Should we love our country?

Dec 24, 2017 News

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By Leonard Gildarie

“The whole concept of the self-made man or woman is a myth. None of us can make it in life without help”- Arnold Schwarzenegger at a University of Houston commencement.
I was looking at a video sent to me yesterday featuring the beloved Arnold who was making a speech at a university forum. Truer words could not be spoken. Which person can truly say that they became successful without any help? Somebody, somewhere, had to extend credit or believed in you and took a chance.
Arnold told a story of coming to the US as a young man with $20 in his pocket and bag of sweaty gym clothes. Some gym members brought him plates and others gifted him the things necessary for a man now starting off on his own.
Arnold, who starred in some of the biggest blockbusters including the Terminator series, is a shrewd actor, producer, businessman, investor, author, philanthropist, activist, and former professional bodybuilder and politician. He even became Governor of California.
The Austria-born man is now worth between US$300M and US$400M.
In Guyana, yet another Christmas is upon us and 2017 is almost firmly seeing the end of the road in the horizon.
We have come to the end of a trying year where the Coalition Government has reached it mid-term. The challenges have been gigantic. Changes include to the sugar industry, and tightening of the tax systems. We have functioning boards in place now, with Local Government Elections due again next year.
Affairs in the National Assembly riveted the nation, and it is clear that the Opposition, which represents a little less than half of the populace, according to the results of the 2015 general elections, is in elections mode.
I have said it and will say it again…our Opposition has to do its job in the National Assembly.
However, in my mind also, we have to look at the bigger picture. I cannot shake the feeling that in our enthusiasm to outdo each other in the squared circle of politics, we lose sight of what is good for Guyana. It surely cannot be about which political group that has the biggest muscles.
We have to take a collaborative stance on threats to this nation, including coming from Venezuela.
Issues of crime and trade, hot button topics like pension and NIS and monitoring of infrastructural projects have to become a people thing, instead of leaving it to the politicians.
This period is a time for deep reflection.
The new year, 2018, has to see some gains. Every day lost is an opportunity gone for this country. The Guyana Revenue Authority will be reporting on almost $20B more in revenues collected compared to 2016.
I stood in front of the offices of Kaieteur News and continued to wonder how we are going to cope with traffic situation in the city in coming years.
The congestion was heightened during the season, and it was never more evident than on the East Bank Demerara, with persons living across the river feeling the brunt. A new bridge has to become one of the top five priorities for us. We lose billions of dollars annually in wear and tear to vehicles and man hours, because of the current bridge. It does not matter what measures are put in place, the congestion will continue until a new bridge is built.
It was clear this Christmas that despite no backpay for some categories of state employees, the enthusiasm for shopping has not waned. Guyanese love their Christmas. They work the entire year, and the cleaning and dressing that comes with it is all part of the excitement.
Perhaps the biggest hit for me this year has been the patriotism shown by businesses and our citizens when it came to giving. We have noticed a marked increase in donations coming, including toys, and even the administration seemed to have caught on.
The outreaches to especially outlying, impoverished areas, to distribute gifts to children, have been heart-warming. These are little things that make our country unique.
We are a warm people who just need a little nudge in the right direction.
This Christmas, let us endeavour to pay a little more attention to our neighbours. Let us be aware of the strangers in our communities. Let us cast an eye every so often at our neighbour’s yard to ensure they are okay. If we have, let us share a little.
Like Arnold said, we cannot do it all by ourselves.
I have tons of friends and relatives in the US. Quite a few of them would criticize the crime rate and what the Government and Opposition are doing wrong. I ask: why don’t you come back and help fix it? I guess you know the answer.
So we spoke this week on lots of random thoughts. I will be spending this Christmas with my family; maybe have a few of them over. It is how it should be.
Merry Christmas folks!

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