The world has changed, Guyana has not

Jul 04, 2019 Editorial

In times before, regime change was brought about by agitation in the streets, or from the army, or through the economy. Well, those heady punishing times are gone. Nowadays, the objectives may be similar, but the strategies are more nuanced.
There are no more big power-backed administration changes –well, not as openly as before. Now there is one tortured unending state: public homage to democratic processes, vigilant media listeners and watchers, open societies, groundswells of condemnation, shrewd adversaries, agitated social environments, and diversity and inclusion on the ascendancy.
But just don’t tell that to Guyana. Political leaders and extremist supporters settle for the hard lines of the old times. No compromise; no negotiation; no agreement. Let there be more of the same.
Second, in the working world, extend a well-meaning compliment with a comely figure and there is the great risk of creating an uncomfortable space, a hostile environment.
Women’s liberation and workplace freedoms are being taken to greater heights, new territory elsewhere. Though, at times, overblown, it is the way it should be.
Meanwhile, in Guyana, unwelcomed and forced attention leaves three options: forced submission; forced out; forced resignations. To some extent, local men and women are open to the abusive, the contributory, the imprisoning. No fallout for, and no fear from, predators. Refer to CJIA.
Third, the world reels from the perils of ecstasy, meth, opioids, and other highly addictive drugs; in the next instance, for young, supposedly smart Guyanese, those are cool, and the latest in sophisticated fashion.
Acceptance and experimenting are in; turning back and saying no out. School daze….
In responsible societies, political principals clamor for the cures of the highest courts, and then swallow the medicines no matter how bitter they are; regardless of how unmanageable are the side effects; be such at either the individual or group level.
The US election of 2000 stands as powerful testimony to such unselfishness and long-range sacrifice. In good old Guyana, when the higher courts do not deliver what is anticipated, then it is damn the messengers and back to the beginning of the starting line for yet another journey to nowhere.
Fifth, in other places, bodycams are gaining reluctant acceptance: about baring truth, justice, discrimination, professionalism, and either principle or best practices. In Guyana, local law enforcement is about delaying and obfuscating and, ultimately, watering down serious incidents of injustice, if not making them disappear completely.
Here the police force is adamant about investigating itself: same story: the dead end of insufficient evidence; or an isolated example and occurrence. The ancient fable of a few bad ones.
Sixth, in the real world when senior public workers (private sector, too) are subject to questions, interest, allegations, and pressure, they hasten to clear the air with truth or trembling confession. Not here. To hell with that. Nobody is owed anything. Not explanations, not excuses, not facts. Ditto for leaders, taxpayers, and citizens. Who are they anyway? What is scandal and reputation and standard? Kiss my derriere all of you.
Last, the most revealing part about all of this is that anybody is called out for any wrongdoing, hauled over the coals, and shown the door. In real societies, there is such a thing as failure to supervise. Boils down to a situation of who should have known what and when did they; the buck stops here; and somebody has to take the fall. Not here.
And yet these are the same men that put on their best costume and most expensive paint and speak about transparency and accountability. The cheats and hypocrites carp about critics and those who dare to, call for heads to roll.

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