Urgent need for an open debate on democracy and decency

Mar 13, 2022 Letters

Dear Editor,

We have been bombarded by all of the media, both traditional and the new sophisticated means of communication and sharing information, with two things in Guyana, (1) what really is democracy? and as an extension, (2) what do we regard as decency?
The present situation in our Republic clearly points to the urgent need for an open debate on these two matters.
Urgent, so that we can pass on to succeeding generations, our form of democracy and decency, and not allow these two concepts to take on us the dubois privilege of these two words, these two concepts to be chameleon, i.e. meaning vastly different things to different people at different times.
For brevity, I would avoid many examples, challenges and inconsistencies facing this generation of Guyanese.
First, should we design a system where people in certain high positions are allowed to do as they please, while saying the right things, all under the rubric of democracy, sadly this is now happening.
Secondly, should we accept the majority of Private Sector Businesses now clearly aligned to this Government to increase prices of basic foodstuff and essential items at their whims and caprices and this is happening in Guyana today.
During the week, I had cordial conversations with top PPP Government operatives and they all said the Government is waiting for the Opposition to settle the identification of the person to be designated Leader of the Opposition, so that there can be consultations.
In every case, I replied that this was a ‘red herring.’ That in Parliament, there is a Chief Whip from the PNC side and the Leader of the AFC, and that there is a Leader of the PNC.
There is also the truly independent Trade Union Congress, and that a Government that is serious about the concept of consultation can utilise such available opportunities. This is not happening in Guyana today.
Beyond that because of my six odd decades in the political arena, I offered my services to facilitate, as I put it in that letter, a meeting similar to that, as of the Knights of the round table. This offer has been ignored. This is happening in Guyana today.
Next, I make this point again, perhaps ad nauseam, that unless the people’s representatives can discuss key national issues with civility, we will descend into the depths of despair, disillusionment and destruction.
This possibility is happening in Guyana today.
Further, the plight of working people is faced with rising prices for food, fuel and fares while the Government is in receipt of billions from our natural resources. This is happening in Guyana today.
While the State is in receipt of billions daily, it has not filtered down to the ordinary people. This is happening in Guyana today.
While you give seven percent to public servants in two years, the same government is doing nothing to spend the new wealth on the public servants and deal with the justifiable perception that they are in bed with the mighty conglomerates failing to renegotiate in good faith at the Production Sharing Agreement (PSA), so that the Guyanese household everywhere could have a stress-free and comfortable life. But this is happening in Guyana today.
Dear Editor, history everywhere has shown that when groups of citizens who have been gradually dispossessed and therefore have little to lose rebel, a sensible government should come out of their comfort zone and not ignore as seem to be the case, the pleas, the plights and the predicament, while billions of dollars are in the hands of the chosen few, the rest must survive by paying more for food, fuel and transportation, This is happening in Guyana today.
I repeat the question posed earlier – Are our leaders listening or do they care? Are we ignoring 1932 Germany, which represented the culmination of a gathering tide of concerns?
Have we forgotten Russia 1917, American Revolution 1776, which started as an ordinary objection to taxes imposed on the American colonists by the British.
Is our Government ignoring the templates of the past? This seems to be happening in Guyana today.

Regards,
Hamilton Green

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