Revisiting Democracy in The Guyanese Context

Let’s look at the meaning of democracy from Abraham Lincoln’s perspective. The word democracy comes from the Greek words “demos” and “kratos,” meaning power; thus, democracy can be thought of as “power of the people”: a way of governing dependent on the will of the people. Abraham Lincoln famously coined the phrase, “Government of the People, by the People, for the People.”

The emphasis in Lincoln’s vision for the state he governed was on the people. The way things were done should have reflected the power of the people, the human rights of the citizens, and governance based on the will of the people. We can examine definitions of types of democracies related to the Guyanese state and governance.

Presidential Democracy: A democratic system of government where the head of government is also the head of state (typically a president) and leads an executive branch that is separate from the legislative branch.
Two-Party System: A system where only two parties or alliances, typically on either side of the center, have a realistic chance of winning majority votes. Other parties are minor or solely regional.

Multi-Party System: A system in which multiple political parties have the capacity to gain control of government offices, separately or in a coalition.

One country that stands out in relation to democracy, in my opinion, in modern times, is the United States of America. Alexis de Tocqueville, author of “Democracy in America,” stated the following five values of democracy:

Liberty: Freedom from arbitrary or tyrannical government control.

Egalitarianism: A society of equals where there is no permanent class structure.

Individualism: People are free to pursue their individual goals.

Populism: Popular engagement by the population in decision-making.

Laissez-Faire: A French phrase that literally means “allow to do.” The policy of leaving things to take their own course, without interference.

The freedom to assemble, freedom of the press, separation of powers, and the freedom to live are among the features of a democratic society.

Guyana is deemed a democracy. However, the kinds of events that occur on a daily basis lead us to question if we are adhering to the rule of law and if the voice of the masses is being heard. Some will agree that the rule of law only pertains to certain folks within Guyanese society.

Every day we see special treatment meted out to some, while for others it’s consequential, especially when it relates to freedom of speech or choices.

Opinions are no longer respected. Instead, if one doesn’t agree with another, you can expect expletives and vitriol aimed at them, on social media and even face-to-face. This aspect or feature of democracy is totally ignored.

You see road rage, rubbish thrown around the city with no one taking responsibility, laws being broken, rules not adhered to, and some folks calling themselves “guardians of democracy.” This is a state that is corrupt and out of touch with the simplest fundamentals of what democracy is or is meant to entail. It’s now about how one perceives the notion to be.

Whether by choice or through not knowing what these constitutional principles are, a revision and reform must be had. A country cannot be governed by a group of people for their people; it should be for the people as a whole. Citizens cannot be disenfranchised at every election or be discriminated against because of race or class.

Policies must be made to include all citizens in every aspect of society, whether social, economic, religious belief, political party preferences, gender identity, or whether they are short, tall, visually impaired, or differently abled.

Inasmuch as there are varying theories and definitions of democracy, the freedoms are all common denominators of this great idea. Let us strive to review the Guyanese definition of democracy and forge inclusive governance for the common good of all our citizens