God only help those who help themselves

Apr 25, 2013 Features / Columnists, Freddie Kissoon

Do you know that Zimbabwe has a power sharing government in which the opposition Movement for Democratic Change is in the Cabinet in a shared governance and shared government formula with PM Mugabe’s ZAPU?
Forget about the nonsense Prime Minister Sam Hinds makes about the distinction between the two in Guyana. Once there is shared government there is shared governance; once there is shared governance then the process of government is shared because government is a very broad concept.
Do you know that Aung San Suu, the repressed, suppressed victim of cruel Burmese dictatorship just three years ago, won a seat last year in Parliament and is likely to become the next president in general elections in a few years time?
When you look back at the worse case scenarios in Zimbabwe and Burma you would never believe that in three years time, Zimbabwe would have had the opposition in the Cabinet and Burma would make the transition from dictatorship to semi-democratic forms. It is simply incredible when you look at the levels of dictatorship in those two countries.
For thousands and thousands of Guyanese hope and optimism would have sprung up like a billion roses if after the 2011 elections, there was shared governance and shared government. This columnist knows deep in his heart that if there was shared governance there is no way, the leaders in APNU and the AFC that I know personally would have allowed the UG Council to terminate my contract. I say this most boldly without hesitation.
There is no way, if there was shared governance in this country after 2011 elections, Region Three officials would have seized the goods and stalls of vendors, take them to the ocean front and burn them all to cinders. There is no way if there was shared governance in Guyana after the 2011 elections, only PPP family members and friends would have received radio licenses and frequencies.
I could go on but I believe readers understand the point I am making.
It is not only Zimbabwe and Burma that have gone beyond Guyana, the transitions are too numerous to mention. In Pakistan, momentous things are happening. Imagine, strongman, Musharraf, former president, is in jail after arriving back in Pakistan last week.
There is a possibility that the superstar cricketer of yesteryear, Imran Khan, may become Pakistan’s Prime Minister in near future elections. Over in Venezuela, we have a fifty-one percent president, meaning he barely scraped home and for this columnist the Elections Council is not thoroughly professional.
During his presidency, Chavez damaged the professionalism of public institutions.
Guyana remains a near fifty-year old tragedy. It has to pierce the inner soul of every Guyanese that while the world changes (my God, even Pakistan, Burma and Zimbabwe), there is talk of political instability in the near future because our political culture remains hardened, nurtured and perpetuated by those in power the past fifty years.
But surely the election results last year should have seen some shifting ground. This was not to be. It is simply incredible to listen to what comes out of the mouths of the parliamentarians from the ruling party during the budget debate. Most of the Ministers have made a plea to the opposition not to cut this or that item.
Each one of these Ministers, in their pleas, has expressly acknowledged that their respective estimates could be chopped down by the opposition so why were there not patriotic negotiations a year ago? Why must I wait until January 1 of the year to beg you not to reject my dog licence when for the entire previous year I could have sat down and reasoned things out with you?
Last Monday and last Wednesday, budget talks between the President and the Opposition flopped because authoritarian power is not prepared and has not been disposed for a long time now to accede to any request of the two opposition parties. The increase in electricity rates in Linden was halted and the whole of Guyana knows why.
The e-governance tower was removed from the Plaisance community ground and the whole of Guyana knows why.
In both situations, authoritarian power was confronted in zero sums ways. For the communities in Linden and Plaisance there was no backing down. Burma, Zimbabwe, Pakistan and Venezuela are going to leave Guyana by billons (not millions) of miles in the coming years.
While they have their future, Guyanese will secure theirs by lining up for an American visa. If there is a God, he better start helping this nation. But then again, God only helps those who help themselves.

Latest News

God only help those who help themselves

Related

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show|| April, 11th, 2025

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

Runsfest ends in draw, as arch rivals play hearts out

Guyana Harpy Eagles trio fined for breaching...

Sport Ministry injects $3M into EDFA League

GCB President meets U15 team ahead of Regional...

Jumbo Jet Thoroughbred Racing Committee, Guyana...

Week 3 of East Bank FA Boys’ U14 League shines...

Features/Columnists

The mirage of citizen investment

Collaborative Government–Private Sector Action Imperative for a Resilient Trade Future

The Great American Experiment

Publisher’s Note

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]

God only help those who help themselves

Share this:

Related

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show|| April, 11th, 2025

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

Features/Columnists

Publisher’s Note

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]