We spend half of our life waiting

Dear Editor,

Elizabeth Taylor said, “It is strange that the years teach us patience; that the shorter our time, the greater our capacity for waiting.” And the Bible said, “those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength.”

In this country, we spend half of our life waiting. I waited in a bank nearly six hours to open a new bank account, and I have been waiting two years to get a minibus driver’s licence.

There’re many others waiting. Some people waiting for their papers to go to North America and some for the government to change.

Others waiting to get government land; several are waiting to win the lottery, to get married, and many are waiting on their remittances.

A few children are waiting on a father who abandoned them to return home; some women are waiting for their physical abuse to stop. Another is waiting for love.

Additionally, some are waiting to get justice, for a unified Guyana; while others are waiting for the government and opposition to work together. Most are waiting for a better life, a brighter tomorrow and a new day.

Still others are waiting for corruption to stop, or the country to change, local government elections; several are waiting for the Arab Spring to happen here at home to bring about changes.

Further, many are waiting for Jesus Christ to return and save the country from its destruction; several are waiting for blackouts to end, the lights and water to come back on. Then, they’re those who are waiting for the country to become more democratic, for the garbage to be picked up, for the church to wake up and take a stand so that the country doesn’t sink deeper into immorality. Many parents are waiting for a better school and educational system, stronger churches; the underclass and unprivileged are waiting to get a government that is “for the people by the people.”

In addition, ninety-nine percent of the people are waiting for the politicians to put “we the people and the country first;” they’re waiting for our leaders to learn to compromise.

Unfortunately, many are waiting for unfulfilled promises; many young people are waiting for a job, and the senior citizens are waiting for better days ahead. The whole country is waiting for crime to stop, for the police to be more vigilant and for a peaceful and safer country.

Finally, others are waiting for the right moment to act, to be healed of a sickness, to be happy, for peace of mind, for a dream to come true. The older people are waiting for renewed strength.

Yours faithfully,

Anthony Pantlitz