Dear Editor,
Very interesting and insightful, the comment from one contributor to the item about Mr Murray’s experience at the hands of intruders. Part of the comment was “Guyana needs more people like him to help guide the young wayward teens of today.” How true.
A few years ago I saw an American television documentary about an inner city youth-and-hand-guns problem, which seemed to have grown out of control. The authorities became so concerned that they invited community leaders to put forward ideas for a possible solution. Acting on this, prominent members of the community, including youth club and welfare work-ers, school teachers, and people from the business sector, came together and pooled ideas. They decided on a series of community-based meetings; guest speakers would include ex-prisoners, some of them now leading successful lives. They hoped the ex-prisoners would be able to dissuade the youths from pursuing a life of crime, eventually ending up behind bars.
At one session, to a transfixed audience, a serious, burly ex-prisoner − not unlike ‘Mr T of the A Team’ − painted a very vivid picture of his personal experience of life behind bars. His closing sentence was: “Bear in mind, one day you’ll come face to face with a giant of a man with hair growing down the back of his neck, and when he fixes you with his mean stare and says ‘Come here,’ he don’t mean to dance.”
I don’t know what that did to those youngsters but, by Jove, it frightened me. Perhaps Guyana needs such sessions to “guide its wayward young.”
Yours faithfully,
Geralda Dennison
Geralda an excellent proposal. I would suggest that you send this well written letter accompanied by a strctured outline of your proposal to those who may be inclined to listen. I say no more.
geralda, very good suggestion.
Works in the USA but not in Guyana. Guyana is a hopeless case.
Although this is indeed a very good suggestion, I would also suggest that they add social programs to keep the youngsters occupy – IDLE MINDS USUALLY FIND TROUBLE….
I tend to disagree with you Davis. Guyana, like any country that is experiencing difficult times, can be saved but as I have suggested several times before, the two current major political parties that equally share responsibility for destroying the unity that previously existed between the various groups, must be removed from office and permanently sidelined. Only then will persons/groups that have Guyana ’s well being as their major focus be allowed to surface and to do whatever needs to be done to control internal conflicts and external reluctance to investing in the country. Until such time as we put the past behind us, where it rightly belongs, and look to the future will Guyana begin the healing process.
Say what you may, Guyana can be saved, but unfortunately, not by the present or past governments.
You could have a point.Fact is,what percentage of Guyanese would side with you is the big question.Independent candidates have so far failed to make a dent in Guyana.
Davi:
Under the present circumstances and with the ingrained mind set of the Guyana populace, getting support for someone that makes sense would indeed be an uphill task.
However, it can be done but what is needed is someone that all races can trust and who can put together a group of intelligent, honest, caring, dedicated, forward thinking Guyanese of all racial backgrounds, whether resident in Guyana or in the diaspora, who are willing to put their lives on the line in the service of their country.
Reality is that the PNC and PPP will not stand idly by and be pushed off their comfortable cushions without a fight, and a fight is the last thing that Guyana needs. Whatever is done must, and I repeat, must be done in a non-violent way as violence only begets more violence.
If the two major political parties really wish to show their committment to the people of Guyana, the right thing for them to do would be to peacefully step aside and allow a new political process to develop.
As a first step in the right direction, what about a government comprising of members from each of the existing political parties (all) with a rotating lead (president or whatever you wish to call him/her) on an annual basis.
If stability is what Guyana wants then this should be considered as a viable option to the mess that presently exists.