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Oil wealth cannot mask cronyism and erosion of accountability
Dear Editor,
It is clear that as we boast of being the fastest growing economy on the planet, we have, thanks to an unprecedented availability of massive sums of money, drifted into the world pool of the worst form of cronyism, corruption, and an apparent contempt for the rule of law. Whereby way of example, an opportunity to scrutinise public spending by utilising the Public Accounts Committee is being suffocated, unprecedented in the annals of post-Independence Guyana. Examine world history over the last century, Guyana today has out-sprinted the three best known propagandists, I refer to the three Josephs; Joseph Goebbels Hitler’s Minister of propaganda, U.S. senator Joseph McCarthy, and Premier of the Soviet Union Joseph Stalin, who mastered the technique of repeating something often enough until citizens come to believe it as true or, as we say, the gospel.
We listened earlier this month to the high-sounding phrases, on the occasion of the anniversary of an important Christian denomination. The head of state quoted from the Bible on five occasions, very impressive, and to many quite convincing. Those of us who are keen recognise the handiwork of a pastor who himself run against a pledge to love, honour, and obey, until death do us part.
Much damage to the moral fabric of our society has already been done, however, notwithstanding this hemorrhage, in the marketplace, the mosque, the temple, the churches, the schools, we must take the message to save our beloved country. Silence and wanting to be in the good books of the oppressors must not be an option. But worst we must know that fear is man’s worst enemy.
If we really want the majority to enjoy and share this bonanza we must take action within the limits of the law, and don’t allow others to tell us what is right and appropriate. Our erstwhile masters the British, executed their King, Charles 1 for believing that he could manage the country ignoring the parliament.
Finally, be wary of those who with facility quote passages from the scriptures. Let us face the world as it is today; Islam says (Forty Hadith of an-Nawawi 13) Not one of you is a believer until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself. Christianity says (Matthew 7:12) Whatever you wish that men would do to you, do so to them. Hinduism says (Mahabharata, Anusasana Parva 113.8) One should not behave towards others in a way which is disagreeable to oneself. This is the essence of morality. All other activities are due to selfish desire. And Buddhism says (Sutta Nipata 705) comparing oneself to others in such terms as “Just as I am so are they, just as they are so am I,” he should neither kill nor cause others to kill.
I hope when next our head of state and his wise oracles speak to us, they can explain why with all of this oil, gas, gold being harvested that our exchange rate is still GY$215 to US$1, likely a contributary factor to our high cost of living.
Sincerely,
Elder Hamilton Green
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