The majority of Guyanese are honest and law-abiding

Feb 09, 2023 Features / Columnists, Peeping Tom

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Kaieteur News – One of the most disgusting traits which is often found among some, not all, Guyanese remigrants is the tendency for them to feel that they are better than locals. They even, at times, presume that they have a higher standing than locals who have remained in Guyana.

They assume that because they have lived in a foreign country and may have done well materially that they are better than us who remained here. While they may be materially better off than those of us who stayed here, this does not make them better persons or more morally sounder than those who live here. Feeling that they are superior and exuding condescension, these persons like to criticise us and paint us as being bad and full of faults. But our locals are no less flawed than foreigners.

We are lambasted for being corrupt. But some of the biggest crooks are to be found in the countries from whence our remigrants came. Our people may have their ways, but the majority of people in Guyana are decent, law-abiding and honest. Some of our politicians may be dishonest and corrupt, but the majority is not and all should not be painted with the same brush.

The former Speaker of the Ohio Assembly is presently facing a massive bribery probe. Last March, a US congressman was found guilty to making false statements in a probe investigating illegal campaign donations.  In California, a former member of Congress was charged on multiple counts of fraud. At present US Congressman is facing a probe by the Brazilian authorities. And another Congressman is facing fraud charges of fraud in Brazil. A Congressman from Nebraska was last year convicted of lying to the FBI. When it comes to human rights, the US citizens have no moral authority to lecture to anyone about human rights. Who it was that was responsible for the illegal incarceration and torture of persons at the US holding facility at Guantanamo Bay?

This is just a smattering of the sort of conduct which pervades the US political system. Yet, some persons seem to like to paint our politicians as being corrupt and dishonest. But when it comes to lying, nothing beats the United States government. Was the United Nations and the world not sold the ‘big lie’ that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction? And who really believes that nonsense that the Chinese balloon which was shot down was spyware?

In fact, about 15 years ago, a gentleman wrote a book calling attention to the fact that the American political system is riddled with lies, including the fable of government of the people, by the people and for the people. The Big Lie about electoral fraud has undermined the United States credibility internationally. And millions of Americans still believe the Big Lie that millions of votes were stolen from the Republican Presidential candidate in the previous United States elections.  And who can forget the cover-up about the role of fossil fuels in climate change. The oil companies were told years ago that their actions were increasing global temperatures. And now there is an attempt to shift responsibility for climate action to other countries.  But the Americans do not have the exclusive patent on the Big Lie. The narrative about ‘installed government’ and fraudulent elections was a Big Lie perpetrated on the Guyanese. We are yet also to learn anything more about the alleged four Russians who came into to tap into the GECOM computer system even though the tabulation process was being done manually. We are yet to see the Statements of Poll which allegedly proves that the APNU+AFC won the elections. We are yet to see the proof that of someone being bribed to vote against the government in the no-confidence motion. Were it not for persons of integrity and honesty, including within GECOM, the political parties and the media, the attempt to rig the 2020 elections may have been successful. It was because the overwhelming majority of Guyanese subscribed to honesty that the Big Lies which were being peddled did not result in the overturning of the democratic will of the people.

Those who therefore feel that they have lecture Guyanese at home about morality – including political morality – should be asked to first examine whether they have been consistent in condemning the Big Lies which were being spread between March and August 2020 and the other Big Lies which have been concocted since and are aimed at dividing the population. Guyanese are not drowning in a cesspool of corruption. Neither are our politicians any more corrupt that some of those rascals in Washington.

(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and beliefs of this newspaper and its affiliates.)

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• foreigners, Guyanese, law-abiding, Peeping Tom, remigrants

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