Deconstructing fear and reclaiming courage in Guyana

Dec 30, 2025 Letters

Dear Editor,

Fear has always been part of the Guyanese story. From colonial rule to political violence, from economic hardship to migration, fear has shaped how many of us think, speak, and act. In its natural form, fear is protective—it warns us of danger and helps us survive. But when fear is allowed to dominate our public life, it no longer protects us. It silences us. It conditions us to accept what we know is wrong.

Guyana is a nation built by people who endured slavery, indentureship, and systemic exploitation. Our ancestors survived not because they were fearless, but because they found the courage to persist, to resist in quiet ways, and to imagine a future beyond oppression. Courage, as Aristotle observed centuries ago, is not the absence of fear; it is the decision to act in spite of it.

Yet today, too many Guyanese have been taught—subtly and sometimes openly—that speaking out is dangerous, that questioning authority invites retaliation, and that silence is the price of survival. We limit our courage instead of limiting our fear. We tell ourselves that corruption is “just how things are,” that nothing can change, and that the risks are too high.

Self-preservation is a powerful human instinct. But when self-preservation becomes a way of life, it erodes the very society we are trying to survive in. A country cannot progress if its citizens are afraid to demand transparency, fairness, and accountability from those in high office.

The reality we face is stark. According to Transparency International’s 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index, Guyana scored 39 out of 100 and ranked 92nd out of 180 countries. This is not an abstract international ranking—it reflects the daily experiences of ordinary Guyanese: unequal access to opportunity, weak accountability, mistrust in institutions, and the quiet belief that power operates above the law.

Corruption in Guyana does not only steal money; it steals hope. It robs young people of faith in their future at home. It pushes families to look abroad for dignity and security. And it thrives not only because of those who benefit from it, but because fear discourages too many good people from challenging it.

Courage in Guyana does not have to look dramatic. It can be found in small, consistent acts: refusing to normalise wrongdoing, asking hard questions, supporting independent voices, voting with conscience, and standing in solidarity with those who speak truth. When these acts are taken collectively, they become powerful.

To deconstruct fear, we must first name it. We must recognise how it has been inherited, nurtured, and exploited in our society. Then we must consciously place boundaries around it—refusing to let fear dictate our silence or our surrender. Courage does not demand perfection or heroism. It demands movement. And at this moment in Guyana’s history—when vast natural wealth and national opportunity stand alongside deep governance challenges—movement matters.

If Guyanese are to build a country where families can live with dignity, fairness, and hope, courage must become a shared civic value. Fear may be human. But courage is a choice. And it is a choice that will determine the kind of Guyana we leave to the next generation.

Sincerely,
Kris Kooblall

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