Dear Editor,
September 1st, one year ago must not be forgotten. The results of the General Elections sent shock-waves, surprises, and stress in certain quarters. In others, it marked the entrance of a new actor on the political stage of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana. For others, there were jubilations. And for some failure, in spite of massive resources, to achieve the two-thirds majority to allow them to govern with imperial-like authority. Mind you, this period began with an attitude reminiscent of Charles I, who felt he had divine rights to rule England without consulting parliament, Oliver Cromwell lead the crusade to bring His Royal Highness to his senses and the separation of his head from the rest of his body.
Beyond the briefly stated dynamics of the above, the anniversary of those elections requires deep thought and a resolve by Guyanese, irrespective of race, colour, creed or political belief, to understand and to interpret the changes, some unthinkable six or seven decades ago. The truth is; the only constant in life’s experience is change itself. “Change, indeed, is so pervasive that only after the antithetical concept of changelessness and immutability was developed in the earliest period of Greek philosophy did change become a problem for philosophical thought.”
A brief look at Guyana today suggests that if we are to fulfil the objectives of our National Pledge and the realisation of the oath all of our leaders swear to upon assuming office, we must initiate changes as we celebrate this anniversary of elections 2025, so that our children and their off springs be the full beneficiaries of this wonderful place. The best country in the world, Guyana; no floods, no hurricanes, no wildfires, no extremes of hot and cold, and inhabited by a people who are generally peaceful and thought to pray in their separate religious and cultural organisations.
Today we must face the hurdles, and the stumbling blocks that stand in the way of making every Guyanese comfortable, and enjoying the benefits of our gold, diamond, oil and gas, timber, and freshwater. On paper Guyanese, even with the sudden report that our population is now one million, are the richest people per capita, richer than North America, China, India and Europe.
As we celebrate this anniversary, we are faced with contortions and distortions related to oil and gas. Only after the Exxon Mobil representatives revealed in a report to shareholders, that the investment had been paid off two years earlier than expected, did our government acknowledge this important development which means that substantial sums ought to be available to Guyanese. During the course of this week Dr Vincent Adams will deal with this matter in extenso.
As we observe this anniversary let us together make a clarion call to prevail upon the present administration to do necessary things in order to allow, we the people to benefit from and enjoy the bounty given to us. Recently, I have spoken to people who are afraid to speak-up for fear of losing their jobs, or compromising opportunities for family members.
Today there is no place for cowards. Today we must spend more time teaching our contemporaries and our youth the history of our country, with such knowledge we give them the courage and the ability to speak-up for change, to speak-up to narrow the gap between the new rich and the everlasting poor. Speaking to some young men last Friday evening, at a night of reflection for the late Pan-Africanist Tom Dalgety, one youth observed that some folks are stuck at the bottom of the Economic ladder of our country, unacceptable.
We need men and women who are not intoxicated, and misguided by the “filthy lucre”, huge sums of money now available to purchase those without the knowledge of our history. Guyanese as we start a new school term, as we remember the steady steps of silliness, we must be unafraid to speak-up. I remember Shakespeare’s play Julius Caesar, when Caesar said “Cowards die many times before their deaths, the valiant never taste of death but once”.
Yours truly,
Elder Hamilton Green
