What change? Govt’s attack, revenge on core Opposition supporters

Dear Editor,
After reflecting on the past several years, it is very disappointing to see how old wounds have kept progress from the people of Guyana especially when it comes to understanding and respecting each other’s ethnicity and race. Many will agree, but few will admit it publicly. The current Government came into office with an opportunity to provide this change and progress for the entire country. Instead, political dominance and self-preservation led to a clearly racist motivation for the gutting of the Government’s minor partner’s political base, while they also seized the opportunity to attack and take revenge on the core supporters of the Opposition.
Were it not the case, this political season would be much easier for the current Government. Their support base would have grown in non-traditional areas due to joint economic growth and progress towards national development. However, they stole progress from themselves and although they are now facing a substantial opportunity to obtain further growth via new resource development, it is clear that theirs is an inherent resentment towards those who are helping them.
Far be it for me to say that the remembrance of slavery should be neglected, but the use of its memory to hinder progress towards growing as an individual or as an institution, or as a nation does not help anyone involved. In recent days, many of those who are respected in the Government have been recalling memories of slavery and comparing current economic and social decisions via this backdrop. It would be beneficial to also remember that those who you have resentment towards have helped you regain power and are providing you with the technology to grow your economy. This is not out of an obligation which they have to fulfil for the past. It is the result of taking advantage of a win-win opportunity for all of those involved. The question that should be asked by those who allow bitterness to skew or bias their judgment is, “What would they do if those helping them left them to their own wits?”.
Hate for a people who were not your enemies and that came here for work to take care of their families is wrong at its core. No one came to take from you what was yours. Those in charge made the decision of whom they wanted to work with. Now you work with the descendants of masters of your forefathers to obtain future wealth, will you now curse them for helping you do what you yourselves can not? The same thought should be extended to more than half of this nation with whom you are aggressively attacking because of historical differences and bitter resentment.
The choice is there to be had, will we be a nation of one people or a nation where to each his own will always be the order of the day? Letting go of the past is not the same as forgetting it and most people let go when there is something better, not bitter, to be had. Look before you and you will see that is exactly what is to be had in coming years. Let the nation progress as one, leave behind the bitter resentment that continues to hinder our beautiful nation’s progress.

Best regards,
J Changlee