Ethics seems to be sorely missing in Guyana

Jan 30, 2019 Letters

Dear Editor,

It will take volumes to adequately analyse a discourse in values, ethics and laws in relation to Guyana’s politics. However, given the series of political related events that unfolded over the past months, these important tenets need to be addressed in the most simple and comprehendible manner possible.
Our young people are paying attention and it is frightening to imagine what the possible take away can morph into. We must safeguard their future and cultivate good moral principles in the prevailing environment to foster a healthy society.
Each of us will instinctively define ethics through our own personal experience. There is one fact we must keep in mind, “ethics is dynamic”. In general, ethics is the way we relate to another human being or group of human beings. This relationship needs to be built upon such values as trust, justice and integrity.
In a nutshell, then, ethics is about relating to another person through the “lens of trust”. It is the relational glue that allows us to trust each other in order that we may live together in a creative, rather than a destructive, tension. With this in mind, let us briefly reflect on three incidents, among the many others that can be placed under the ethical microscope.
First, the No Confidence Motion tabled by the opposition, and the subsequent developments surrounding the motion. What should have been relatively straightforward constitutional prescriptions were deliberately twisted and contrived into complex legal deliberations, clearly orchestrated by the government to buy time in office.
Second. GECOM being the independent agency it is, more than one month after the no confidence motion was carried by the National Assembly cannot give an election date, nor at the time of penning this letter, still cannot come up with a realistic timeline in which it is practical to run off national and regional elections.
A cursory glance from afar, gives the impression that GECOM is not treating this matter with the level of urgency that it deserves. Why?
Third, the selection of the opposition’s presidential candidate, I have never seen such an outcry by the general public and more importantly, party supporters, against a politician before. The PPP/C presidential candidate whilst selected through a process that is dubbed democratic, it is crystal clear, as admitted by the general secretary of that party, that he was instrumental in getting the candidate elected and he has no apologies.
After much introspection, regrouping and openly admitting that arrogance and complacency placed them on the opposition bench, now this! If the candidates were to be voted for by the broader PPP membership, would the results be the same?
The adage, “you can’t legislate ethical behaviour” comes to mind.
What is really going down in the beloved motherland? Are either of the two sides relating to the people of Guyana through the “lens of trust”? Is this the political climate that will continue to prevail into the future?
Recently, I read a piece carried by the BBC on Guyana and the tone of that news article reminded me of a story by Flora Squires titled “The Hustlers”, the narrative of two undertakers, Grasper and Grabbit, who in their pitiful self interest would stop at nothing to be favoured for the job of burying a village dead.
What bothered me most is how the country is being viewed and portrayed by others. To all the political groupings, stop setting bad examples, do the right thing, uphold good values and ethics and do not make a mockery of the laws.
The time is ripe to cooperate and work together to achieve the best for Guyana. The Guyanese people are humble, contented and in the big picture really do not demand much. Please reciprocate by being respectful, ethical and caring.

Yours truly,
Andre Dukhia

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