Disturbing occurrences like the interracial conflicts of the 1960s, the Rupununi rebellion, the assassination of Walter Rodney, local terrorism in the form of massacres and assassinations, systematic oppression, the drug trade and corruption in government are all part of Guyana’s history. Since the recount commenced last week, we might also be henceforth known for resurrecting the dead. But it is not a movie or television show. We are not watching a play that will soon reach its final act. We are not stuck in a nightmare from which we will soon wake. Politicians are not witches and wizards who have cast spells to stupefy us. This is not a parallel Guyana.
There are allegations that votes were cast by Guyanese who have died. These allegations amused me, and I had a laugh. Besides the plethora of other embarrassing issues in our county, we have now allegedly mastered the art of raising the dead.
The foundation laid for this country to evolve might not have been perfect. As a matter of fact, our ancestors can bear some of the blame for where we are because it is evident their efforts were not enough to heal us and some of them chose to continue a toxic cycle. However, the fact that we are still waiting on a final result more than two months after the elections must have our ancestors ‘turning in their graves’.
Five months into the year, 2020 has proven itself to be a year of misfortune. It has often been said that leap years bring ill-fate, but most people were not prepared for this. A global pandemic and we the people of the land of many waters are stuck in a political battle while zombies allegedly walk amongst us.
The allegations about the dead voting reminded me of another election a few years ago when a self-styled local bishop said that Jesus, the saviour in the Christian religious faith, would have voted for the political party he supports. I laughed then too. Many of us laugh to mask our tears and sadness. We are embarrassed by idiotic proclamations from people who are thought to be intelligent. I would think any God-fearing person would not utter such words because it could be seen as blasphemous according to their religious beliefs. But the allegations about dead people voting is just as bizarre.
Nevertheless, I am not surprised about the allegations. Yes, there are television shows like the ‘Walking Dead’ and many of us may have had encounters with local ‘jumbies’, but we know they were not standing in lines with us waiting to vote on March 2nd. Time will tell if electoral fraud would have made any significant impact on the results of the 2020 elections.
Earlier this week as I stood in line waiting to enter the supermarket, I had a brief conversation with an acquaintance who asked what I thought could be done to repair the damage that occurred post-March 2nd. (By the way it must be noted that from my observation no ‘jumbies’ were standing in line with us.) Nevertheless, as I would have stated in a previous column the 2020 elections have changed me. They have created mistrust in me. There is a lingering pain. We the children of the 80s, 90s and 2000s have never witnessed such ethnic divisions in our country. In this time of globalization, we should be judging others on merits rather than whether they came here as slaves or indentured labourers. I responded by saying that maybe we can start with the children. I do believe that in our homes, in the schools and in our religious organisations there must be efforts to teach our children tolerance and cohesion. There must be efforts to create pride in our Guyanese identity. The children practice social cohesion when the adults do not influence their behaviour. We are born uncorrupted. But unfortunately for us in the younger Guyanese generations it would appear that some of us have chosen to continue the cycle. How else could a seven-year-old say to my daughter ‘brown people are ugly’? How else could people in their thirties, twenties and teens be repeating the same racist opinions as the older generations?
But I have to wonder, is it that we are more divided now or is it that we are more exposed? This is the age of social media. Every man, woman, and child can have their say. The IQ of a genius is not required to share one’s opinions whether by video or writing. People are free to be as offensive as they wish. Even though, sometimes, they are reported, and their posts deleted, or they are banned temporarily or permanently from whichever platform, much of the madness is left for the world to see.
I am often stunned by some of the comments I read on social media platforms when it relates to politics and ethnic relations in Guyana. I say “stunned” because it is hard to comprehend that some of our people are that foolish. Do they read what they have written before they share? Aren’t they embarrassed?
Unfortunately, we must admit that there are many imbeciles in our country including some who are deemed intelligent who also participate in the depravity. Though I am often taken aback, there is very little that surprises me in this world anymore. I am prepared for any outcome or any disturbance at any time. It is one of the reasons I can remain calm throughout this coronavirus outbreak and not panic like many others.
But we can write and talk about our issues constantly, Guyana will not heal until we are honest about our history, are open to embracing each other and are serious about working together. But in a country where citizens are calling for sanctions on their own people, it again exposes the depravity and idiocy that exists here. It is fools who would call for sanctions on their own country. They are the same ones who will happily surrender to the will of ‘massa’ even as they excuse those in the international community who believe that they can insult us and instruct us about what we should do while their countries are in shambles.
So, while we have resurrected much of what should embarrass us and inhibits our growth, are we really surprised by anything absurd that happens here? Can we really be surprised that some of the dead might have also voted in our 2020 election?
There is hope if we can resurrect integrity and unity. If we can remember why we fought our independence and remind the world that we are not a colony. We can teach our children love instead of hate and to be proud of their Guyanese identity. But, is it too late?
