Dear Editor,
A good friend of many years would frequently remind me that inhabitants cultivate their own respective dictators, because they permit their organizational or political leaders to get away with small abuses and indiscretions. Over time those small abuses and indiscretions empower those leaders to become so strong and mighty, so that they could no longer be reined in.
As I analyse several of the events in today’s Guyana, I am compelled to reflect on my friend’s reminder, because I think that we might have allowed the present regime to get away with so much already, that it no longer feels obliged to pay attention to legitimate observations and complaints.
Maybe the leaders of Guyana’s opposition parties, interest groups and institutions representing (for example) the Church and the business community have allowed the present government to get away with too much already. But I cannot bring myself to believe that all is lost; I feel that national leaders should collaborate around matters which are in need of further airing and protest and strive to gain satisfactory interventions and resolution.
And that is why, Editor, I pose the question, where is the resistance? because while there are piecemeal outcries about issues like police brutality, radio and TV licences, the treatment of trade unions and workers’ demands, there does not appear to be sufficient united protest and advocacy. It is with that concern in mind that I am calling for more co-operation, consultations and joint action among the respective opposition entities.
Yours faithfully,
Morris Wilson
