Dear Editor,
With each passing day, the citizens of our beloved country are being plunged into poverty and hopelessness. As if this is not enough for government to tackle mitigating these social issues, citizens and political opponents are being thrown into the depth of victimisation and oppression. The recent raiding of Opposition Leader Hon. Azruddin Mohammed’s businesses and homes show the current administration has become repressive, tyrannical and dictatorial.
An administration, who campaigned on being “the guardians of democracy,” guaranteeing freedoms for Guyanese have abruptly made a U-turn in the benefit of protecting personal interests of corrupt gains via its family, friend and favorites (3Fs). It is clear that Lord Acton “ absolute power corrupts absolutely” because anyone speaks out against corruption and inefficiencies within its governance must contend being written in the proverbial “black book” of the administration’s reign of terror.
Victimisation, persecution and repressive acts should not become a norm for a nation of resilient, intelligent and aesthetic citizens. Outside of the regime’s obsession with tyranny, our people need to consider taking an active approach to accountability and transparency governance for it is the moral fabric of democratic societies.
Whether in South Africa fighting apartheid or in the United States of America where brave men and women fought against centuries post slavery and Jim Crow segregation, the masses fought and claim victory over oppression and tyranny. Our citizens will have to make bold decisions to reject, protest and demand that the government does not lie in the comfort of victimization of political opponents and ordinary citizens.
With a poverty rate of 58%, citizens are in survival mode exacerbated by rising costs due to hyperinflation. In an oil rich economy of over 1 million barrels today (bpd) and a projection of 8 million bpd, government can surely take care of its citizens entire existence. After all, Guyana is now the only country that has more oil produced per capita people.
Whether its raising salaries as outlined in the last article entitled “Budget 2026 Lacks Human Development”, providing significant economic relief via reduced/ free utilities, increasing old age, public assistance and assistance for disability could be increased fourfold ($180,000 minimum), the current administration has many issues to consider and should never be preoccupied with discriminatory practices.
In conclusion, some citizens may believe they are insulated whether party supporters or a silent observer. Silence is complicit to the continuation of oppressive actors. German and Lutheran Pastor Martin Niemoller stayed on the sidelines and at one time was even aligned with Nazism until Adolph Hitler declared supremacy over state religion giving way to this quote fittingly for the situation, as Guyana finds itself with the need to actively mobilise against tyranny:
“First they came for the Communists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Communist
Then they came for the Socialists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Socialist
Then they came for the trade unionists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a trade unionist
Then they came for the Jews
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Jew
Then they came for me
And there was no one left
To speak out for me”
Yours truly,
Collin Haynes MPH MBA
