Dear Editor,
What exactly is happening to our country?
Are we still a democratic state where citizens are free to express themselves, question those in authority, demand accountability, and peacefully exercise the rights guaranteed to them by our Constitution?
On the night of July 18th, Guyanese experienced one of the most tragic moments in our nation’s recent history with the MV Barima disaster. Since then, citizens across the country have been grieving, asking questions, calling for accountability, and demanding that the necessary steps be taken to ensure that such a tragedy is never repeated.
These calls for accountability have not come from one political party, one community, or one particular group of people. They have come from Guyanese citizens.
People have been picketing. People have been protesting peacefully. People have been speaking on social media. Young people have organized themselves. Groups such as We The People GY have emerged to advocate for accountability, better transportation systems, stronger safety standards, and meaningful systemic reform.
Yet instead of allowing citizens to exercise their democratic rights, we are increasingly witnessing people being trolled, attacked, ridiculed, intimidated and, according to reports, even victimized simply because they have chosen to speak up.
Political activists and pages affiliated with political interests must understand that disagreement does not give anyone the right to harass, threaten, intimidate, or silence another Guyanese citizen.
Political affiliation should never come before humanity.
Every Guyanese has the right to support whichever political party they choose. That is democracy. But democracy also requires something greater: the ability to recognize when something is wrong and to hold those in positions of authority accountable—including leaders we may personally support.
Supporting a political party should never mean surrendering our conscience.
We must ask ourselves: Where are we heading as a nation when citizens become afraid to speak because they fear being attacked by their fellow Guyanese?
Where are we heading when a young person who simply asks for safer transportation can become the target of political abuse?
Where are we heading when grieving families and concerned citizens have to defend their right to demand answers?
And where are we heading when accountability itself is treated as a political attack? The MV Barima tragedy should not be reduced to a political argument.
You do not have to know a victim personally to feel pain. You do not have to be related to a victim to demand justice. You do not have to belong to a particular political party to recognize that something must change.
Humanity should be enough.
It is deeply troubling that some Guyanese have become so accustomed to poor conditions that they now attack those who dare to demand better. We must never allow ourselves to reach a point where citizens are satisfied with simply accepting whatever conditions are placed before them.
Development is not measured only by the number of roads, buildings, bridges, ports, or other infrastructure we construct.
True development is also measured by the development of our people.
If our infrastructure is developing while our respect for one another, our democratic culture, our ability to have difficult conversations, and our willingness to demand accountability are deteriorating, then we must seriously ask ourselves what kind of development we are pursuing.
Guyana cannot build a modern nation on a foundation where citizens are afraid to speak. We cannot build a stronger country by attacking one another for demanding better.
We cannot honour those affected by the MV Barima tragedy by allowing their suffering to become yesterday’s headline while the underlying problems remain unresolved.
The MV Barima tragedy must not become another trending story that is eventually forgotten.
There must be transparency. There must be a credible and uninterrupted investigation into what happened. Where wrongdoing, negligence, misconduct or failures of responsibility are established, those responsible must face the consequences provided for under the law.
No individual should be above accountability—not a politician, not a public official, not a private operator, and not anyone else.
At the same time, we must look beyond individual responsibility and address the systemic weaknesses within our transportation sector. Guyanese deserve a transportation system that is safe, properly regulated, properly maintained, adequately monitored, and capable of protecting human life.
This is bigger than politics.
This is about human life.
This is about public safety.
This is about the dignity of every Guyanese citizen.
And this is about the kind of country we want to leave for the generation coming after us.
To the young people who are speaking up: do not allow cyber attacks, political labels, intimidation or ridicule to convince you that your voice does not matter.
To those who disagree with us: you have a right to disagree. But disagreement must never become an excuse to dehumanize or silence your fellow citizens.
And to those in positions of leadership: listen to your people.
Accountability is not disrespect.
Questions are not treason.
Criticism is not hatred.
And demanding better is not an attack on Guyana.
We must be able to love our country enough to tell it when something is wrong. Guyana belongs to all of us not to one political party, not to one government, not to one generation.
Let us therefore choose humanity over political tribalism, accountability over blind loyalty, and meaningful reform over temporary public relations.
Let us never become a nation that only cares when tragedy touches our own doorstep.
The lives affected by the MV Barima tragedy deserve more than sympathy. They deserve truth. They deserve accountability. They deserve justice. And the people of Guyana deserve a transportation system in which they can place their lives without fear.
We must never be afraid to speak.
We must never be afraid to demand better.
And we must never allow politics to become more important than human life.
Guyana deserves better.
Guyanese deserve better.
And together, we must demand better.
Yours truly,
John Campbell
Indigenous Youth Advocate
