Some argue people get the government they deserve. In the context of Guyana, where the 2020 Election has exposed massive fraud, the government in office is what no people deserve. As Guyanese await the court hearing and ruling on the election petitions we have to work with the hand that has been dealt us.
Citizens are coming to realise what they thought was a hard fought and bitter election campaign would now be behind us is not so. The bitterness, with all its ugliness, remains evident and is escalating . A President Irfaan Ali, who promised to be president for all, has proven based on the government’s actions that he is not a man of his words or not his own man.
It continues to be lost on the Government that many sections of the Guyanese society will not accept being marginalised. It continues to defy logic and better judgment that an Opposition People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) who accused A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) Coalition Government of marginalisation now that they are in Government would expect coalition supporters not to resist their marginalisation.
The government continues to ignore the coalition supporters who held their government accountable and freely spoke their minds will likewise hold a PPP/C government accountable and speak their minds. And though it may be lost on them, Guyana was made for all Guyanese, and the choice is not government to exclude any Guyanese from participating in and accessing the business and resources of the state.
Similarly, the choice is not the government to impose dissimilar treatment to similar or same situations. What is unacceptable for supporters of the coalition cannot be acceptable for supporters of the PPP/C when practices of governance and laws are universal. Government is setting themselves up to face resistance and justifiably so.
Regardless of who a citizen voted for, or whether they voted at all, collectively Guyanese bear the country’s financial responsibilities through taxation. Guyanese pay the salary of all elected officials, whether they voted for them or not. These often taken for granted realities cannot continue. Elected officials are paid to be in service of all the people, regardless of who elected them to office.
The economy of Guyana is shifting. The world is aware ours is an economy that will now contribute significantly to the oil and gas industry. Any government that thinks any Guyanese will allow themselves to be shut out from this new economy, regardless of how their ancestors came, what time they came, their ethnic identity and/or who they vote for doesn’t understand the people or is taking for granted the people’s psyche.
The youngest child of school age knows among the repertoire of patriotic songs is, ‘This Land is My Land.’ From the tender age they have been assured-
“This land is my land; this land is your land,
From the Rupununi, to the Corentyne.
From the green heart forest, to the Atlantic waters;
This land was made for you and me.”
Any government that ignores this rightful sense of ownership, belonging, the zeal and determination that comes with citizenship is a government that is courting confrontation with the people. Intelligent governments seek to avert this by facilitating not denying participation. This includes respecting the right of citizens to their representatives of choice and working with them through their leaders.
