When silence equals consent

Oct 04, 2009 Letters

Dear Editor,
Approximately two weeks ago, my 13-year-old asked me two simple yet profound questions; why do you get so upset about what’s going on in Guyana when they themselves don’t seem to be bothered? What are they doing about the situation?
She stumped me. I did not have a ready answer and since that time I’ve searched my mind for a reasonable answer and I think I may have found it. The answer is as plain as the nose on my face. Guyanese are unfazed by the daily dose of debauchery inflicted on them by the shameless PPP government led by the micromanager-president.
The population’s collective deafening silence is their consent. At a time when this government careens from one scandal to another, no reasonable person can blame this inept and corrupt bunch for the pox they’ve placed on this nation without the help of a population that seemingly lacks the desire or will to say enough is enough.
Granted, there may be a lot wrong with the village of Buxton, but they have consistently shown that they have a restive spirit that challenges the status quo; after all, they gave us Kwayana, Rodney and Hinds for it was Kwayana who challenged Burnham when it was unpopular to do so.
Garbage in the capital city piles up and threatens the health of residents and somehow it doesn’t end up on the steps of City Hall, the Office of the President or that of the Minister of Local Government.
Georgetown is a burgeoning environmental disaster on to itself but the flying beggar is exhorting rich nations to save the planet; just give us lots of money that I will make it disappear into the ether and I won’t develop my country. I’ll keep it as a second rate third world pariah because Guyanese don’t care or complain.
Who will own Guyana when the donor nations donate their dollars to keep Guyana’s forests intact (some might say keep it underdeveloped) and the Brazilians build the bridges and roads and the Indians build the stadium and the Americans, Canadians, British and God knows who else.
What will Guyanese look at with pride and reverence to call their own?
I think if one were to look back at the origins of this miasma that is uniquely Guyanese, we can go back to the independence movement of the 1950s and 1960s and see that while the Jamaicans, Trinidadians and Barbadians were deeply nationalist and patriotic and where they stand today developmentally, compared to Guyana, the tragedy that has become Guyana is revealing. Guyanese were distracted by racial division and communist/socialist ideology that essentially said the government knows what’s best, we will provide everything for you; trust us.
Fast forward to 2009 and successive self serving and corrupt governments are still telling the people that only the government knows what’s best for them and the population still believes them.
What does it say about a nation whose living national icons choose to live abroad than come back to Guyana; Sir Shridat Ramphal, Clive Lloyd, Eddie Grant, Reds Perreria, Eusi Kwyana and the other half a million lesser known Guyanese that voted with their feet to live life to their god given fullest potential?
Guyanese, end the silence and take back your consent for mistreatment from your government. Unless and until this happens, the government will only do what the population allows them to get away with.
Nigel Jason