Latest update September 28th, 2026 10:20 AM
First, They Came for the Socialists
(Kaieteur News) – First, they came for the socialists, and dem boys seh, “Is only socialist business, bai. We ain’t getting involved.”
Then they came for the trade unionists, and dem boys seh, “Well, dem union people does make too much noise anyhow. Let dem negotiate.”
Then they came for the journalists, and dem boys seh, “Is only one newspaper. Plenty more left. Nobody can stop you from buying another one.”
Then they came for the police, and dem boys seh, “Is just a transfer. Everybody does get transfer sometime. Maybe the officer need a change of scenery.”
Then they came for the opposition, and dem boys seh, “Is politics. That is how politics does be. One day you up, one day you down.”
Then they came for the activists, and dem boys seh, “Dem does protest too much. Every little thing is a protest.”
Then they came for the businessman who refuse to play ball, and dem boys seh, “Well, bai, if you want to do business, you got to understand business.”
Then they came for the teacher who ask too many questions, and dem boys seh, “Teacher should stick to teaching. Leave governance to people who does govern.”
Then they came for the ordinary citizen, and dem boys seh, “But wait nah—why me?”
And there was nobody left to say, “Because you was quiet when they came for everybody else.”
That is how democracy does disappear in Guyana—not with a bang, but with a shrug, a wink and a “me ain’t know nothing about that.”
Dem boys seh, silence is not neutrality when somebody rights getting trampled. Silence is the VIP ticket for tyranny. Today it is the socialist. Tomorrow is the journalist. Next week is the union man. Friday evening, is you. And by then, the only opposition left might be the man arguing with the television because he still believe he free to change the channel.
So take a stand. Not because you love every socialist, journalist, unionist, activist or politician. Take a stand because rights does not come with party colours.
If you only defend freedom when your side getting hurt, you ain’t defending freedom. You defending your turn.
Talk half. Leff half.
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