Dear Editor,
July 18, 2012, is a day in our history that connotes different meanings in the minds of those who had a personal experience with that time, compared with those who saw it from afar and those who heard of it.
The eyes of Guyana and varying parts of the world view this episode with a bittersweet perspective. Some saw it for what it was in my view: the essence of what democracy should embody. Where people should have the right to exercise peaceful protest, to ventilate their dissatisfaction to whatever is being proposed to them by their elected servants. After all, aren’t they elected/appointed to serve the interest of the people who put them there?
That day showcased us as a people who are, sadly, a very accommodating and accepting people to things dished at us without saying no. That’s not good enough. And those who do object to this order are in the minority grouping.
Others posited that we the people of Linden should not pay for electricity so ‘cheaply,’ because other parts of Guyana are bearing the “burden” of high electricity bills. How could they advance such an argument? Is this not the same as saying we should accept whatever is given to us, regardless of if it is fair or not? That we should accept government’s position regardless if it is unconstitutional? Is this not the position given to slaves?
July 18, 2012 also demonstrated the true nature of the then ruling PPP administration, one that is uncaring to its people, one that does not honour its words and agreements established with the people – a government that blatantly lies to its people to pacify and silence them. This is now once again the recurrence of the PPP regime being in office.
What we as Guyanese must be cognisant of, is that July 18, 2012 demonstrated that as a people, if we are united, regardless of race, religion, varying interests or political affiliation, and showcase people power, I am confident that Guyana will be the El Dorado for all its citizens.
That day showed that political maturity can also be exercised – with the AFC lending its support for the benefit of the people, regardless of their political support.
As a united people, government and its officials will have to do that which they were elected or appointed to do, which is to serve the interests of the people, the Guyanese people first.
If the Guyanese people disarm the government from using its ammunition of this race politics to divide us, and we collectively make our decisions consciously to vote on issues come election day at local and national elections, certainly Guyana will be in a much better place.
As we reminisce on that sad day of our history, let us not forget the young men whose lives were unjustly taken from their families and our community for exercising their constitutional right to peacefully protest.
Let us not just honour them with reflections and candlelight vigils once a year, but do so by accepting that freedom is always the freedom of dissenters and must consciously recognise that there is power in unity. That they must stand up for truth and right and be on the side of history for doing what was good and in the best interest of our people.
The promise that came into being by the Granger administration to build a monument in their memory now stands as a constant reminder of the barbaric government responsible for the innocent loss of life.
A reminder of young men who died for their rights, a reminder of people who challenged the powers of the day and said enough is enough. People who were part of a united consciousness that demonstrated people power and showed what can be derived if we are united.
Long live the memory of my two friends Ron Somerset, Shemroy Bouyea and Mr Allan Lewis. Long live the Linden Martyrs.
Regards
Jermaine Figueira
Member of Parliament
Region Ten.
