Dear Editor,
I write in response to recent publications on Government media highlighting Attorney-at-Law Darren Wade’s achievement of a Master of Laws degree through the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL) Programme. While academic accomplishment should always be acknowledged and celebrated, the framing and implications of such features raise broader concerns about fairness, inclusivity, and respect for all citizens of Guyana. Where there are persons who oppose policies by the government and particularly those who do not align with the government of the day.
The GOAL initiative is not being paid by Ministers of the Government, at its core, the GOAL initiative is funded by the people of Guyana. It is not a partisan programme; it is a national investment, sustained by taxpayers from every political persuasion, ethnicity, and social background whether we like it or not. Are we to say persons who don’t support the government should not attend the University of Guyana?
When coverage of such achievements appears to be implicitly tied to government promotion or political association, it risks alienating a significant portion of the population who may feel excluded or unrepresented. This is where the issue of respect arises and not from the individual’s success, but from the perception that access to opportunity or recognition is politically tinted. This creates a bigger issue which suppresses freedom of expression.
Guyana’s history offers important lessons in this regard. There have been instances in the past where individuals benefited from state-sponsored education under one administration but later aligned themselves politically with another. For example, it is often recalled that individuals during the Forbes Burnham era were granted scholarships and, upon returning, chose to associate with opposition movements such as the People’s Progressive Party (PPP). One notable person would be our current Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo embarked on his government-funded scholarship in 1984 under Linden Sampson Forbes Burnham led administration. He returned in 1990 with a Masters in Economics from Patrice Lumumba University. Not once did he say “Thanks, Burnham” or “thanks to the PNC”
Despite these political shifts, there was no widespread public backlash or narrative suggesting that such individuals were undeserving of their education because of their political stance. The understanding then, as it should be now, was simple: state resources belong to the nation, not to any single political group.
This principle remains critically important today. Whether one supports or opposes the current government, national programmes like GOAL must be viewed as a right and opportunity for all citizens. Participation in these initiatives should never be seen as an endorsement of a political agenda, nor should recognition of success be framed in a way that deepens division. When citizens perceive that opportunities are politically influenced, it undermines trust in public institutions and discourages engagement from those who feel marginalized.
Every Guyanese has an equal stake in the country’s resources. The taxes paid by citizens fund education, infrastructure, healthcare, and development initiatives. Therefore, every citizen has an equal right to access, benefit from, and celebrate these opportunities without political labeling or implied allegiance.
In closing, I urge the media to exercise careful balance in its reporting. Highlight achievements, but do so in a way that reinforces unity rather than division. Let us remember that progress in Guyana must be inclusive, and respect for the people begins with acknowledging that national resources belong to all, regardless of political belief.
Yours truly,
Onix A. Duncan
Politician/Advocate
