Dear Editor,

I agree with W P George’s comment that “to bring some kind of order and morality back, all the people, organizations and churches, etc, have to start a moral revival. Fathers must be advised to stay with their children, mothers to guide their children” (‘The destruction of the young started soon after independence,’ SN 2.7.08). There is an urgent need to educate people to recognise and appreciate the importance of values and their relation to being good citizens and leaders. However, there are many children who were raised without fathers and by single parents who have excelled.

I also agree with George that people “must advise that the government should be respected and people should be good citizens.” I do not know where Mr George resides or if he pays attention to what is happening, but were he to enquire he would know this government does not care for  citizens; disrespects the rule of law; and denies rights. Mr George will agree that under these circumstances if people “respect” government the society will continue to decay.

The tendency to blame Mr Forbes Burnham for everything that goes wrong is unfounded. Mr Burnham died in 1985, 23 years ago. The youths of 1966, when Guyana became independent, are in their fifties and upwards and for a large part have led exemplary lives. Some of the children of Mr Burnham’s period are President Bharrat Jagdeo; Ministers Robert Persaud, Desrey Fox and Jennifer Westford; and Roraima Airways owner, Captain Gerry Gouveia.

The PPP is in office for 16 years. This young population was born, became teenagers and young adults under the PPP’s watch. This generation knows nothing about Mr Burnham other than what they hear from others. This generation knows the governments of Dr Cheddi Jagan, Mrs Janet Jagan, Messrs Samuel Hinds and Bharrat Jagdeo.

The problems facing young people require truthful acknowledgement and a combination of solutions. In this regard the behaviour and actions of the government cannot be excluded.

Yours faithfully,
Chris Griffith