We must work to remove the fear, mistrust, hate and envy (Part 2)

Dear Editor,
Like rational human beings, we all want the best for ourselves, our families, our organisation, our groups; but we need to recognise and to accept that while we have a right to ‘the good life’; so too do the other people nearby and next door. We need also to respect their rights and their cultural diversity. All of us must be involved. We must see ourselves as agents of change.
Thus the government has an important role in facilitating and accommodating the PPP’s involvement for we too have a continual important role as a Change Agent and an experienced one at that. Approximately 204,000 Guyanese voters by their votes at the 2015 Elections, affirmed this even as they also affirmed their confidence and trust in the PPP/C and we must never lose sight of that fact.
Let’s start in the home: Parents/guardians can make a difference by setting the right example. Installing hate-free values in your children and spending quality time with them. They learn not only by seeing and observing what we do but by also listening to what we say.
The arrogance, disrespect and hostility displayed by many of our youths towards adults; the racial slurs hurled by many could only be a representation of the learned behaviour they would have inculcated in their homes, schools, work places and communities, and sadly enough, adults to whom they look often for guidance would have been the teachers.
At school through Family Life Education among others, we must help children develop the capacity to live in peace and harmony with and to love and respect each other’s culture and religious values; to show racial tolerance; to deal with emotions; to handle peer pressure and to make their own decisions.
Family Life Education must focus on character education: attitudes, behaviour, moral values, etc providing our children with the capacity to live in peace and harmony and to show love and respect for each other. Talk of Social Cohesion…empty!
The role of the Church must go beyond the singing of hymns and praying, important though they be. The Church’s role must be redefined to include influencing thinking and positive behavioural change; and also being good examples to their congregation.
Many are they who are very vociferous on the pulpit and portray characteristics that must be similar to that possessed and displayed by some of Jesus’ disciples. Albeit, off the pulpit the antagonist and questionable attributes they portray must have been similar to that displayed by Judas Iscariot: Not good examples of laudable human behaviour.
Many are overtly hostile to the People’s Progressive Party and its supporters as if the Almighty had delegated the task of passing judgement to them.
My friends, we may never have a society free of ethnic suspicions and tensions but we must make special efforts to achieve this. Integral to the desired behaviour changes we seek is the work of the political parties among the people of Guyana.
We must all be carrying the same message intended to benefit all and not some; for the task before us is to govern our multiethnic Nation. In this regard there is a very important role for the People’s Progressive Party.
After all, the PPP has always been in the forefront of every effort to bring improvement to the quality of the lives of Guyanese.
Let APNU+AFC be reminded that almost 50% of the Guyanese voters indicated by their votes on May 11, 2015, that they have confidence in the PPP’s ability to deliver further improvements in the lives of Guyanese. Presently, that figure would have moved closer to 55% or more.
Collectively we must work to remove the fear, hate, envy and mistrust that stalk this dear land of ours, or talk of change is merely what it has been thus far: mere empty talk devoid of any intent to deliver but intended to keep some people’s hopes and expectations alive.

Respectfully,
Norman Whittaker