The electorate should not be compromised for political ambitions and short-sighted gains

Feb 18, 2012 Letters

DEAR EDITOR,
The election last November 2011 should have set out new challenges and generated the long-awaited tsunami that would have swept away the mounting debris of corruption, along with severing the corrosive tentacles of political mismanagement that have kept a stranglehold on the country for countless decades.
If the current state of play is an indicator, then the future is looking even bleaker than before, with real democratic power remaining an illusion to the electorate. Politicians of all shades hide under clever banners such as ‘progressive’ and ‘change’ but they seem to shy away, when the opportunity arises for them to deliver on their promises. The University of Guyana, the fountain of learning for our young people, has now become a political arena, where inept politicians are able to exercise over-riding sway on the future direction of higher education.
Even able lecturers are not immune, with media reporting that one was recently targeted to become a political scapegoat for just standing out and insisting to exercise his freedom of speech; which is his enshrined democratic rights.
Any responsive, accountable government of the people would have gladly welcomed criticisms with open arms. Critics provide an important role, which can prove far more beneficial in the conduct and strengthening of any democracy. In fact, a great opportunity was missed and which could have been turned round and used to garner much needed public support for an ailing, lacklustre ruling party. To have reinstated this dedicated lecturer would have been a noble act, and an opportunity for them to demonstrate a willingness to embrace change and a new vision for the future. Government should reach out to its people and not seek to protect themselves in ivory towers. Even extending an apology would not imply weakness.
Alas, magnanimity is not in the arsenal of inane politicians determined to silence their critics. This must give rise to suspicions that there is much to be feared and to be kept hidden away from the public. It also militates against the message delivered by the electorate to the ruling party; a party that has doggedly refused to pass a Freedom of Information Act.
Freedom of Information was the horse fondly groomed by some aspiring politicians. The time has come, but no one seems ready and prepared to jump on this gallant horse to reach the winning post. Then there is the myriad of other issues that are desperately crying out for attention from politicians. There is a lack of public transparency and accountability. Policing and security does not inspire confidence in their ability to protect the public. A weak justice system has become bogged down and overwhelmed by a mountain of case backlogs. Communities are thus being deprived of timely, fair and equitable justice, since they must wait years for the justice system to grind into action and to present matters for court hearings.
The electorate is paramount and they should not be compromised for political ambitions and short-sighted gains. There should be no room for the Nero approach to fire-fighting and the opportunity should not be squandered away, if the country is to move forward and towards a better future.
Mac Mahase

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