Dear Editor
It is amazing how throughout the civilized world, leaders seem unwilling and even worse, unable to benefit from past experiences. This letter deals with only two worrisome events and attitudes, extant at the highest level of governance, as manifested by our illustrious head of state.
In real life there is always the prospect of the boomerang effect, that is if you throw an object to harm someone, it can turn around and hit and harm the thrower. I recall, for now, two matters of grave national importance: one is this suffocation, sidelining, and ignoring of parliament and therefore, the institution of the office of the opposition leader vital to the functioning of a genuine democracy.
Over time phrases and concepts change, looking at Guyana I wonder, as I did earlier, if democracy here translates to “demons gone crazy”?
Recall King Charles 1 believed in the prerogative, privilege and power of the monarchy (PPP) he therefore attempted to rule England ignoring parliament. There King Charles regarded parliament as a nuisance using its leverage over royal finance to coerce him into granting it greater influence over his policies and the make-up of his government.
In 1629 Charles dissolved Parliament and ruled without it for 11 years. Charles was arrogant and a poor strategist, to cut a long story short, at the instance of Oliver Cromwell, Charles was dethroned, tried, and executed. Looking at the sharp axe that would separate his head from the rest of his body, Charles uttered his last words; “I go from a corruptible to an incorruptible crown”.
Is anyone listening? The second bothersome position of our government seems to be the acquiescence to receiving persons not wanted (but processed) by the United States, much has already been said about this dangerous adventure which will put unnecessary pressure on our health, education and housing facilities.
But this what follows some of us found amusing: In 1980 while Jimmy Carter was president, the US had developed an open-door policy to accept Cubans who they claimed were getting away from the alleged hardships of the Fidel Castro Ruz government in Havana. Once you were Cuban you were not subject to rigorous examination, like other people, to enter and live in the United States.
So, Fidel organised boats, ships and any vessel that could make the trip from Mariel to ports in Miami, he emptied the lunatic asylum, the prisons and other undesirables and facilitated the journey from Mariel to Miami. We were all amused by this clever tactic by the Cuban revolution. But citizens, editor, with this stated anxiety by our precious administration to accept processed persons from big brother to the north, are we not likely to see a repeat of the 1980 Mariel exercise?
We must be cautious, careful, and sometimes cunning, if Guyanese born and bred here are to be the beneficiaries of this enormous bounty of gold, timber, oil and gas. And not be victims of an administration unwilling or incapable of thinking things through, and having meaningful discussions with all of the people.
If that bounty is to be a blessing, and not a curse we must persuade our government that the frame work of a democracy rests on meaningful consultation, openness, and that elusive concept “the truth”, Guyanese must not despair.
I end with this passage from Shakespeare Julius Caesar:
“Why, man, he doth bestride the narrow world
Like a Colossus, and we petty men
Walk under his huge legs and peep about
To find ourselves dishonourable graves.
Men at some time are masters of their fates.
The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars,
But in ourselves, that we are underlings.”
The fault dear Guyanese is not in our stars. The old folks say easy lesson good for dunce.
Yours truly,
Elder Hamilton Green
