Guyana became a nightmarish state of klepto-capitalism

Aug 15, 2017 Letters

Dear Editor,
General Elections 2020 is a mere 30 months or so away, and you can bet your shrinking dollar that many people will be caught fiddling! And I do not mean just ordinary fiddling by ordinary people, but rather, big-time fiddling by big-time fiddlers, fiddling in very important matters. Or, on the other hand (and here you must ignore your ever-caring politician’s question of “on whose other hand) not really fiddling, but fumbling, and foot-dragging on significant issues vital for this nation’s very survival.
Well, it does not matter, fiddling, fumbling or foot-dragging, the consequences of these actions or inactions can only be tsunamic, and will determine if this apparently blighted land of ours will ever progress, or retrogress, or remain in its half-way state of Limboland.
If asked, most political leaders in this country will without hesitation shout, or mouth, that he/she desires the best for Guyana, that its development is their utmost priority. Some, no doubt, are like Humpty Dumpty who said, “When I use a word, it means just what I choose it to mean- neither more nor less.” Most times that would mean “more” self-enrichment. And more so now that oil is on the horizon, lots of people are drooling themselves to severe dehydration by just imagining those petro-dollars with which they would love to rehydrate, or rather lubricate, their insatiable innards.
Others, in response, will only hiss between their dentures in irritation, and, like the dog, in the story, just close their eyes and continue to recline upon the hay. And exactly what intricate processes these fiddlers employ, what various masterpieces of plans they conceive and implement, in their quest to “develop” this country? Well, for starters, these brainers just bicker non-stop, they posture, they blunder, they oppose more than propose, they plunder, they assume massive self-righteousness and enormous egos, and some become puppets, some royalties, and some “chatrees” in this multi-ethnic land
Then some just swoon in their fantasy world where they actually believe that it is their birth-right to forever rule, or ruin. Yet again, there’s some who would stamp their feet and slap their chests and pledge their hearts to Marxist/Leninist ideals, but ironically, and hypocritically, they submerged this country into a nightmarish state of klepto- capitalism, one of the “isms” that they perfected. And still again there are others who do not seem to have a clue as to what to do to govern. They just lie smug on their crumpled laurels. These gangs of self-servers in their wonder worlds only serve to add a massive burden upon this hapless land.
So how do we, the ordinary, decent, honest, fair-minded rest of us who are struggling to remain sane in these insane times, snatch this country back from the inevitable jaws of self destruction? Certain obstacles can be easily identified, such as a flawed Constitution, massive corruption, racism, pseudo-patriotism, visionless leadership, and even an ex-president who pines for another term.
These problems, although they are difficult ones, are not insurmountable, and solutions can be found in the short(ish) term. The bigger problem, however, and the long term one, is how do we fix, or change the various systems, whatever they are: the Social, the Political, the Educational, the Economical, the Psychological, the Moral, the Cultural, the Etc., that were allowed to slide into chaos and thus created such fertile ground that gave birth to citizens who would explicitly sanction evils like racism, corruption, greed and their accompanying ills as acceptable norms?
Or produce a people that would unflinchingly vote for certain characters who are perceived as the personification of such evils as mentioned above, to be their leaders or even president? This is the Gordian knot which must be untied urgently if our children and grandchildren are to inherit a decent country to live in the future. The question is who will be our Alexander?
A. Smith.

Latest News

Guyana became a nightmarish state of klepto-capitalism

Related

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show | January, 27th, 2025

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

Olympic Kremlin crowned Horse-of-the-Year at One Guyana Thoroughbred...

Guyana Squash Association celebrates historic...

Western Tigers will be 50 this year ‘2025’

UG Honours outstanding athletes at Annual Sports...

East Bank Pool Club set to Cue Off 2025...

Guyana Police Force Senior Officers defeat...

Features/Columnists

The government is in choppy waters

OAS Secretary General Election and renewed OAS Consensus

Half price electricity by half year

Publisher’s Note

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]

Guyana became a nightmarish state of klepto-capitalism

Share this:

Related

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show | January, 27th, 2025

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

Features/Columnists

Publisher’s Note

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]