Quoting philosopher Stuart Mills to condemn the Government

Dec 03, 2015 Letters

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Dear Editor,
With reference to the letter by Mr Anil Nandlall, captioned “Discrimination: Three cases for Amna Ally”, Mr Nandlall highlights gross discrimination by the APNU/AFC Government and in doing so he spotlights the fact that widespread discrimination stretches back five long decades. His letter also prods serious concerns regarding the persistence of aforesaid problem and its implications.
Editor, it is no secret discrimination is rampant pushing our country into calamity, turning every aspect of life upside down. Discrimination can be described by many words, none of them good.  Such an action is dreadful, hideous, unlawful, inhumane, lawless, inexcusable and immoral to say the least. Discrimination infringes both on our human rights – article 7 (Universal Declaration of Human Rights) and article 149 (see The Constitution of the Republic of Guyana) – effectively creating rancor, deepening rifts, chocking development and thwarting unity. Plus it induces feelings of anxiousness, sadness, stress, depression and despair.  Is it no wonder we have a whole slew of mental health problems including alcoholism and suicide.
Mr. Nandlall argues three cases of discrimination by the shameless APNU/AFC government: it has fired roughly 2,000 Amerindians, it has yanked street lights away from Bath and Bush Lot residents, and it has further tilted the work force in its favour. An unprincipled image of Government emerges when one examines its dishonorable record on discrimination and brings into question the genuineness of Government’s mantra on unity.  What can be sadder than this for the entire country?  Such injustice surfaces largely because freedom of expression is stifled.  Government is of the opinion that it can get away with “murder” and we won’t object fearing retaliation.  A glaring case highlighting suffocation of freedom of speech is the fact that even news editors fearing retaliation won’t publish letters that are of opposite political views.  Freedom of expression is a powerful weapon and can be effectively used to fight against discrimination. Its strangulation has allowed discrimination to rage out of control. So Mr. Nandlall stories are unsurprising. Harking back to the early days as an independent nation, Mr Burnham muzzled freedom of expression effectively violating our human rights (article 19) and constitutional rights (article 146).  Mr. Burnham dysfunctional legacies still percolate.
Editor, even though diversity is a strength which can lead to unfettered innovation among other benefits, the myopic APNU/AFC Government smacks it down. Government needs to know that “no man is an island”.  Government is too dysfunction to rule a multiethnic society. This effectively renders the Ministry of social Cohesion useless and a waste of tax payer’s dollars. Government’s actions can only be described as shameful, disgraceful, inhumane, dubious, uncivilized and fanatic. The PNC (APNU) has a record of abusing Guyanese and so its actions are not surprising. Is there any one in Guyana who does not believe our votes have been stolen election after election?   Our wounds haven’t been healed and yet our Government continues to pile on more abuse.  When will this injustice end?
Even though, I see eye to eye with Mr Nandlall on issues of discrimination, I wonder why the PPP/C lacked
the courage to diversify.  They had 23 years to accomplish this. Diversifying the work force is the moral, just, sensible, honorable and fair thing to do in a multiethnic society. The PPP/C shilly-shallies on issues – it needs to be decisive to protect all. Its actions are inexcusable. As the English Philosopher, John Stuart Mill said “A person may cause evil to others not only by his actions but by his inaction, and in either case he is justly accountable to them for the injury”. Every man deserves a fair chance. We all need to survive. The APNU/AFC Government campaigned on the platform of change and, may I ask, where is the change?  This is betrayal.
The rogue APNU/AFC Government owes the public an explanation for its discriminatory actions.   It also needs to offer the public an apology while adjusting its actions to include all Guyanese.  Failure to comply with any of these should result in law suits.  Citizens need to take to the street in peacefully protests.  Inaction is inexcusable and will only snowball the situation. Government’s lack of respect for the Guyanese is a reflection of our culture, dating back to the Burnham era. Government is inculcating wrong values fueling all sorts of injustice including an out of control crime spree.  Government’s stance on unity is bogus. It hypocritically gloats about unity when in fact it uses it as a ploy shielding discrimination.Those that have crossed party lines in support of the APNU/AFC coalition in the 2015 elections will inexorably leap into disenchantment. A multiethnic society such as ours will never develop unless Government plays it fair.
Dr. Cecil Dilip Kumar

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