In recent days, there has been an uproar directed at the Alliance for Change (AFC) for expressing its views on the government’s handling of the Venezuela-Guyana border controversy. The anger directed at the party is misplaced, and in many ways, it represents a missed opportunity to hold the Irfaan Ali administration accountable for its actions. Instead of wasting energy on political grandstanding, we should be using this moment to demand a more inclusive and effective approach from the government, one that fosters unity and trust in the face of external threats.
It is crucial to recognise that expressing concern or criticism about how the government handles national issues, especially one as sensitive as the Venezuela-Guyana border controversy, does not equate to a lack of patriotism.
In fact, it is a sign of a healthy democracy where individuals and political entities can openly discuss and critique decisions made by those in power. Criticism is not an act of disloyalty; rather, it is a form of engagement that seeks to improve the country’s governance and ensure that decisions are made in the best interest of the people.
In his 2015 op-ed, U.S. Senator Cory Booker offered a perspective on this very issue. In his piece titled “You can love and criticise your country at the same time,” he eloquently argued that it is possible to love your country while simultaneously acknowledging its flaws. “You can take full stock of our nation and her shortcomings, to see our nation in her whole truth,” Booker wrote, “her extraordinary accomplishments, her genius, her beauty, her deep oceans of kindness and her exceptional achievements but see too her dark places, see her hypocrisy, see how she has fallen short, see how she still needs improvement, still needs heroes of hope, still needs dedicated, passionate servants, still needs those who would honor our legacy of constant and never-ending struggle.”
Booker’s words resonate powerfully in the context of Guyana today. Criticism of the government’s handling of the Venezuela border issue is not a betrayal of the country or its people; rather, it is a call for greater transparency, better governance, and an environment where every citizen feels they have a stake in the future of the nation. It’s a call to create a space where all can feel invested, as though they truly belong, and where the policies enacted by the government are in the best interests of every Guyanese, not just a select few.
The outrage against the AFC seems to overlook the real issue: the lack of accountability within the government. The border dispute with Venezuela is a matter of national importance, and it is essential that the government’s handling of it be transparent, thoughtful, and inclusive of all political voices. In a time of external threat, the government should be encouraging open dialogue and fostering unity, not stifling dissent. The ability to criticise one’s government, especially in times of crisis, is one of the cornerstones of a functioning democracy.
Instead of attacking the AFC for voicing its concerns, the public should demand more from the Irfaan Ali government. Guyanese citizens should hold their leaders accountable, ensuring that their actions are not only in line with the country’s best interests but also reflect the values of inclusivity, fairness, and respect for all voices within the nation.
It is short-sighted and politically pandering to insist that one cannot criticise the management of the country in the face of external threats and still love one’s country. The evidence of patriotism is not in blind support, but in the desire to see the nation reach its full potential, even when that means pointing out where things have gone wrong.
The government’s policies, particularly on sensitive matters like the Venezuela border dispute, should be subjected to scrutiny. If they fall short, it is the responsibility of political leaders, including the AFC, to bring those shortcomings to light.
Guyanese should rise above the simplistic notion that criticism equals disloyalty. Instead, the people should embrace the belief that love for one’s country means striving to make it better, stronger, and more just for all its people. By holding the government accountable, Guyanese could ensure that the country can move forward with the unity and resolve needed to face any external challenge, including the ongoing border issue with Venezuela.
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Opinions/analyses in the Blackout Column are those of various independent writers.
