Many Guyanese live in a world of make-believe. We stand on the periphery of possibilities, daydreaming about what we will become while trying to ignore what we are. It is a coping mechanism.
Being a part of the creative community, I find existing in the world of make-believe is necessary for expression. Here on Guyana’s fertile soil, I imagine a land of equality and peace, where there is no injustice, racial tensions, or elected overseers who fuel the fires of division. My wishful thinking expands beyond these shores to a world where there are no mass delusions. A world where people are not clothed in fear, sick and dying and excusing the side effects of corruption and malevolence.
We are hearing cries stating that these are the end times. The Earth has had enough of man’s excesses, she is hot and melting, cold and freezing, and refusing to calm her oceans or tame her natural disasters. Many were taught that one day the world would end, and the sky would open and gods in chariots would come to save them. I never imagined that I would exist during the so-called end times, or even a time when people have been confined to their homes, dying from viruses or other things.
Yet, we have grand plans. In the world of make-believe, we imagine that somehow miraculously the mess we have made of the Earth will repair itself. While there have been conferences on climate change and strategies on what we can do to save the planet, the decline is evident. The majority still accept the system that promotes inequality, feeds sickness rather than promote health, censors voices of many who question the creators of the narrative of what the world is and how we should act as human beings. We think that those who have money and power are somehow allowed to control the rest of us. The world of make-believe inflates their egos and deludes them into thinking that their deaths will not come.
On Guyana’s shores, reality sometimes suspends make-believe. Budgets are presented and the people’s dissatisfaction is evident, but their questions and concerns will fade in a short time, and they will continue to survive in the world of make-believe. They will bless small increases in public assistance from $12,000 to $14,000 and old age pension from $25,000 to $28000 and mumble “at least a little is better than nothing”. They will simply nod and accept the increase in the tax threshold from $65,000 to $75,000.
Some will count how much ‘Because we care’ cash grant which increased from $15000 to $25000 they can receive based on the number of children they have and consider birthing more children even if they cannot afford them. Make-believe sometimes results in irrational decisions and beggars of men in a handout nation where all are not taught to fish.
‘Steadfast against all challenges, resolute in building one Guyana.’ Is this reality or make-believe? Are there 552.9 billion reasons to celebrate in the world of make-believe? Guyana’s economy is expected to grow by 47.5% this year. When we say we are on the road of modernisation and transformation with $73.2 billion to build a world class healthcare system, we are supposed to feel pride and maybe take a step back from the periphery. Though some of the people may be starving and lack of proper nutrition may lead to diseases, there will be a world-class healthcare system to take care of them. Hopefully this also includes the development of human resources. But for now, medical personnel like nurses are still underpaid.
We hope the new roads and bridges link and unite us. On those new roads and bridges we may be able to take beautiful pictures announcing how proud we are about Guyana’s development even though the insides of our homes may be dull, and our bank account balances may be nil, but the world of make-believe gives us hope that tomorrow oil revenues will result in us permanently stepping out of the world of make-believe.
We hope the new and old schools will produce not only a smarter but bolder generation. Like our nurses, our teachers also need to be paid more. We hope that the best decisions for the country will take precedence over selfishness, arrogance, and tribalism. Like how in some instances, you cannot find a decent job if you do not know someone who knows someone. How many unemployed youths live in the land of make-believe?
In the world of make-believe, the future of Guyana is bright and sweet. Like the $6 billion for GuySuCo because this time sugar will make a miraculous turnaround and profits will be plentiful. Isn’t faith in GuySuCo the epitome of make-believe?
My wish is that the walls of our make-believe will crumble. That the people will not suspend reality because they do not wish to fight for what they deserve because they fear annihilation. And that those who are taken along on the grand plans for Guyana are not but a small group who can afford lobster and steak and wake with the taste of champagne in their mouths. We have been in this world so long that while it has aided our survival it is also unhealthy. Because in this world outside of the economic issues, inequality, and the prejudice, we grapple with social issues. We see how we treat each other. Sometimes in this world we do not see our fellow human beings as having the same feelings or being able to hurt the same way we do. Our inhumanity results in bizarre and shocking incidents weekly that add to the evidence that we are not functioning as a collective, wholesome society. We saw last week how four young women followed another and doused her with a corrosive substance scarring her for life over an alleged Facebook post. Simpletons: these children left behind are victims of the violence we have promoted and nurtured. Social media reinforces and fosters the world of make-believe to the detriment of many.
In Guyana, the world of make-believe also leads to us killing futures. Like the baby in the belly of the woman who was stabbed to death by her ex-partner in Sophia this week.
Many still believe that the sky will open, and gods will come to save us. I will leave it for individuals to conclude whether that is make-believe. In this world we also see compassion, love and those fighting for truth, justice, righteousness, and reciprocity. And, thankfully, such actions make us believe that there is still hope.
