Dear Editor,
Please allow me space to share my thoughts on how we may mature politically and grow as a nation.
As we proudly celebrate our 50th year of Independence, it is a good time to reflect on the progress we have made as a nation and how the quality of life of all citizens can be improved. We have become a true democracy, our Governments have been changed by the democratic process, both of the country’s main parties need to accept this fact, both have been guilty of blaming losses at the polls on fraud – to them I say the time to mature and accept that the people have in the past rejected you and no doubt will again in the future, instead of blaming losses at the polls on fraud, engage in serious self-examination and listen to the voice of the people.
There are various constitutional positions that require cooperation of Executive and Opposition, for the good of the people. Work together to fill these positions; the current acting Chancellor of the Judiciary has ‘acted’ longer than anyone who held the substantive position before him, that the acting Chancellor is the current Chief Justice makes appointing a substantive Chief Justice impossible is a ludicrous scenario. This cannot be right.
Our Constitution requires an Integrity Commission, the current President refused to make submissions to the commission during his tenure as Opposition Leader with the reasoning that without a Chairman, the Integrity Commission does not exist. No doubt, as President, he will be seeking to redress this situation. We the people are waiting for our politicians to mature, to continue to engage in infantile behaviour is to chance our wrath at the polls.
The proposed ‘Code of Conduct’ for Ministers and others in public office is a welcomed move, given the revelations and subsequent explanations of the past week. I would suggest sooner, rather than later. My hope is that the People’s Progressive Party can learn from this period in Opposition how arrogance in the face of criticism looks from the other side of the fence. I hope they feel keenly the sense of helplessness when questions asked of Ministers in Parliament are never answered, when information is promised but never delivered, should they return to administration these are lessons that will serve well.
The present Administration sowed the wind of allegations of misconduct, rumours were made and treated as fact, and they are now reaping the whirlwind. Emerging nations such as ours do need to court investors, China is fertile ground and any such endeavour should be commended; however, and this is an important point, there must be transparency and cohesion in such approaches, delegations for such ventures need to comprise of suitable expertise and the public must be notified of the intention in advance, no gifts or favours can be accepted by such delegations as they can lead to accusations of corruption, always be aware that the road to perdition is paved with good intentions.
The people of our nation have by and large come to terms with our ethnic diversity, we have grown, our politicians sadly, seem oblivious to this new reality, divisive statements are not in short supply, there is no denying both major parties have large ethnic bases, but there is no longer a majority of one ethnicity or group in Guyana, appealing to ethnicity cannot win you an election, I suggest it is time to mature and appeal to our needs instead. Talk about plans to improve our lot in life and when elected, execute those plans without fear or favour – the Amaila Falls Hydro project has to be built, regardless of who first proposed it, there is no shame in using someone else’s ideas and plans if it benefits the nation, that is the maturity we the people are looking forward to seeing.
Our Motto of One People, One Nation, One Destiny must be our only guide.
Respectfully,
Robin Singh
