The prayers of Guyanese is with the Glenn Lalls of this country

Sep 18, 2014 Letters

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DEAR EDITOR,
Living abroad for years now, we know that Guyanese have been following with much interest the happenings in Guyana. There was a time when many Guyanese fought for an opportunity to leave to seek their fortunes elsewhere. Those were tough days when basic things were hard to come by and there were lines…long lines for things like oil and even our beloved dhal. The older folks would not forget it.
The 1992 elections were felt by many to be an opportunity for Guyana to rise above the ashes. One has heard many times over of the resources that this country has, yet we have been unable to capitalize to turn this country into something.
One is not oblivious to the examples of Singapore and Malaysia to see the possibilities of what Guyana can become. There was some time in the late ‘90s that and 2000s that one felt as if something was happening. Then the newspaper reports became filled with horror stories of Guyana under siege from criminals who killed policemen and citizens at will and even shot up police stations.
Editor, there are many Guyanese who yearn to return home. Things have not been easy in the US. But many Guyanese have sold their homes and have nowhere to come to. This has not stopped them from yearning. The decision to come back home has become much harder with what is being reported daily. In addition to the crime, there are daily reports of what, at first glance, appears to be a country going downhill, and downhill real fast.
The Government of the day, with an inept Opposition, has been using its executive powers to push through many of its pet projects, most of which started under the last administration.
Many of the projects…the Amaila Falls hydro electric project, the CJIA extension, the specialty hospital and even a new Demerara Harbour Bridge, are good ideas. So why are we going wrong?
The Government since the 2011 elections has been behaving as if it is still in full control.
The people have clearly spoken that they were not happy with the situation. The country, in the 2011 General and Regional Elections, said that while the administration is the one that should lead the country, it wanted a Government that was shared…one that spoke to everyone.
The situation in the National Assembly which left the PPP holding the Presidency but the Opposition in charge of the law-making was an ideal opportunity for a mature Guyana to emerge.
Yet, the last three years have been fraught with one challenge after another. The Opposition wanted answers on the projects and the Government was less than forthcoming.
The Surendra issue is a classical example. The Government was warned.
You cannot have two family members living in one home and not talking to each other. There are bound to be problems.
We read with much alarm now how two newspapers – Kaieteur News and Stabroek News – the former being the paper with the largest circulation in the country – being heavily criticised by Government over reports and their stance on calling for local government elections which have been delayed for 20 years.
It does not spell well for Guyana when the media comes under attack. This should not be the path that Guyana should be treading.
Mr. Glenn Lall, the Publisher of Kaieteur News, is now under attack for his newspaper’s stance on issues.
We read of how the newspaper has even been refusing ads from entities which it felt were benefitting in an illegal manner from the state. Which newspaper or media entity does this? The bottom line for any media house should be its revenues.
Yet, Editor, Kaieteur News has courageously, and at times standing alone, been going out there to present the true picture of what is actually taking place in our beloved country.
By saying that he refused to take monies for ads that comes from an illegal empire, built by a few renegade Government officials, Kaieteur News through its leader, Glenn Lall, is saying he will not endorse wrongdoing. Of course, the newspaper is paying the price from all the court actions we have been reading about.
There is no doubt in the minds of the people living in Guyana and those who have fled over the years that something is dreadfully wrong.
President Donald Ramotar has struck many as being a decent man, but his very silence in the many wrongs has deflated the belief that he could make meaningful changes.
But all is not lost. There is still time for cool heads to prevail – for us as a country to say to the rest of the world that we can stand tall as a proud and a resilient people.
Editor, I thank you and your team, and that of Stabroek News and the few independent media  entities which have been battling in the trenches, for the good job of standing up, albeit alone sometimes, for what is right and what is correct.
May God bless Guyana!
M. Bacchus

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