How will we have “One Guyana” if PNC, PPP can’t even get together for flag raising ceremonies?

Feb 27, 2022 Letters

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Dear Editor,

Guyana observed its 52nd Republic Anniversary this week. Of those 52 years, there was hardly any year when the two major political parties were together for the celebrations. For both the Republic and Independence Anniversary celebrations, the PPP almost always boycotted the flag raising ceremonies when the PNC is in power, and the PNC almost always boycotted the ceremonies when the PPP is in power. In 2016, when the PPP actually showed up at the D’Urban Park event, there were no assigned seats, probably because the PNC thought the PPP was going to be a “no-show” as usual. That turned out to be a fiasco.
The colonialists and neo-colonialists such as the oil companies, take advantage of our divisions. While we fight, they cart away our oil, gold, timber and natural resources. After 52 years of Republican status and 56 years of Independence, we are still a most fractured, divided, disunited nation, split down the middle. Instead of national unity, it’s all about “oppose, expose and depose.” The Government rules by a majority of a hair of one seat. Guyana is so lucky to be endowed with an abundance of riches more than any other CARICOM country, yet we are the poorest. We also have the lowest currency in CARICOM. President Ali reminds us we are “a rich country of poor people,” and that we were the “second poorest nation in the Americas” for decades.
When the PNC is in power, the PPP wants them to fail. When the PPP is in power, the PNC wants them to fail. They cannot find it in their hearts to give credit for any progress that happened under the other party. The two political behemoths do not yet understand that a “hole in the boat, is a hole in the whole boat.” If any Government fails, we fail together as a nation, and remain in persistent poverty. Such failure keeps us in the “sh..ole” nation category forever. It does not matter on whose side the hole is on the boat. We need to block those holes.
On this 52nd anniversary, we are now an oil producing country. We had a dream that when Guyana finds oil, we would all be rich. That will not happen. Our biggest challenge now is to correct an unforgivable sin of our current oil contract being the worst in the world. We get crumbs and eat “cackabelly” while the oil companies feast on the fatted calf and fine wine, with side dishes of caviar, prawns and lobsters. Nation, can we ask the PPP and PNC to unite for the sake of renegotiation of the oil contract for a better, fair deal? This would be in keeping with President Ali’s election promises and the PPP’s Manifesto. Would they rise to the occasion, so all Guyana can rise, not just the rich and the connected business class?
I would like to share this poem by Timothy Kinney, which I believe reflects Guyana’s plight, although the setting is American.

The Cold Within
Six humans trapped by happenstance,
In bleak and bitter cold.
Each one possessed a stick of wood,
Or so the story’s told.
Their dying fire in need of logs,
The first man held his back,
For of the faces round the fire,
He noticed one was black.
The next man looking ‘cross the way,
Saw one not of his church,
And couldn’t bring himself to give,
The fire his stick of birch.
The third one sat in tattered clothes,
He gave his coat a hitch.
Why should his log be put to use
To warm the idle rich?
The rich man just sat back and thought
Of the wealth he had in store,
And how to keep what he had earned
From the lazy shiftless poor.
The black man’s face bespoke revenge,
As the fire passed from his sight.
For all he saw in his stick of wood
Was a chance to spite the white.
The last man of this forlorn group
Did nought except for gain.
Giving only to those who gave
Was how he played the game.
Their logs held tight in death’s still hands
Was proof of human sin.
They didn’t die from the cold without
They died from the cold within.

Nation, will we die from the cold within? President Ali has a vision for “One Guyana.” Can this be more than a nice slogan? If both parties cannot come together for a simple, nationalistic thing to celebrate Independence Day or Republic Day Flag Raising, how can we win against large multinational oil corporations to get a fair deal? One hand can’t clap! In his Republic Day message, President Ali urged citizens to reject the seeds of division. His Government must set an example, descend from its high horse, and create a facilitative climate and culture for national unity, starting with the Opposition, Civic Society, and all interest groups. Leave no citizen behind! We are One People, One Nation, One Destiny! “One Guyana” does not mean “One Party Guyana.” If we are united, we can teach the oil companies a lesson. Wake up Guyana!

Sincerely,
Dr. Jerry Jailall

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