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May 20, 2014 Letters
Dear Editor,
There should be no debate about the need for or importance of local government elections. We have a new generation of voters who have been pre-occupied with just general elections and the constant stand-off between the government and the opposition and most recently, the Mayor and City Council.
If the Minister of Local Government believes that people need to be educated before they proceed with these constitutionally due elections, then I believe he needs to move swiftly on an education campaign. Take elections from the people and you take away your legitimacy to govern them. It makes absolutely no sense to postpone elections because of the lack of voter education and at the same time, not develop a plan of action and implement an educational programme.
It seems to me that from every angle, our peoples are being held at ransom. I spoke about the issue surrounding the frivolous actions of the government to bring to a halt the democracy project in a democracy. Who are we deceiving? There is great need for local government elections as well to be preceded by a project that helps Guyanese to understand how to exercise their franchise. It is too long, it is overdue, and I find it disturbing that we are playing games with spirit of our people, of our communities and the nation.
I have lost confidence in my leaders to rebound and I am certain that I echo the sentiments of thousands of Guyanese youth. Though I feel this way, I believe in the need for our leaders to conduct themselves in a manner that their offices require; in a manner that says you work for the people and finish the work they are paying you to do. They are exhausting the spirits of our people and are throwing humanity out the window.
I feel as though this is becoming a Hobbesian state; life is incrementally becoming short, nasty and brutish. It is a cause for concern when the machine of this nation, of any nation, the youth, are not moving at a pace that is normal everywhere else in the world that is developing.
Our youths are becoming passive; a 15-year-old is reportedly shot and our youths are afraid to mobilise or they simply do not understand that this should concern them. Children in state care are reportedly being abused and we try to paint them as criminals and defiant elements.
I daresay our youths are reacting to their environments. Leaders lead and we follow, yet we refuse to become so bitter and regressive. We are beginning to pick up the slacks of our leaders and are carrying the burdens of this nation and for many, they are not prepared but are willing and someone has to do the work.
You might ask what does all of this have to do with local government elections – the truth is, everything. When power is decentralized, it encourages accountability and those who are making decisions are constantly reminded that they are working for those who put them there, the people. They would not have been working to pay favours but to maintain a state of law and order. It also helps those who are passive in our communities to see the need to dream again, to stand up and to speak out, knowing well that this democracy that we live in was built by them and will protect and celebrate them. Let us start with understanding that life will go on and we have an opportunity to blaze a new trail.
Ryan Hoppie
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