On this, our first day of the New Year, I should be concentrating on beginnings, not endings.
However, since Guyana’s 2014 ended after this Wednesday’s Midnight, the seamless transition will bring all the successes- and woes- of a by-gone blighted year.
And Wish Lists, Resolutions and Plans are one thing. Reality is another- more stark and obvious.
As a semi-retired working-class citizen granted the privilege of sharing this man-in-the street column with you-all- for 22 years, come month–end – I, naturally, wish Guyanese a year of peace, improved standards and personal and national sustained progress. But, based both on our national leadership and governmental mis-management/crisis—-and our cowed, sheepish acceptance of constitutional, political bullyism, what are the prospects of fair, national success in 2015?
Not many!
Partly because of our collective lethargy wherein this battered society submits to an anti-people regime and “protest” only by defiance of authority; defiance through lawlessness and petty or grand thievery; and flouting even the norms of behaviour actually intended for personal and public good and safety, it’s likely that our governmental cabal will continue its plunder whilst we take the blows.
How long can young Guyana endure this national abuse by those in the corridors of power? Most of those living within the borders named Guyana are merely forty years or under. Must older, senior citizens lead our demonstrations of national disgust? Including us pensioners who have long done our part? What? Perhaps we precipitated today’s tyrannies? Problems?
I’ve long come around to supporting in principle, the views of that relentless Kaieteur News Columnist who condemns our virtual back-boneless acceptance of administrative/executive lawlessness and neglect. At the real risk of being boringly repetitive, I’ll now list a brief litany of national ills wondering for how long more can this nation tolerate these social/societal abuses.
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How much longer, Lord?
Imagine Allan Fenty appealing to some Higher Divine Force. But just how long will you all tolerate the following: Generations- long power outages? A Guyanese generation, over many governments, has endured blackouts into this twenty-first century. Where electricity is concerned are we a lesser people? A broken-down judicial system with suspect actors at varying levels? Drunkened government officials who brandish firearms and leave accident scenes?
Primitive river transport? A dysfunctional capital city? Gutter-like discourtesies from most senior public servants? Obvious corruption within new so-called investments”- the sores, from Skeldon to Marriott to Amaila Road to dubious airport expansion to delayed Hope Canal to scandalous Fibre Optic I-T project to turtle-like East Bank/East Coast Demerara highway “constructions” to specialty hospital fiasco and Regional Hospitals and Clinics which merely refer to Georgetown?
The list of wasted billions seems never-ending as a government ignores trade unions and collective bargaining agreements whilst conducting election campaign outreaches. For consideration during the first days of 2015, I ask young Guyana (18 to 45): Before you migrate, will you do nothing to dismantle this governmental contempt of your sovereignty which, it is claimed, belongs to you?
Have a reflective New Year
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Prognostications 2015
My regulars can easily suspect correctly that I love that word: prog-nos-ti-ca-tion.
It has to do with foretelling, predictions.
Like year-beginning resolutions, prognostications are popular right now. And like resolutions, I suggest that your predictions might be done on personal, community and national levels. I really have none of significance; only a few bordering on levity.
This was written before President Rabindranauth Ramotar’s New Year’s Address to his people. I still predict that there will be elections/before or after the national 2015 budget (L-O-L). I actually care little about election slates but the PPP’s Irfaan Ali will feature. The Brigadier will find a female running mate too. One party will at last drop the mixed ethnicity Slate business/sham.
The Stabroek Square will deteriorate further before a miracle of law and order happens. The government’s Lady Czarina will remain unmarried, but Bharrat Jagdeo will marry someone in 2015!
’Til next week, stay safe in 2015!
(allanafenty@yahoo.com)
