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The Guyanese revolution must come on Election Day

Mar 04, 2011 Letters

Dear Editor,
Political change comes in a variety of ways. Recently the world has been witnessing the raw and mighty power of people long suppressed by dictatorial and oppressive political regimes. Tunisians and Egyptians have risen up and demanded democracy with alarming success. Today Libyans are laying down their lives for democracy as their delusional dictator continues to go to great lengths to hold on to power.
In a more stable democracy, political change comes through elections. The people of Ireland have just taken part in elections that saw the comprehensive defeat of the ruling Fianna Fáil party. I believe that the Irish people severely punished the ruling party for their reckless financial endangerment that has severely crippled the Irish economy under their watch.
It must be understood that Fianna Fáil is no ordinary political party. This political institution has been set firmly in place since the declaration of Ireland as a republic in the 1920s and has never seen its public support dip below 39 per cent or 65 seats. However, after this election they will return to Parliament with a mere 20 seats out of 166 seats in the Irish Parliament, being the third party represented in the state. At the time of writing this letter the results show Fine Gael leading with 76 seats and the Irish Labour Party with 37 seats.
The recent elections in Ireland have brought the end to an old system of political cronyism and tribal power. However, the question is what to replace it with? The make-up of the new government will certainly determine the answer to that question. The Irish Labour Party arguably holds the balance of power. They can do one of two things: either choose to remain in opposition, and lead it for the first time in history; or serve in government with the hopes of curtailing the harsher elements of Fine Gael centre-right policy.
The negotiations that will take place over the coming days will be crucial for the future of Ireland’s politics.
Is there a lesson for Guyana as political change continues to unfold in the wider world? While many Guyanese are fed up and frustrated with the oppressiveness of the current regime, many are not at that point where they are ready to forcefully demonstrate that frustration and clamour for democracy with the risk of losing life, limb or freedom.
The reason that statement is factual is that three months ago the Mandela Dumpsite and its atrocious state demanded something drastic to be done in order to avoid possible disease of pandemic propositions.
Not one resident living within the immediate proximity of this health hazard came out in protest. Instead two lone voices both of whom live more than a mile away from this problem were the only ones out protesting. We all know the rest of the story that followed their arrest.
Since it has been established that Guyanese are not prepared to take to the streets to demand democracy, then their only recourse will have to be in free and fair elections. The Guyanese revolution must come on Election Day. That revolution will be an all-day revolution that showcases the unmistakable demand for democracy in Guyana. In some areas, the revolution might last longer than others depending on the length of the line. But regardless of the weather, all registered Guyanese who have uplifted their voter’s ID cards must join the sometimes long line of revolutionaries and place their Xs rightly.
It is that time for political change in Guyana. The two main opposition parties have a wealth of very well qualified, politically experienced, astute, honorable and distinguished minds that can together rescue Guyana from its free-fall into the deep dark void of corruption and incompetent governance.
Let your demonstration for democracy commence with your registration to vote. Maintain that momentum by uplifting your ID cards from GECOM. And on Election Day, brave the weather and the wait and place your X for freedom, good governance, transparency, rule of law, better quality of life, economic development, racial harmony and all the other tenets of a democracy that are currently missing in action in Guyana.
Richard Francois

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