A reality in Guyana that must be faced

May 17, 2016 Letters

Dear Editor,

There are signs that things are not right in the country and difficult times may lie ahead. The economy is sliding, the national debt is increasing, and the price for sugar, rice and gold is falling and bauxite is all but dead today. But some in the government are denying this reality and are claiming that the country is rapidly making progress when it is not. Guyana, the beautiful land of wood, water, ideal weather and an abundance of wealth, natural resources and excellent human talent and skills has become the land of corruption and dishonesty, with crime, gang warfare and gun violence ravaging the country. Money, power, greed and poverty are the driving forces behind many of the evils in the country. Men no longer love or prize the life of their fellow men. Live and enjoy life which has been the popular view held by many is nothing but a cliché for most citizens at their convenience. Times have changed, and life has become more difficult and dangerous for the masses.
When a country finds itself in the position where the elderly and law abiding citizens are constantly being robbed and murdered, it means that things are not right in the country. In the first four months of 2016, the country has recorded 51 murders most of which were committed by bandits. Guyana’s population of approximately 745 thousand people is too small to have 100 or more homicides on a yearly basis.
In the past fifteen years, poor governance, massive corruption and inept policies have reaped havoc on the country’s economy and its people. The political fiasco created by the last administration shows that it could have hardly managed its own internal party affairs, yet it was entrusted to run the affairs of the country. Now in opposition, its leaders continue to behave as if they are still in power. Arrogance continue to permeate Freedom House and some members of the opposition have become cocky. While in office, they were obsessed with power and claimed they have a right to entitlement, but now in opposition, they are like “fish out of water.” For the most part, their actions have been immature and self-destructive, and being partisan, they seem to be vying for the worst behaved political prize in society.
All this makes one wonder what is really happening in the opposition camp. Many of their devoted supporters are not intrigued by their leaders’ parochial efforts to promote the interests of the people. Many of their supporters know that crime affects everyone and claimed that instead of casting blame on the government for the high crime rate, the PPP should join the administration to help reduce it. This could improve the image of the party and the credibility of its leaders. It is time for the PPP to stop its charade and be real. After all, crime is not a partisan issue, it knows no political stripe; it ruins communities. So irrespective of political affiliation or ethnicity, all must the government to eradicate crime from society.
The people are sick to their stomachs at the way criminals are roaming the streets. Murder and armed robberies seem to become the norm rather than the exception, and the people’s right to live the way they should has been ruined. Guyana is far from returning to its once glorious, happy and peaceful days when families could leave their doors unlocked and when armed robberies and murders were scarce. Most rural communities were safe and neighbors looked out for one another. Simply put, they had each other’s back.
Maybe the time has come for people not to depend on politicians but should humble themselves and become their brothers’ keeper. They must also pray for the criminals to turn from their wicked ways and become righteous. However, things are not right in the country for this to happen. The poverty gap has widened and the poor have become poorer. Youth unemployment is high and there are few decent paying jobs available. Indeed, things are not right in the country.
Observer (name supplied)

1 thoughts on “A reality in Guyana that must be faced”

Surujpaul Rampersaud May 17, 2016 at 1:49 pm

I am not a politician and have no political affiliation. I am in agreement with what you have written with some exception. This crime situation started before fifteen years ago. I remember living in rural Guyana and had to do vigilante duties twice per week during the eighties. Now I realize what a risk that was because we had nothing to defend our self with. Thank God up to this day that community was never overrun by bandits. You seem to place the blames at the doors at the PPP thus exonerating what was done by the PNC. Both parties must squarely share the blame. Most Indian Guyanese see no wrong with the PPP and in the same vein most African Guyanese see no wrong with the current administration. It takes two hands to clap. The PPP needs to give support and the current must accommodate and initiate such support because they are in the driver’s seat.