Latest update April 18th, 2024 12:59 AM
Oct 13, 2011 Letters
Dear Editor,
I have noticed that very often opinion pieces etc. are used as an opportunity for Guyanese who were privileged to attain higher formal education to display their intellect and command of the English language. I am not knocking that because I am one of the fortunate ones. What I am saying is that quite frequently, to the ordinary reader, the message is lost in the fancy words.
This letter is an appeal to all of my fellow Guyanese, but especially to the ordinary man or woman. I am urging all eligible voters to exercise their right to participate in the political process. I am a Guyanese woman living abroad, who is neither a registered voter, nor am I affiliated with any political party. However, I would like to offer some common sense advice.
You experience the daily challenges of life in Guyana, so you know best what your needs are. On November 28th you will have a chance to decide who should lead the country. Please do not make this choice lightly. Don’t be swayed by the dirty laundry exposed by one party about another. These are usually smoke screens used by candidates to avoid discussing the real issues and concerns of the people and what they, the candidates, plan to do to address those problems.
Don’t fall for the politicians who play the ‘race’ card because as we know, Guyana is a country of people of many races mixed and intertwined. If some groups grow and others do not, the country cannot move forward. Think about it, if we continue to be seen around the world as a racially divided country, then we are also thought of as unstable. Who in their right mind would want to invest in Guyana? How can we ever encourage some of our talented brothers and sisters to return home to make a contribution to our country? Don’t we all lose?
Regardless of your race or economic status, you do not live in a bubble. Citizens in any society need each other to provide goods and services. I would also like to point out that the colonizers used ‘race’ to divide us when they wanted to maintain control of us, but our ancestors knew better and chose to unite instead.
Imagine what would have happened if our forefathers had fallen into the ‘race’ trap. Many of us might still be enslaved today. Any candidate who is running a campaign on ‘race’ should not even be considered. Would you consider a father or mother providing for some of his or her children and not others, to be a fit parent?
When assessing the political candidates and their parties, ask yourself: What are their plans to improve the country? Are these plans realistic or practical? What are the issues that you feel are important?
Ask the parties and their candidates to explain how they plan to tackle certain issues often mentioned in the news, such as unequal treatment and violence against women, protecting the environment (flooding, erosion, poor land use etc.), improvement in education, employment for young people, insufficient water and sanitation in communities, protecting the rights of children, protecting the rights of Indigenous people, reform of the constitution, freedom of the press, corruption etc. In other words, hold the candidates accountable from now.
At the end of the day, this candidate is applying to you for the position as President of your country. You are the employer so you should be using the campaign period as the job interview.
Remember that the leader of the country is given the responsibility to manage the wealth and natural resources of the country to benefit all citizens of Guyana, so integrity is something to consider.
The public should be made aware of details of bids for government projects in the country. These ‘deals’ should be open to public scrutiny because the President is spending your money.
Last but not least, you should have the legal right within your constitution to remove that leader if he or she is not performing to your satisfaction. If you do not produce, doesn’t your boss reserve the right to release you from your position?
A Concerned Guyanese
JAGDEO ADDING MORE DANGER TO GUYANA AND THE REGION
Apr 18, 2024
SportsMax – West Indies captain Hayley Matthews has been named Wisden’s leading Twenty20 Cricketer for 2023, as she topped all and sundry, including her male counterparts. Alan Gardner looks...Kaieteur News – Compliments of the Ministry of Education, our secondary school children are being treated to a stage... more
By Sir Ronald Sanders Waterfalls Magazine – On April 10, the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States... more
Freedom of speech is our core value at Kaieteur News. If the letter/e-mail you sent was not published, and you believe that its contents were not libellous, let us know, please contact us by phone or email.
Feel free to send us your comments and/or criticisms.
Contact: 624-6456; 225-8452; 225-8458; 225-8463; 225-8465; 225-8473 or 225-8491.
Or by Email: [email protected] / [email protected]