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Is Government the problem?

May 19, 2015 Editorial

Whether it is true or not, it is said that Guyana’s small population of 748,000 has been a definite advantage to its economic development. The country is endowed with the conditions and resources to create one of the best societies in the Hemisphere and perhaps in the world. But the former PPP government imitated development, destroyed the country’s uniqueness and heritage, and embarked on a strategy that did not lead to the empowerment of the people.
Not having defined development, the government at the time had no instrument to shape the society and so it never fully understood the meaning and role of good governance and accountability. It never even studied the fundamentals to understand that the sole purpose of government is to create the economic, social and physical infrastructure for efficiency, creativity and productivity in society; with the state then moving aside and allowing the people to pursue their individual dreams and in the process contribute to the stability and sustainability of the country.
If the government had devoted enough time to that single concept, Guyanese would have been prosperous and free, creative and confident, capable and responsible, rich and not poor. Guyana would have become a true and wealthy society instead of a country with large sectors of poor people, unpaved roads, inadequate potable water and poor electricity. And the country’s education and health systems and infrastructure would not have deteriorated as much.
But the PPP government strayed; it created a wasteful, inefficient and vindictive system which suffocated individual initiatives and marginalized non-party supporters.  There has been massive corruption.
Yet, while resources still abound the people will not stop trying until they achieve their power and glory. The majority of them are disciplined, productive, hardworking and heroic in their sacrifices to measure up to the responsibilities that life has allotted them. It is they and not the government who keep the society afloat.
They remain the bulwark of stability in society, pushing the country forward. Guyana would have been a great nation if the people were allowed to always do their best in their several spheres. The leap in productivity and creativity would have been enormous. But there were obstacles in their path due to the PPP failed policies to wastage and thievery; lawlessness; incompetency and inadequate public-service delivery; all and more have prevented the people from reaching their glory of the nation.
Instead of achieving greatness, the country has had a steady decline in living standards since 2000. Crime has made life increasingly harsh and unbearable for the people; corruption has destroyed the fabric of society and the nation has become more disjointed.
It is a constant struggle for the vast majority who see the wealthy and the politically connected creaming off everything at the top and almost always through corrupt means, thus leaving the crumbs for the masses.
Corruption has destroyed the nation and its people. There is a deep inner hurt, accompanied by desperation to get ahead in society but for most, the future is dim. PPP dirty politics has worsened the plight of the people and has kept the nation at the elementary level of development. The people are eager to lead but the politicians always fail to heed.
The glory of the country has been undoubtedly denied. All Guyanese wanted to do was to develop a caring and compassionate culture in the country; influence society and refined its tastes, values, ideals and aspirations, where there can be justice and equality for all, care for the downtrodden and the infirm, nurturing of the children, and the protection of history and heritage in order to be able to draw inspiration from the heroic struggles of those who have gone before us. These are the needs of the people who wanted change and voted for it. Will they be fulfilled by the newly sworn-in Coalition government? I strongly believe so.

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