Latest update April 23rd, 2024 12:59 AM
Aug 19, 2016 Editorial, Features / Columnists
Politics, in its broadest sense, is the activity through which governments make, preserve and amend the general rules and laws of a country. It is the practice and theory of influencing and convincing other people. Politics sometimes fosters delusions of grandeur in some people. It also makes strange bedfellows.
Politics is one of the oldest professions known to humans. In Guyana, it is an uncompromisingly nasty and brutal system. It is extremely adversarial to the point where it appears as though to gain political advantage, one party has to cut off the feet of its opponents.
Failed hopes, unfulfilled promises have been the hallmark of politicians and governments. Our leaders have generally not taken the maxim of good governance seriously. Those who offer themselves to serve the people could be quite genuine and would endeavour to uphold the sacred oath they took. But with time, many would trade their nobility and character for wealth which validates the adage that the flesh is weak.
Politicians are often willing to use more than their charms to gain unlimited power.
Perhaps it is time for people to look inward for guidance, inspiration and leadership, and not to politicians. It is difficult to decipher between the self-serving politicians and those who serve country before self. A former Caribbean leader was quite candid when he asserted that politics has a morality of its own. Guyana’s political landscape is replete with examples to validate that statement.
The public has seen the opaque and unpleasant sight of politicians in their element. Doing as they please, without a care in the world – the poor and corrupt leadership of the last fifteen years was clear evidence of power gone mad. What the people had been promised and what they received from the last administration were worlds apart. But, as has been aptly put, “a promise is a comfort to a fool.”
Recently, the leader of the opposition was heard making potentially divisive statements in New York. He and his party faithful have since defended his utterances, saying that what he spoke of is actually occurring. Also, the nation has witnessed a yet-to-be-properly defined trip to the Far East by a senior government official, seemingly improper interventions on behalf of business entities, mind-boggling appointments, and a shady drug storage bond deal. The latter seeing a Minister inexplicably misleading the National Assembly, and by extension, the nation.
The bond fiasco can be considered one of the worst scandals faced by the government since it came to office. Instead of truly addressing the issue and presenting the facts to the people based on a rigorous independent analysis, the government at the highest levels has defended it. It proves that the government is a necessary evil for the fiscal management of the country and that the rule of law is not paramount. Its approach must be to right the wrongs, learn from the mistakes and go forward. That is the way of progress.
Truth be told, the mandate given to the current government was to restore hope and protect the good name of the country at home and in the international community. Guyana must remain a quality country and must provide the opportunity for all its citizens, from all walks of life, to achieve their goals.
The people have sent a clear message. They want accountable, transparent and honest government that will seek to earn their respect and trust as it conducts the nation’s business. A government that strives for more civil and respectful behaviour in Parliament and ends nepotism and cronyism.
There is a French Proverb: “The reputation of a man is like his shadow: It sometimes follows and sometimes precedes him; it is sometimes longer and sometimes shorter than his natural size.”
One wonders what our leaders feel about their reputations.
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LISTEN HOW JAGDEO WILL MAKE ALL GUYANESE RICH!!!
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Spotted your typo:
“Guyana must remain a quality country and … ”
instead of:
” Guyana must become a quality country and …”
(pats self on back)