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There’s no other way but democracy

Apr 08, 2014 Letters

DEAR EDITOR,
Despite all the lip service on the National Budget.  We all were watching a major debate in the National Assembly on the National Budget over the pros and cons of fiscal austerity.
I view human rights how these rights are exercised in our country. Democracy has been a subject of debate since the time human rights have also been discussed, for centuries.
What then is our philosophy of development? What are the ultimate economic advantages we seek? What we seek from the development of Guyana is to ensure for all of our citizens the best standard of life, based upon values relevant to our society, which is possible within the limits of our economic circumstances.
The development process must produce conditions which will enable every Guyanese to employ his labour, skills and talents productively and, in so doing, secure for him and family the basic necessities of life; food, clothing and housing at acceptable standards, in addition to adequate educational and medical facilities and the opportunity for the full and creative use of his leisure time.
Given the motivation which arises from an understanding and acceptance of philosophical basis of the development process in Guyana, we, the Guyanese people, have the ability and capacity to establish, in our time, a vigorous, well-ordered society which emphasizes the pre-eminence of people and dignity.
A society which guarantees excessive wealth to no man and permits idleness to none, but which gives to every citizen equal and ample scope for the burgeoning and maturing of his particular talents, and affords to all the Guyanese people an abundant life, full opportunity, creativity and challenge.
This is the task, this labour, to which every Guyanese must bend his effort.
That is why there is no time to lose. We must act, push forward with the process of reform and give people economic reform freedom, and then they will themselves realize their potential. We have a great deal to learn. We have to learn to handle politics, the economics and the life of the state.
All of us have a lot to learn, so as to govern within the framework of democracy, of political and in particular, economic pluralism.
Otherwise people’s patience will simply be exhausted. Then there would be an uncontrolled outburst of discontent and chaos and then just expect the worst. No less dangerous for the realization of our plans would be a reaction resulting from the people’s fatigue, the spread of frustration, indifference and apathy.
But for the reforms to succeed people have to believe in them. Without people the reforms will not move off the ground, without their active participation everything will remain a dead letter. Or, on the other hand, there could be a backlash if living conditions become even worse. That would be a heavy blow struck at democracy.
The choice of democracy makes it impossible for us to use any other methods. Otherwise there would inevitably be a repetition in the present, of everything we have condemned. However complicated the problems may be they must be resolved democratically. I see no other way but democracy.
Sherwood Clarke

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