Dear Editor,
A Guyanese on Facebook poignantly, pertinently and (perniciously?) asked a persuasive, primeval and (prejudiced?) question, “What do you love about this Land?”
This inquiry is believed to activate an honest, heartfelt, and perhaps humorous reaction. What will be your immediate instinct in responding to a request that maybe touches the heart, one that you’re very much at home with, and one that you can unreservedly relate to without reservation, malice or animosity? For sure, there will be very interesting, amusing, passionate, sad, jealous, zealous, erudite, sarcastic and flamboyant attempts to describe a pent up, free-flowing or constrained reflection of what really and truly affects the heart, mind and soul of Guyanese.
Will consideration be entertained for admiration, sentimental feelings, emotional attachment, generations of families, historical values, moral upliftment or decline, regard or disregard for law and order, implication or complication of rules and regulations, constitutional irregularities, a referendum battle or baffle, economic potentials or downturn, hunger and suffering, depression, oppression, suppression, dictatorial administrators, leaders, bleeders, electoral fraudsters, corruptive forces, collusive permissiveness, financial misappropriations, approval or disappointments from election and selection, a garden city to a run-down city, the Taj Mahals or the dilapidated huts, the humungous business enterprises or the roadside stands, the well-kept streets or the polluted ditches, gutters and drains; the politicians, the economists, the social workers, the armed forces, the religious societies, the shelters or the luxurious hotels.
How will the crime situation ventilate an outpour of affectionate giving or misgivings? Will the entire Guyana be judged on the border of criminal activities that are so prevalent, consistent, and ambivalent?
Is there a thin line that demarcates the reason, purpose and outcome of criminal pursuits which will attract any sympathetic opinions? The dangerous, devious and damaging crime situation certainly plays a pivotal role in announcing or denouncing any call of likeness for this land.
Should the mention of road carnage and accidents come into play to promote or demote any respective view on this heavenly land or godforsaken land?
Certainly, employment opportunities will impress or depress the formation of any statement. Who is working? Who is not working? Who is willing to work without having any success? Who is refusing to work, and who wants to work but is denied? These are all segments of a painted or tainted picture, projecting an outcome which is susceptible to invariable conclusions. A judgement focused on the repercussions of the deadly COVID-19 pandemic will also alienate or alternate diversion to summarise any actual, factual or fictional conclusion on the adversaries of attachment or detachment.
The aftermath is certainly bearing a heavy toll in many directions, and Guyanese are reeling and wondering about many propositions.
Then, again, there are those who are full of venom, anger and hurt, who are ready to contradict the word love and quickly replace it with “hate.” They could be residing on this beautiful land, or have departed at the first instance. For reasons beyond control, many are still aligned and grounded, and awaiting the opportune moment to pack and book the earliest flight from this land. In direct opposition would be the die-hard, sworn to live and die on this land, yes, to visit overseas, but to certainly return home and hang their hat on the stand!
Which category will you prefer to affiliate yourself with? Do Guyanese still enjoy the freedom of choice, or has that right been taken away or denied them, or do Guyanese no longer care about such a discussion, or, does such concern no longer bear any interest for digestion?
So, we see there is enough food for thought not to jump to a hasty rap-up session and give a reactive verdict.
There is the need for a second thought after a careful analysis of the law of action and reaction. All that glitters is not gold, and the sea is full of many fishes. Like they say, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never.” Will Guyanese remain loyal to the land, regardless of what is said or done and by whom?
This land, that belongs to you and me, a land of many waters, a land below the sea level, a land exposed to wind, rain and sun; a land enjoying the tropical weather, a land so rich and fertile, a land rich in agriculture, minerals, forestry, oil and gas, bauxite and people; a land famous for sports and international figures, a land that has absorbed the blood, sweat and tears of so many, a land that has borne the happiness and sadness of residents, a land that has sheltered the rich and poor, a land that has provided birth, growth and death, a land that man has grown from strength to strength, a land that has been plundered, raped, desecrated and destroyed by pilferers, colonists and opportunists, a land that so many want to divide, conquer and rule, a land that has buried so much memories, a land, ready, willing, capable and culpable for advanced development, a land devoid of adoration, care and affection.
What we should love about this land is that she allows each and every loving Guyanese to give back to her and her people what she has given to us and what we have taken from her, willingly and forcefully, deceptively and cunningly!
Yours respectfully,
Jai Lall
