If only our leaders can put aside pettiness…

Sep 04, 2022 Letters

Dear Editor

Many of us were concerned that the heat during the week and low water pressure could possibly destroy our efforts in the kitchen gardens in our urban and contiguous areas but, on the first day of September there were showers of rain and urban farmers were smiling.

I said to myself what a lucky people we are in Guyana.

A third of Pakistan is under water. No drinking water and millions face starvation, dislocation and water borne diseases.

In Europe excessive heat has destroyed olive groves. These two examples demonstrate the goodness of The Creator as we have never been affected by any serious natural disasters.

With massive gold, diamond, timber, marine and now oil and gas the population of less than a million souls, we should be the happiest and wealthiest people on earth.

The scourge and the problem seem to be man-inflicted where for several generations our leaders fail to recognise that the six races could easily enjoy this surfeit of The Creator’s bounty if our leaders only overcome the pettiness and sit down like sensible human beings to craft a policy that we can take to our erstwhile masters as united people.

As a super optimist, in January, I wrote to his Excellency The President, The General Secretary of the PPP and Vice President, The then leader of the Opposition, Joe Harmon and Kemraj Ramjattan.

In spite of probes to their advisors there has been no response to the offer to find a mechanism for a coming together to face the common adversary when it comes to the harvesting and exploitation of our natural resources.

When Aubrey Norton became leader of the opposition I sent him a copy of the identical letter I sent to the above mentioned personalities.
He replied expressing an interest to be a part of the process to find a rapprochement to create unity.
At the risk of being tedious and repetitive I do so because a genuine harmonious relationship among all of our political leaders is the only feasible project to allow all Guyana to derive and enjoy the benefits of our resources.

The looming tragedy is that many of our leaders and those led seem unaware that from the turn of this civilisation the Europeans in Africa, parts of Asia, Oceania and the Caribbean have mastered the technique of creating conditions which sharpen extant and traditional differences based on caste systems, tribal systems or religious belief.

The deeper tragedy is that oft-times those in charge thanks to our adopted Westminster style of elections adopt with local flavouring the role, craftsmanship and arrogance of the pre-independence massa.

In Guyana this is evident in a clearly polarised society where some groups have understandably attached the label of apartheid in Guyana. But when would we learn?

As we bid farewell to Emancipation month and usher in Amerindian month we must be reminded how at one time our Amerindian brothers gave the runaway slaves a welcome in Guyana and neighbouring Suriname while some others were persuaded by the European plantocracy to do the opposite.

When the most inhumane system of slavery was officially ended the manumitted Africans welcomed all the immigrants who were recruited by the plantocracy to replace the African labour on the plantations. Over time we have had the stress and strain as the result of racial suspicion and presumed domination. Today we must not succumb to the blandishments of sitting and dining by high government functionaries as we observe in certain communities. But someone drew to my attention that the acid test comes when one of the numbers identifies a member of the other racial group as a husband or a wife.

Finally one cannot ignore the perception that in Guyana when it comes to the allocation of land and the award of big contracts, 85-90% are going to one ethnic group and the 10% which may have African management are avowed supporters of the ruling party.

These matters require open and frank discussion if we are to achieve the dream of those who fought for independence of us becoming ‘One People, One Nation with One Destiny’.

These conversations may cause discomfort, unease and perhaps embarrassment but are absolutely necessary if we are to advance to fulfill the dreams of our ancestors.

I end with this closing gambit: those who presided over the splitting of British India and the dismantling of Africa into 50 odd states are still with us; those attitudes, those beliefs, those techniques have not died.

As a favourite song says: “Brother Beware.”

Hamilton Green
Elder

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If only our leaders can put aside pettiness…

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