Our leaders need to change their ways

Feb 23, 2022 Letters

Dear Editor,

Last week, after experiencing a virtual lockdown of the Marriott Hotel area, some of us were able to protest peacefully in upper Water Street, between the Kingston Koker and the Lighthouse.

Reminiscent of South Africa Apartheid, I could not get into Wight’s Lane to visit my friend. The police informed me that I needed a pass to get into Wight’s Lane. Unbelievable but true, irksome because I was not informed that the day would come when I would require a pass to enter a City street. I didn’t think the day would come when I would have experienced this kind of humiliation in a City where I was born and managed for several years.

Once in Water Street, the police officers on duty were quite upright even as I reminded them that if the Government managed the vast oil and gas resources well, their salaries could be doubled immediately. Since the end of this oil and gas conference held at the Marriott, I have found no one who did not express dismay at the statements made by the top PPP Government Officials. For those of us who remember the ideological stance of the PPP, that is, of being socialist and working class, could not believe the capitalist rhetoric be heard from those who spoke on behalf of the Government and wrongfully claim they were speaking on behalf of all the people of Guyana.

The absurdity of this is palpable, one half could not represent the whole. My worry grew when over the weekend, I learnt of another Project to convert the Enmore Estate and fifty-five acres of land. My first reaction is how we so easily dishonour the Enmore Martyrs?

The news filtering through without consultation is the launching of a US$60M joint venture for oil field manufacturing – Enmore sugar packaging plant to be transferred as part of deal.’
Democracy is much more than periodic National Elections. It is the governing of a country with ordinary people through their representatives who are informed and consulted when substantial changes are proposed.

It is therefore incumbent that the Government provides details and full disclosure to the Parliament and therefore the people. I am copying this letter to Presidential Advisor, Gerry Gouveia, who among others assured me that President Ali means well. They say that the road to ruin is lined with good intentions. But back to the Marriott Protest and road blockade

Many of us criticize the Coalition Minister for the signing of this obnoxious oil contract. Quite properly, the PPP soundly and rightly were critical of this misstep and publicly asseverated that they would have the contracts with the oil giants reviewed and renegotiated. The right of every sovereign State. I joined the Protest after no Government Representative sought to say anything about fulfilling this undertaking given publicly.

Supporters and non-supporters of the Government need credible answers. For me, I am hoping for some kind of divine intervention to change the mindset of people who can flip-flop in serious business, change their stance with the nation’s patrimony and future where it is concerned.
As an Optimist, I look forward to change, the sorry, sad, state of affairs where this crap of Guyanese leaders seem unable, unwilling or weakened or compromised to do what the Barbados Prime Minister indicated to initiate a difficult conversation, that set us apart as men and not mice.

I turn to Milic Capek who I recall wrote that “Change designates one of the most conspicuous and most pervasive features of our sensory and introspective experience – only the related feature of plurality of diversity is equally so.”

Let us all hope Dear Editor that we can benefit from a change in the mindset of our leaders to be possessed of solid moral fibre and therefore be true patriots. A change that can take us from darkness to the sunlight of peace and prosperity; a change from providing young citizens with fete, fun and frolic where some of us beg, borrow or steal to be part of.

Hamilton Green
Elder

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