Dear Editor,
NEW YEAR NEW YEAR MESSAGE
As we enter a new year, I wish all Guyana a good and beneficial New Year. This wish is particularly made to the independent media and our religious, social, youth and cultural organizations.
The extant environment presents a monumental challenge. 2023 saw the State controlled media showering praises on the PPP hierarchy referring to the progress and democratic principles under their leadership while referring to a purported dictatorship under the PNC at every opportunity.
Democracy and dictatorship are chameleon terms meaning different things to different people. A viable democracy ensures, by mechanisms provided, that the views and voices of all citizens are neither ignored nor trivalised.
In Guyana today consultation by our Government has become a farce. Our Constitution refers to the importance of local democracy and the role that Trade Unions must play. Yet, wherever local authorities or Trade Unions have members that are not perceived to be PPP supporters, they are marginalised, pulverised and punished.
Georgetown of course is the classic example. After denying that Municipality money and management, we heard the remarkable statement from no less a person than President Ali that the Georgetown M&CC is a waste of time. One gets the impression that the PPP and its leadership are wedded to the philosophy of the Divine right of Kings and therefore see nothing wrong with a unilateral approach to governance.
In a democracy a key element is the sanctity of life and the right to express views contrary to those of a ruling elite. Over time, we have seen serious violations, which led to the punishment of individuals. Earlier we had Mark Benschop in prison for five years for speaking up against injustice. We had the assassinations of Ronald Waddle, Inspector October, Minister Satyadeow Sawh, Courtney Crum-Ewing and the Bacchus brothers. We must not forget the appeal for an inquest into extra-judicial killings and inhumane treatment inflicted on a subset of our young male population. Details of these activities are contained in a Dossier prepared by the Joint Opposition Parties, Alliance For Change (AFC), Guyana Action Party (GAP), National Front Alliance (NFA), People’s National Congress/Reform (PNC/R) and the Working People’s Alliance (WPA).
The appeal for this inquest has gone unanswered from those who lecture us about democracy and the rule of law.
A democracy ensures the clear separation of powers between the Judiciary, the Parliament and the Executive. A democracy ensures that our Police and Law Enforcement Agencies are outside the direct control and interference of the political management of the State. Anyone living in Guyana must know that we have fallen short of this ideal of democracy.
I avoid the tedium of details, but the above is a not so subtle form of dictatorship and a debauchery of what we understand to be a democracy.
What is disappointing is that with this policy of discrimination and the old imperial technique of divide and rule, when the border issue arose, the PPP missed a golden opportunity to achieve a form of genuine cohesion. They seemed secured in the belief that the well-oiled and funded propaganda machine is all that is necessary for their salvation.
Take a look at the revelations from the Ministry of Works, Agriculture (NDIA) and others about the massive sums being spent on infrastructure (bridges, buildings, roads etc.) suggesting that there is either massive corruption, incompetence or both. This is inconsistent with a working democracy.
Let me encourage those who speak and write for truth and democracy that their efforts will not be in vain.
Dear Editor, my wish for the New Year is that after appropriate and serious consultations with the Opposition and relevant persons, a Petroleum Commission consisting of members who possess a track record of integrity, competence and experience will be appointed to oversee our vast oil and gas reserves.
Yours truly,
Hamilton Green
Elder
