This nation has reached its nadir

Jul 31, 2011 Letters

Dear Editor,
As aptly said by Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”
The US State Dept report and daily news are further confirmation of the pervasive corruption, lawlessness and social degradations destroying the life of this nation and denying citizens what are justly theirs, and why it becomes imperative we speak out.
Though the Guyana Constitution guarantees the right to equality, justice, prosperity and security for all, the required pillars for development and peaceful coexistence, they continue to be disregarded by the custodians of our laws, and holders of government office. What has been passing for governance is nothing short of debauchery and executive lawlessness.
While the judiciary has constitutional protection to function free from interference, its mandate does not escape political interference through government’s actions or inactions, giving credence to the principle that justice delayed is justice denied.
The state of policing, including deteriorating police/community relations, demoralisation amongst law-abiding officers striving to maintain their integrity and serve and protect inspite of the odds and having to bear witness to protection given to rouge cops by officialdom, are well known. Recall is made of the US fugitive and drug lord Roger Khan’s public admittance of his association with the government.
Today we hear of New York-based businessman Ed Ahmad mortgage fraud, Sukhu $300m award of tax payers’ money for computers acquisition, which are preceded by Lumumba’s dolphin scandal, law books and duty free scams and others too numerous to mention.
All these incidents have shared commonality of government association, complicity and/or protection.
The folly of President Jagdeo’s advice to a CARICOM grouping to “focus less on process and more on result” has resulted in the creation and twining of the formal and informal economies to create the illusion of legitimate development and prosperity; and the violation of rights and the rule of law, where might has become right and fear stalks the land creating a sea of silence misconstrued as contentment with the destructive state of affairs. Police have become hired guns; infrastructures are collapsing shortly after completion; violations of laws are rampant as seen with the construction of Pradoville 2, the failure to enforce the laws to protect some sections of the society or give a pass to others, and the misappropriation of our tax dollars, to name a few, have become the daily staple.
No law abiding Guyanese would want to associate with this charade that passes for governance. Right is right and wrong is wrong regardless of which group complies or violates. This society is founded on universal laws and principles and what goes for Peter must also go for Prem. This country is being brought into disrepute and the citizens given a bad name because of the clandestine association and mismanagement of this administration-abhorrent behaviours shunned by law abiding governments but find comfort and protection in this cabal. This nation has reached its nadir and the law-abiding have had enough.

Escalating efforts to silence the voices of reason as seen with the dictatorial Broadcasting and Access to Information Bills, the “relevant authorities” harassing C.N Sharma and causing him to pull the Gaskin/Ram “Keeping them Honest” program, withdrawal/reduction of state advertisements to private media, threatening the private sector to withhold/release advertising dollars or donations, denial of subventions, starving communities of state resources and denying the citizenry their right to association, though intended to suppress us, must see us not being deterred but energised to applying innovative means to get our messages out and taking a united stand against the wrongs.
Ours is a moral and civic responsibility to bring an end to the degradation by vociferously condemning these abnormalities/defects and assiduously work to change them.
As a people, we can no longer only possess/apply the will to survive or flee, but must also be imbued with the will to stand up and fight for what is just and right, for these are the necessary ingredients in the making of a good society.
The time is nigh to take our country back from these brigands; to take charge of our destiny and mould one that would ensure equality, opportunities, law and order for all; and will earn us the respect of self and for country.
Lincoln Lewis

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