Unfortunately, Guyana has not been recently blessed with intelligent PPP leaders. Instead, we are led by insecure little men, who fake their degrees and rule by emotions. Men who take actions which undermine their own goals and objectives and who are too distracted by greed and corruption and too obtuse to understand the real consequences of their actions.
Increasingly, human rights abuses by the PPP government of Guyana paint a troubling picture of democracy under threat and justice eroded. A glaring example is the arbitrary use of cybercrime legislation as a political tool by the ruling People’s Progressive Party (PPP)to silence dissenting voices, a clear erosion of democratic values and oppression of Guyanese citizens. Not only is the cybercrime legislation used to silence dissent, but it is only used against citizens perceived to be opposition representatives. It is fact that multiple cases of cybercrimes reported by members of the opposition, have been ignored by representatives of the judicial system in Guyana. Any system that selects one group of citizens over another will ultimately reap dire consequences. Let me say this first, civil upheaval is coming to Guyana.
The misuse of cybercrime laws to stifle opposition and punish political adversaries is a dangerous trend that will have reverberating consequences, but the PPP morons are not known to heed warnings. Their intention, by weaponizing legislation meant to protect against online crimes, is to effectively quash free speech and suffocate any semblance of political opposition.
What is perhaps most alarming is the deafening silence from international diplomats, the private sector and observers who once championed democracy in Guyana. Their collective failure to speak out against the blatant abuses of power by the PPP government sends a chilling message to the people of Guyana and emboldens authoritarian regimes everywhere.
It is therefore critical that we, as citizens of Guyana and ‘defenders of democracy,’ stand up against these injustices. The arbitrary detention of individuals like Kadackie Amsterdam, simply for allowing free expression on his platform, is a clear violation of basic human rights and must not be tolerated.
Furthermore, the economic implications of the PPP’s actions cannot be ignored. The hostile environment created by political instability and corruption deters much-needed foreign investment, crippling the country’s economy and jeopardizing the livelihoods of its citizens.
Right-thinking citizens must unite in solidarity to hold the PPP government accountable for its actions. One way to do this is to boycott unnecessary retail spending until individuals like Kadackie Amsterdam are released. A retail boycotts is a potentially powerful tool which will send the message that we will not stand idly by while our rights are trampled. If we do not stand up for each other, the PPP dictatorship will come for each and everyone of us and for our children, one by one, and there will be no one there to stand up for you.
Moreover, international pressure must be exerted on the PPP government to uphold democratic principles and respect human rights. We cannot depend on African American congressmen alone to champion the causes of AfroGuyanese, diplomatic missions and international organizations must break their silence and condemn the abuses occurring in Guyana, lest they be complicit in the erosion of democracy.
In the face of adversity, we, the citizens of Guyana, must remain steadfast in our commitment to democracy, human rights, and the rule of law. The future of Guyana depends on our collective action to hold those in power accountable and safeguard the rights and freedoms of all its citizens. The time to act is now.
