Dear Editor,
Recent reported statements by Minister of Education Priya Manickchand have caused me some unease. I refer particularly to the Minister’s response (‘SN editorial failed to publish the pertinent facts’ SN, July 31), to SN’s editorial ‘UG Council’ (July 28). I am of the firm opinion that opportunities for nation building presented by independence forty-six years ago are still being squandered by some politicians and persons who hold positions of responsibility. The Minister’s response evoked memories of a meeting I had forty odd years ago with a former Minister of Education, also legally trained, who informed me that she was not concerned with the moral aspects of the issue under discussion, but with the law/regulation – the technical aspects. Bearing in mind that sometimes ‘the law is an ass,’ and that ‘justice must not only be done, but, also must be seen to be done,’ I did not see the moral questions and the legal/technical questions as being mutually exclusive, especially in a developing society seeking to modernize. I am convinced that Minister Manickchand is fully aware that the UG Council, as presently constituted, is a severe impediment to the effective functioning of the university, yet she insists on burdening the institution with this politicized albatross. Yet, it is reported: ‘Education should not be politicized? – Minister Manickchand’ (KN, August 18).
It should be obvious to our politicians and holders of positions of responsibility (that is, public officials at all levels, private sector managers and administrators), that the challenges occasioned by the attainment of political independence, are in reality opportunities for the development of the new and appropriate professional and social responsibilities that are demanded in the building of a nation that would be modern, democratic and free. For example, first, there is the responsibility of engaging in introspection in order to discover our strengths and those areas in need of improvement, and to engage in reflection to better understand our existing conditions and realities.
Second, there is the responsibility of developing and adopting new and more sophisticated thinking, more positive attitudes, and wider and more inclusive perspectives. If Guyana aims to leapfrog decades of underdevelopment, and close the development gap, then our rate of progress must exceed that of the more developed nations. Politicians and holders of responsible positions can no longer conduct the affairs of this nation in a haphazard, or business-as-usual manner. They can no longer persist only in mechanistic, analytical, and either/or kind of thinking, seeing everything in terms of black/white, so to speak, and refusing to acknowledge the myriad shades of grey. They must acknowledge and embrace the more holistic, ecological and comprehensive systems of thinking, of which analytical thinking is a part.
Third, given our colonial past characterized by exploitation, deception and divisiveness, one would expect that our politicians and holders of positions of responsibility in the service of this developing and aspiring nation would, after a period of introspection and reflection, assume a teaching role and help to mould this nation; act as coaches urging citizens to give of their personal best; and lead by example by demonstrating that their decision-making is based on a set of desirable (by public criteria) values, or moral and ethical principles that espouse respect for life, respect for persons, justice, fairness, and truth. And that whenever the occasion arises, they would seek the higher moral ground on any issue. Given our historical context, our politicians should aspire to statesmanship built on humility, integrity and authenticity.
Fourth, our politicians and holders of positions of responsibility must be willing to take risks. They must not be afraid to dream, to conceive and perceive the possibilities of the world, to have a vision or sense that things could be otherwise – the capacity to generate and envision alternatives. Without the capacity to generate and perceive ideal possibilities, we will find ourselves trapped in a particular set of institutions and practices – to wit, the present impasse with regard to the UG Council. The above four responsibilities serve as an illustration only. There are many more professional and social responsibilities that need to be given due cognizance. To conclude, I would urge every Guyanese to become pro-active in nation building. Our mandate is to build a nation with a common destiny. To me, this implies that our nation should be a community of shared purposes, characterized by a willingness to reason. Ultimately, this nation would be grounded in, and bonded by a sense of civic responsibility, by a willingness to try to shape the ‘good life,‘ and to win and lose debates with grace. Endeavouring to build such a community of understanding for the pursuit of truth is the most fundamental dimension of nation-building.
Let morality not political expediency, orient all of our national institutions, particularly our university, our only institution of higher education. In fact, one of the paramount purposes of Guyanese education should be to initiate students into an informed, critical appreciation of the moral dimension of life. Our accumulated experiences strongly suggest that this is the knowledge of most worth in the building of this nation.
Yours faithfully
Clarence O Perry
