Let us move forward positively and wisely

Dec 06, 2011 Letters

DEAR EDITOR,
According to novelist Alphonse Karr, ”the more things change the more they remain the same.” The rumour mill in Guyana is reputedly the most efficient and reliably calibrated tool of destruction of the human psyche ever created by the deformed minds of the malicious, the uneducated and the vindictive. It was well-lubricated over the last two weeks.
Consequently, businesses planned for interruptions, schools for intrusions into their curriculum, families became tense and the speeches of the politicians became increasingly vitriolic. On the day of elections and the day of the declaration of results, the streets were essentially abandoned and only the brave or the foolish dared to traverse the lonely byways and highways of Georgetown. Aggression and bullyism had become the order of the day. Carefully crafted words were designed to excite the baser emotions of humankind. The spirit of deception was poured out liberally.
The media, indifferent to making positive contributions to the image of Guyana latched onto the trivial and the mundane at the expense of egoism and personal agendas.
The professionalism of the media is still a sore point of concern. NCN did not change this image when it, in a display on non-creativity and as uninspiring as watching paint dry, televised the results of the General Elections continuously without even an analysis of the results at hand. Visibly missing was the conversion of the incoming raw data to meaningful, thought-provoking and insightful information that would have quelled the fears and misinformation that travelled at Facebook and Twitter speeds.
The Joint Forces’ absence from the major streets was a source of great concern. One would have assumed that given the past, relative to the General Elections, that five years would have been sufficient time to plan to put into operation any Strategic Plan that would have considered the security of the citizens of Guyana, the rumour-mongering and the criminal elements which was bound to raise its ugly head. In essence, one seems to enjoy this Five-year psychotic episode.
Every five years, the citizens of Guyana become psychologically affected in a Pavlovian way when the words General Elections are mentioned. Our innocent children, pawns in this political-game, are forced to take sides. Reason goes out the window and education seems to have very little impact on one’s decision-making.
As we congratulate the current President, we ought to consider preparing for the next 5 years starting today.
Firstly, there should be evidence that the political leaders have regular discussions with each other, even socially as we see in Barbados and other well administered countries, where collaboration effectively leads to cohesions, politically and socially.
Secondly, based on the funds allocated to the election campaign, similar amounts, if allocated to educating the public on matters of mutual interest and the promotion of the Manifestos, could help the electorate to make informed choices. The Private Sector Commission, the Chambers of Commerce, GECOM, the EAB and the ERO could contribute in a meaningful way to quelling the fears and reducing the gross ignorance of the voters. Furthermore, the religious community has a major role to play in maintaining some modicum of peace throughout the years and more specifically, during the election year.
Thirdly, the media needs to be more responsible, fair and impartial.
Having the Commonwealth, OAS, CARICOM and other Observer groups was quite an accomplishment and must continue to be an integral part of Guyana’s elections. Their presence led to a high level of support and confidence in the election process.
When all is said and done, the behaviour of our political leaders and citizens are being monitored daily. Decisions relative to international investments in Guyana and the provision of educational and other services as pointed out by President Jagdeo at the Feminition Conference will be affected adversely if we are not more prudent. For the good of our citizens and more specifically, our youth, let us move forward positively and wisely.
Ralph Emerson put it best when he wrote that, “to laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children, to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends…to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is the meaning of success.”
Wayne W. Barrow

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