles published by Kaieteur News, you will observe that reference to Jagan and Burnham are frequently made in a derogatory manner. So, how about leading by example? Let’s see if Freddie Kissoon and others can stop the blaming of the past and start showing Guyanese how to understand the past and learn to work with it; for there is no substitute for history. I agree that there is ethnic division; it has been around for a long time. But you have forgotten that there was a time when Guyanese people were able to function as a cohesive group. What the media and political parties have failed to do in the last four decades is to unite the nation.
Finally, I wish to address your question, ‘is there something wrong with Guyanese?’ The answer is yes, plenty. You have already cited the lack of trust amongst the population. But it’s not only about Africans and Indians. The distrust has degenerated amongst the nation. The people do not trust the government, the police, newspapers, and not even their family members. So, how can they live and work together. More to the point, from where do the people seek inspiration for a better life? No one shows regard or respect for the person anymore. No one feels safe anymore.
Finally, the lack of nationalistic pride, people simply do not care about Guyana. They do not care about the welfare of the country or its people. They do not care about the job they do or the service they provide and they certainly do not feel valued. There are some of the reasons for burning bridges and resistance to work assiduously. The people are simply frustrated and undervalued. Mr. Editor, Guyana doesn’t export skills, the people of all races are leaving out of frustration, fear and hopelessness; at significant cost in terms of financial sacrifice and risk.
The question is, does the newspaper industry have a role to play in raising the hopes of Guyanese? Are they willing to play a part in inspiring the Nation?

Krish Nath

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