| |
| |
The Descent into Anarchy and
Chaos:
Political Decay in the Republic of Guyana
Sadiki Toure |
| |
|
The
following article was published in the Stabroek News: a daily
newspaper in the Republic of Guyana.It is the condensed view of a
more comprehensive assessment of the socio-economic and political
conditions in Guyana. Guyana is the only English-speaking nation on
the main land of South America. Since gaining political independence
from Britain in 1966, this nation of 750,000 , with an area of 83,000
square miles, has seen its quest for change frustrated on many fronts.
An economically disastrous experiment with socialism triggered the
exodus of thousands of its best minds. Racial strife has divided its
two major ethnic groups—Blacks and East Indians—into uncompromisingly
rigid blocs. The breakdown of civic order, particularly in recent
months, has not only intensified racial tensions, but has shed deleterious
effects on its already- faltering economy.
If the tone of this article
is personal, frank and visceral, perhaps, it is because I am a son
of Guyana. In a country where life has become "nasty, brutish
and short", neutrality is a luxury to be avoided. |
| |
|
|
As
a people who have experienced so much pain and suffering inflicted
upon us by others, Guyanese are now engaged in an ironic twist to
this shared historical experience; we are now inflicting pain and
suffering upon ourselves! In the past we have united to reject externally
imposed systems of subjugation whether as people in bondage, or free.
There have always been stalwarts—men and women—who rose
to the occasion to reject the forces which cleaved us , and exploited
our being. The current state of anarchy which now pervades our society,
and has begun to take on unprecedented proportions offers dwindling
hope that Guyanese and their leaders will collectively look back upon
their common experiences, and draw valuable inspiration to tackle
current issues, and engage the future with confidence. Our leaders
seem bewildered, vacillating, timid, and undecided. They are long
on rhetoric, and disappointingly short on action. Hefty promises and
high moral values are trumpeted daily, only to betray their hypocrisy
as their true motives become transparent to the simplest of minds.
Brazenly corrupt public servants continue to hold their posts. Our
law enforcement is a national joke—the police pretend to uphold
the law, and the people pretend to obey. This makes for a modus vivendi
with crime. The fierce brutality of certain “elite” branches
of the law enforcement authority is only an admission that even they
have no faith in our judicial system, and therefore feel justified
in resorting to extra-judicial measures to sanction for themselves,
those who dare to cross the blurred lines of the law. Our economy—what
is left of it—is a “ hustle economy” par excellence,
with its own Guyanese version of latin drug lords and their territorial
wars, petty pushers, swindlers, shady deals in high and low places,
survival on the crumbs of international lending agencies, which throw
us a few millions, enough to maintain the semblance of economic life
as our life-blood drains away in massive emigration, disguised unemployment,
pandemic disease (aids), and interminable political and racial strife.
Below the celebrated Guyanese
hospitality seethes anger, frustration, racism, impotence, and a paralyzing
sense of hopelessness. Some long for the days of Forbes Burnham, when
despite his authoritarian rule there was a sense of order. Others
wish that Walter Rodney were alive today, since he and the WPA appeared
to be the only political force capable of mass appeal across racial
and class lines. Still others bemoan the death of Cheddi Jagan after
such a relatively short period at the helm of independent Guyana.
Much is speculated as to what he might have achieved had he survived
longer.1 At the risk of being indelicate,
the only thing that is indisputably true of these men is that they
are all dead, and no one seems willing, or able, to emulate any of
them. These men have all had their fair share of praise and criticism.
Some Guyanese draw strength from nostalgic reflection. This may be
good for the soul, but it does not move a country and it people to
encounter their peculiar existential circumstances, and the world,
with confidence, and purposeful action designed to alter its destiny.
I am grateful for the aforementioned sons of Guyana; like it or not
they are stones in the foundation of the nation we hope to become.
With the benefit of hindsight we can correct the flaws, and reinforce
the foundation of their workmanship. But the edifice we hope to put
upon that foundation will require consummate discipline, skills and
competencies, all of which appear to be distinctly lacking, maldeveloped,
misapplied, or deliberately ignored by both incumbent and opposition
leaders.
In the chaos created by
the escalating anarchy of our society, mixed and often confusing signals
are sent by party spokespersons—official and self-appointed.
This has fueled tension within our society, and the development of
a siege mentality in some communities. Normally law-abiding citizens
abdicate their civic duty, and refuse to condemn wrong and uphold
right. Afro-Guyanese perceive most Indo-guyanese to be PPP/C, Indo-guyanese
consider most Afro-Guyanese PNC/R.2 Has
anyone taken a poll lately? We may all be surprised by the results.
Central to Guyana’s
current decent into chaos and anarchy is the issue of race. Those
who wish to deny this are worse off than the proverbial ostrich -
they have not stuck their head in the sand, but have plucked their
eyes out. We have allowed this cancer to feast upon the soul of our
society with alarming impunity. The welfare of our people is too important
to leave to the dictates of those who would fan the racial embers
of an era that must be transcended. The race card has always elicited
an almost fanatical response, especially when played by eloquent power
seekers. This is a worn out political strategy, more reflective of
the lack of political creativity, and the political bankruptcy of
its adherents, than an understanding of the long-denied need for a
new, more inclusive, and non-racial politics.
Politicians
alone do not have the answer to the current crisis. If we desire to
deal effectively, and decisively, with our steep descent into anarchy
and chaos we must engage all social forces in Guyana, in our quest
for a just society. It is incumbent on all Guyanese to encourage their
leaders to alter the direction of our society from self-destruction
to one more in keeping with our national motto: One People, One Nation
, One Destiny.
|
| |
|
|
- Forbes Burnham, and Afro-Guyanese, was the first
president of independent Guyana. Cheddi Jagan, and Indo-Guyanese,
became president in 1992 after some twenty-eight years as leader
of the opposition. Walter Rodney, a world-renowned historian,
and founding member of the Working Peoples’ Alliance (WPA)
was assassinated in 1980.
- The Peoples’ Progressive Party-Civic (PPP-C),
is a coalition party whose membership is predominantly Indo-Guyanese.
The People’s Nation Congress-Reform (PNC-R) is also a coalition
political party whose membership is predominantly Afro-Guyanese.
Therefore although there are many political parties active in
Guyana’s politics, the PPP-C and the PNC-R have been the
dominant parties in Guyana’s post independence era.
|
| |
return
to table of contents |
|