Dear Editor,
I recently participated in discussions on the condition of the Guyanese society during which many subjects were considered. Among them were ideology and vision, governance, the effectiveness of the opposition, human security and national cohesion. The discussions were free flowing and displayed all the attributes of a good Guyanese session.
Naturally, several interesting observations were made. Three of them I found quite remarkable and now share them with your readers. The first observation was that references to the “working class” in political party
pronouncements seem to be studiously avoided, if not abandoned. The second was on the need for early elections. It turned out that what was being suggested was the election of a new opposition before 2011.Thirdly, there was speculation on how Marx (Karl) and Lenin on the one hand, and Goebbels (Hitler’s Nazi Minister of Propaganda) on the other, would react to today’s Guyana. It was generally felt that Marx and Lenin would be horrified by the practices of their professed disciples. By contrast Goebbels would be jubilant to find so many dedicated operatives functioning in publicly owned enterprises faithfully implementing his ideas.
As the discussions came to an end, elements of a consensus emerged on what Guyanese needed to move the society onto a trajectory which would enhance the prospects of attaining and sustaining all-round development in conditions of peace and security. These included:
(1) A release from entrancement by ghosts and bewitching myths (the origin of which can be located in fixed images of the past) coupled with an unwillingness to move beyond those images. After all, our future does not lie behind us.
(2) A greater respect for the role of civil society in the pursuit of good governance.
(3) A political ethos which encourages political elites to appreciate that the interests of their narrower constituencies are best served when the interests of all constituencies are addressed equitably. For inequity, whether intended or consequential, real or perceived, provides a fertile breeding ground for resentments, radicalisation and resistance. It also reinforces negative stereotypes of the other, stereotypes which are rarely expressed publicly in polite social settings but are ventilated unrestrainedly in the comfort and security of gatherings at which the other is not present.
(4) A form of political discourse which is respectful of the norms of decency and which recognizes that adjustments of positions – concessions – are sometimes necessary for achieving agreement for the national good. In those circumstances, commitments made must be scrupulously honoured.
Yours faithfully,
Rashleigh E. Jackson
