Dear Editor,
As one of my friends said, it is “mind boggling” when one thinks about the scope, extent and outreach of the work that Mark Benschop and his foundation have accomplished in Guyana since his release from prison. The level of his motivation in reaching out to others without any discrimination after all the trials that he has faced and probably still faces today, speaks volumes.
It has been said that, “the experiences of life should never make us bitter, only better” and if there is anyone in Guyana who has proven this to be true, that person is Mark Benschop.
Kudos to you Mark and much success with the work of the foundation. The good work that you’re doing has not gone unnoticed. In closing, you remind me of this quote from Sun Tzu: “A true leader leads by example not by force.”
Yours faithfully,
(Name and address provided)
Mark is outspoken and passionate and he is one of the scarce Guyanese Independents. No, not PPP, not PNC, not a third party either. He is just unaffiliated and proud of it!
But he is passionate about our Guyana’s development and he really cares about Guyana’s future, and yes, he is sick and tired of the past infecting our present and therefore our future.
Politicians in both parties have an ax to grind with Mark because he has been, and rightfully so, quite outspoken about their actions that could harm Guyana and Guyanese.
A lot of Guyanese could learn from us true Independent minded Guyanese, (affiliated to no political party and see Guyana’s multi-culturalism as a unique beauty to be admired, not to bemoan and certainly nothing to fight about)
I hope more and more, the nation will begin to speak with one voice for unity, demand it of our polticians, demand that they do not only pay lip service to the cause, and be bright enough not to let their rhetoric divide us. We are much smarter than they are. We should begin to assert our own needs about their willingness to divide us for the sake of their ambitions and demand of them, not to dare to it or they lose votes and support.
Mark was like a brother to me and whereas before, I was very upset with him that he returned to Guyana to have Jagdeo get the opportunity to use his imaginations to declare such a patriotic Guyanese, treasonous, I am very proud of him for how he has handled it and has now begun to prove that he is much easier to be loved and admired than our current president. The history books will eventually sort that out, I’m sure.
One who does not forgive, carries with him a dark heart and a contorted imagination that everyone will perceive as he thirsts for revenge and reeks of vindictiveness, but one who does, will know the beauty and peace that each day brings to him, as a gift for his forgiveness, and warmth for his love.
Power is useless and lonely without happiness, and happiness is known only by those who see the beauty in others and hold unto and gift to the world, what they truly are, whether they may be in solitary confinement in jail or sitting behind the most powerful desk of the land. We are all humans, and people should be important to us, less we lie in the dung heap of history to be a putrid stench forever.
Mark could teach the nation a lot by forgiving Jagdeo. Then Mark becomes the better man!
Knowing you Mark, I know that you’ll be reading these comments. So let me declare how proud I am of you! Keep up the good work of continuing to put country before party or race. Keep loving Guyanese regardless of race and keep cherishing them for who they are inside, because deep within the heart of the nation, lies a longing, collective soul, to belong only to one Guyana, one nation and share one destiny!
Guyana deserves her birthright. Let us, her future, always keep remembering that.
I wrote a poem about that and I wrote a poem about you. I hope you’ll get to read both when the books comes out next year.
Much love to you, my fellow countryman! You are truly a son of Guyana!
R D-S
PS: See, you are not alone, never was!
God bless and thank you for your sacrifice. It is duly noted and we warmly embrace you for it. We, the Guyanese Independents are nothing but humble and grateful to you!
Peace!
WOW! Gap1…you really put your all into that tribute – I applaud you, well said.
I find it amazing that there are a few persons who are actually purporting that Mark has learned his lesson as though he committed a crime. His only crime was to stand up against the real miscreants of the guyanese society. Stand firm my brother! They can only lock your body away, they can never imprison your spirit. That is your greatest triumph over the “EVIL REGIME.”
Apretoute speaks my thought.
MB was not only innocent all along, but he stood trial and was not found guilty but was continued to be held in prison any way. Held without any justification, and on the pretext there would be a further trial.
He is not the only one either. The number of people held in custody for prolonged periods without trial is a shame for the country. It is unjust, and makes it hard for justice to be done in court, the longer the time between accusation and trial, the harder for evidence and witnesses to be accurate and available.
This works both ways of course, allowing those with money and influence, who are usually released on bail plenty of time to subvert the whole process. Too often the innocent suffer and the guilty go free rejoicing.