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Apathy abounds in Guyana

Jan 06, 2015 Editorial

Someone once said that it would be interesting to analyse the mindset of the people of Guyana. This view was expressed when different groups of people got to discussing Guyana and its complexities.
For one, it was a widely held view that the people are litigious. Indeed, it would appear that way since the courts appear to be overburdened. People sue for just about everything, from the placement of fences to comments that would appear to be harmless at first glance.
Kaieteur News has attracted more than its fair share of lawsuits from entities and persons who by no stretch of imagine could argue that their actions are beyond reproach. For questioning the contract between the government and the New Guyana Pharmaceutical Corporation, it has to defend its comments in the courts.
It must also defend its report that some of the drugs supplied to the government under the contract are priced higher than even drugs obtained in the retail outlets. This too has sparked a lawsuit.
Some of the other lawsuits spring from criticisms of the arrangement in place for the construction of the Marriott Hotel and of the person spearheading the construction. Indeed these are all pending matters so there can be no comment on them.
Another group has found that Guyanese for the greater part are an apathetic people. They could not care less about daily happenings, choosing instead, to be more concerned with providing maintenance and support for their immediate households.
Indeed, this is a far cry from what one would see when small groups assemble for a favourite pastime as is the case when people meet to imbibe. Then, the conversation would suggest a marked interest in the happenings; views would fly, but as soon as that group dissipates, each member becomes individuals again, steeped in personal business.
It was this apathy that saw some thirty per cent of the voting population refusing to cast their ballot in the 2011 elections. The campaign was more about criticizing the critics than about highlighting the developments that would have occurred between the previous elections and then.
At the same time there was talk about rampant corruption to the point that the international community sat up and took notice. The people themselves were convinced from the evidence before them that corruption was the order of the day.
At the same time, those who refrained to vote, unlike their counterparts in North America and the Caribbean who simply switch political allegiance, Guyanese remain steadfast to their political party but they simply would not go to the polls. That is a demonstration of their resentment. Apathy comes later.
And indeed there seems to be a large dose of apathy in the society. General strikes are now one of the most difficult calls by any trade union grouping. Although people may be in support of the cause they would prefer to sit on the sidelines. Of course they would accept the benefits if any, from the strike but they would not express any displeasure if there are no benefits.
Political parties do not attract the huge crowds as they did in the days gone by; people remain blissfully unaware of the daily happenings and of the mistakes or developments around them.
Money is always a rallying point. Except for people in the sugar industry and public servants in general, one would not believe that people were dissatisfied with their earnings. There are no protests of consequence so the government keeps making announcements of arbitrary annual increases, particularly at Christmas time.
It could be that protests of the past yielded nothing but further hardships so people have come to the realization that rather than expend energy and get nowhere, it is better that they remain in a cocooned existence.
But it is here that the danger lies. People believe that they can operate outside the established framework of the government and the institutions in the society. The result is a marked increase in murders and other social ills, less communication with the agents of society and blissful ignorance of the things that matter.

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