Our Christmas Wish

In this article, I have summarised some of my columns into one so the readers can examine the content to see if any or all of the issues we have talked about are on your Christmas wish list for a better Guyana.

In my new book, to be released in late January, "Road to El Dorado - The People's Revolution," I have outline a possible road map. In next week’s column, I will release a preview and hopefully we all can include portions of it our New Year resolutions.

Early on in this column we touched on the very important issue of an engaged citizenry. We are a free people of a democratic nation and as such, we alone decide the political fate of our leaders and we can blame no one but ourselves for the state of Guyana. Yet each election year we fall into the same trap contrived by leaders who would divide our country in their quest for political power.

They recklessly cry racial partiality and our typical knee-jerk response is just as reckless. We are better than this. We are more decent and have more wisdom than to play into their dangerous games of vilifying one race over another.

Our insatiable thirst for responsive leaders has increasingly become more desperate with each year since our independence and is now culminated in a people who are disengaged, disenchanted and disheartened about their fair Guyana.

Though we are still just an adolescent country, it is quite clear that future history is calling upon our generation to carry the burden of defining the standards by which our country shall thrive. Is an engaged citizenry on your Christmas list this year?

I have seen several letters in the dailies lately addressing the loss of morality that seems to be taking a toll in our nation. We have touched on the topic of the moral fabric of our society in this column as well.

As citizens we have sat idly on the sidelines and watched as our children have become accustomed to riots in the streets and racial segregation in the government. We have simply sat by and accepted these types of incidents as being a normal course of events, when in reality they are nothing short of a national moral tragedy.

The highly regarded philosopher John Stuart Mill once said, “The general tendency of things throughout the world is to render mediocrity the ascendant power among mankind.” Mediocrity has long been the acceptable attitude for many Guyanese.

A single individual can also feel overwhelmed - like there is nothing he or she can do to change the state of our country. However, the question should not be “Should I try?” or “Why should I try?” The question each Guyanese is obliged to ask them self is “How can I not try?”

We have allowed mediocrity to rule in our hearts and as a consequence, instability has ruled our nation. Any type of growth, whether political, social or economical, has not only been stunted in the wake of our indifference, but has fallen into sad disrepair. Fortunately, all is not lost for we can still be repaired.

If the people of Guyana rise up to their moral and civic responsibilities as citizens, we can ensure a future of hope for our children and for their children. This is our country and it is time to reclaim it by asserting our responsibilities to each other as friends, neighbours, business associates and fellow countrymen. Is a resurgence of a high moral standard on your Christmas list today?

Each of us alone might feel like this task is overwhelming, but together - through teamwork – we can create a new Guyana. The more of us that are moving toward this noble goal, the better our chances are of achieving success. The larger our team, the more ways there are to help get Guyana on a road to recovery.

Let’s gather all of the brainpower we can muster, and when we have done that, let’s then borrow even more brainpower, because even though we the task may seem daunting and the issues insurmountable, we are still all Guyanese with a vision.

Now is the time to gather all visionaries from across the nation together, regardless of race or former political affiliation. Our focus should be to move forward and we cannot - we must not – fail. We need to check our proverbial compasses and make sure we are all going in the same direction. Have you wished for a government that knows the definition of teamwork for Christmas this year?

Together we can march as one people to take back our country from criminal forces and scheming politicians. We can rip our nation from the boney grip of poverty. Fear is nothing new to the Guyanese people, yet we hold out and hope for a brighter day; however, a passive wish will not make the fear go away.

If we truly want to be free from fear and want, there is so much that needs to be changed – but the change starts with you and me first. Our hopes can be realised and our dreams can come true, if we take up the task of reforming our country’s political system with our own hands. Is a prosperous new year for Guyana what you wish to get for Christmas?

If so, then we need to empower some bold leaders from all walks of life who are qualified and optimistic men and women with the courage of their convictions and the vision to lead our nation to greatness. Guyana’s problems are many and complex. Hence, we need goodwill, good laws, good men and women and good resolve.

Most of all, we need to work to truly solve our problems and replace the rule of moral chaos with that of order and direction. It is easy to propose laws. Sometimes it is easy to pass laws. But the measure of our seriousness is enforcing the law. This is where Guyana’s severe lack of strong and bold leadership becomes obvious.

Our hope does not lie in the reliance on status quo leaders who curtsy to the whims of the elite. We need leaders who have the internal fortitude to turn away from the temptations of power. We need leaders who seek national interests over personal interests. We need bold leaders who govern with compassion and wisdom. Is strong leadership in Guyana what you want from Santa?

As I read in the papers about what people wanted for Christmas this year, I was struck by how many said they wanted less crime. This is a clear demonstration of how selfless Guyanese are – and how much they want to see a healthy nation. Here’s hoping that Santa is good to Guyana this year and brings us each of these Christmas wishes. Let us remember though, that this is the day when Jesus Christ was born. God Bless You. Merry Christmas.

Peace on Earth, Goodwill Toward Men

This is a joyous time of the year when goodwill is distributed in hefty proportions. Christmas lights strung generously throughout the city bring out the awe and wonder in each of us. Families will forgive the grievances and harsh words from loved ones and gather together to share meals and swap presents.

There truly is something absolutely wonderful about this time of the year. It has an almost magical quality that unites the staunchest foes and helps the weariest souls. With this magical feeling in the air, with its light and heady sensation, it becomes so easy to see how all Guyanese could come together in unity as well.

In my column last Sunday, I made a very simple call for a teamwork approach in building a unified Guyana . It was not an original thought, but was simply an echo of many voices of Guyanese everywhere who know that a united Guyana has the potential to be a force in this region and in the world.

This particular column has drawn the attention of those who seem to want to continue to divide Guyana to fit their own agenda. However, I will not be discouraged and will continue to echo the call for a unified Guyana . In the spirit of the season, this is the perfect time for us to consider the benefits of coming together as one people for the future of our nation.

Jesus is quoted as saying in Luke 11:17 that “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and a house divided against a house falls” (NKJV). When we look out of our windows, we see a Guyana that has been brought to desolation especially in light of the potential that we all know lies within these borders.

It is clear that Guyana is still a “house divided”, and every Guyanese knows what the outcome will be because we have our past as a reminder. My aim has been and will remain a call for unity, not further division as some would like to assume. There is no reason to assign another motive to this aspiration when I am being very open about what it is I wish to see – unity.

Mahatma Ghandi led a revolution in his country to bring unity in India and to gain its independence. His revolution of course was a non-violent one, but was very effective in uniting India and changing the mentality of its people to believe they could be a strong nation if they united – and he was right.

As we pray for peace on Earth this holiday season, perhaps we should start by praying for peace in Guyana . Surely this weary nation deserves a break from the fear that comes from crime and corruption. Surely we deserve an end to the decades of division that stirs violence and hatred.

Goodwill starts at home and, although we are quick to gather money to send to the victims of the Tsunami or of an earthquake, we seldom see that same goodwill being shared among our own countrymen and women. There is certainly nothing wrong with opening our hearts to our neighbours so we can all share some of our own Peace and Goodwill.

The love and joy that surrounds us during this time of year can bring us together, can help us forgive the past, and help us believe for a better future. However, it is up to us to make this feeling last beyond the holiday season to create a lasting movement of unity.

This truly is the most wonderful time of the year and, if we can look into our own hearts and make the necessary adjustments, we can make the entire next year wonderful too, and the year after that, and the year after that. It really is just a matter of believing there is something better than what we currently have, and moving forward to achieve it.

As you sit around the table with your friends and family this season, gathered in love with joy bubbling over and children smiling, remember the rest of your country and try to wish them some love, joy and peace too.

This world already has plenty of cynics. Guyana has its share of jaded misanthropists, too. In fact, it has more than its share of these types of people, along with plenty of divisive rabble-rousers who seek their own interests and agendas over the good of the nation.

We could use a healthy dose of peace and goodwill to counteract the evil and selfishness. Unity always comes with a price. That price is always the same – compromise. It does not make a person weak to give a little here and there for the sake of goodwill. In fact, it makes us all stronger and unites us all when we compromise.

When we set aside our own agendas for the greater good, it is a clear demonstration that we love something else more than ourselves. In this case, it would be Guyana . The more Guyanese who can share their goodwill through the holiday season and into the next year, the stronger our nation becomes.

In the end, the sacrifice we make to compromise our own agenda is worth the effort if it means we create a unified nation that is ready to transform its political landscape so that it can transform its economic landscape.

The magic of this season creates an almost tangible awareness of peace and goodwill. That is the beauty of faith and hope. But this magic does not have to stop on December 26; it can – and should - be taken right into the New Year. The faith and hope can live on if we allow ourselves to believe.

I don't have visions of sugar-plum dancing in my head right now; instead I have a clear vision of a unified people standing together, not as a third force, but as The Force that will bring long-lasting peace and goodwill to our nation.

Teamwork: A Necessity of Building a New Political Culture

By Peter R. Ramsaroop

There are so many good men and women out there who really want to help turn Guyana into the thriving country we all know it can be. Many of these individuals have worked tirelessly for years to fight for the people of Guyana.

Recently several smaller groups came together to form a partnership with the hope of building a group that could be a viable opponent against the nation’s entrenched political culture. In fact, two significant new parties have been formed with this goal in mind.

As with any grouping of humans, there are always going to be personality conflicts, value differences and varying strategies on how a goal should be accomplished. Every partnership should be aware of the various factors that could impede successful teamwork.

For example, egotism inhibits the development of a cohesive team. People may start to work together, but as soon as they realise they may not in charge, the teamwork disappears. This is true in all avenues of leadership, whether it is social, political or business partnerships – and such is the case with these new political parties.

At times it seems nearly impossible to surmount the daunting obstacles that stand in the way of building a contemporary political force in Guyana that is people centric, accountable and ready to transform this nation.

However, I am convinced that if there is to ever be a force that can stop the incessant rule of the ingrained political culture, all of these various individuals, groups and forces must come together and work as a team toward this one common, honourable goal.

There is no doubt that Guyana is at a crucial fork in road and the decision made in the next elections will determine a path that can either move the nation forward into a promising future or allow it to take the final steps to complete deterioration.

That is why it is so important that all of these various “new force” factions find a way to work together for the good of the country. We need to build a strong unified coalition to show the people that we care more about Guyana than we do about our own separate agendas.

Woodrow Wilson once said, “We should not only use all the brains we have, but all that we can borrow.” This concept should be applied to the current state of the various third force parties. Separately, we may achieve minimal success, but together we have the potential to attain the ultimate goal, the complete dethroning of the PPP.

At this point, we cannot – and should not – allow egos and personality conflicts to cause us to loose sight of the vision. We have a responsibility to the nation to put ourselves aside and focus on winning as many seats as possible in the next election.

That said, there are also other factors that can create obstacles for any group that is trying to work together toward the same goal. Value differences often present difficulties in the fusion of the team, but these difficulties do not have to be deal breakers.

Another great quote on leadership is by Bud Wilkinson, who said, “If a team is to reach its potential, each player must be willing to subordinate his personal goals to the good of the team.” I truly believe there are times when the ultimate goal should take precedence over the smaller individual goals of the separate entities.

However, there are also certain values that must be championed by the third force parties, such as the inclusion of all racial groups in the newly developing political culture. There should only be one race in Guyana – the human race.

No one in Guyana should be marginalize. To continue the insanity of following the same flawed perceptions that have created a political climate of separatism and elitism is nothing less than nationally sadistic.

We all need to realise that the woes of the past should not be carried into today’s politics. Racial politics should not be accepted in any group. Any party that says they will not work with Afro-Guyanese that belong to an existing party should not be allowed to campaign – and vice versa.

If the new parties are not willing to separate themselves from the old political culture in this regard, then there really is no reason whatsoever to even waste our time with new these endeavours.

However, together with a common goal of a better Guyana – a Guyana with no marginalisation and no elitism – we can unify the nation and win back the future for our children. Those that keep one foot in the old and try one foot in the new needs to realize you either need both feet to walk or the other foot will be stuck in the old mud.

In his book “The 17 Indisputable Laws of Teamwork,” John Maxwell said, “The difference between two equally talented teams is leadership.” Let there be no mistake, the long-standing political culture in Guyana is a formidable opponent. If there is any hope at winning Guyana’s future, it is through unified teamwork with selfless group leadership.

Maxwell also said, “Where there is a will, there is a way; where there’s a team, there’s more than one way.” Guyana cannot afford for the third force parties to allow their egos and personal agendas to get in the way of the ultimate goal.

Now is the time to gather all visionaries from across the nation together, regardless of race or former political affiliation. Our focus should be to move forward, not to take ten steps back by falling into the trap of elitism.

Our common opponent would love to see our partnerships fall to pieces. The PPP would love to see us fail. But we cannot - we must not – fail. We need to check our proverbial compasses and make sure we are all going in the same direction.

The more of us that are moving toward this noble goal, the better our chances are of achieving success. The larger our team, the more ways there are to help get Guyana on a road to recovery.

Let’s gather all of the brainpower we can muster, and when we have done that, let’s then borrow even more brainpower, because even though we may have egos and personality conflicts, we are still all Guyanese with a vision.

Modernisation?

By Peter R. Ramsaroop

This week as floodwaters converged on our streets again, one could not help but wonder why Guyana is still burdened with even the smallest of issues that most countries take for granted. The President was quick to blame the city officials for not using “his” $50M handout wisely, but he failed to tell the public why the East Coast and all the way to Berbice was also flooded, even after he spent $800M of Donors money. Donors ought to take note of this corruption and investigate where the money went. (SN Headline “Some $800M spent on flood response Thursday, June 30th 2005”

Almost daily we bombarded by propaganda of advertisement on modernisation, aired on the Government illegal station that insists there is significant progress going on in this country. The truth is more than obvious when our home or business stands in inches of water. The truth is that Guyana has made no significant advancement in decades.

True, we might have some new paved streets without traffic lights, but what good are those new streets if they are covered in water or we can’t get to them because the streets leading to them are covered in water, and when residents at the back of Tain, has no electricity or drinking water. This week’s flooding makes it more than obvious that our infrastructure is beyond just a few quick fixes. There are no engineering diagrams on the flow of the drains. Cleaning the drains does not solve the problem. Do we know if Almond Street drains in Queenstown, leads to a drain in Kitty, which then leads to another drain? What if somewhere in this system, there is no connection because a new modernised road is built over it.

Guyana needs a complete overhaul of almost every aspect of our roads, bridges, sewers, communications system and transportation system. Most times a government can simply maintain certain parts of its infrastructure, but there are also times when the old system is beyond repair and a completely new one needs to be integrated.

Our streets and sewers were state of the art systems when the British first built them. Since then, they have not been properly maintained and now fall into a state of complete disrepair. Moreover, the national infrastructure, as a whole, has aged far beyond its life expectancy and requires a complete modernisation.

At first glance it would seem the system with the most immediate need of an overhaul is the drainage system. However, I disagree. I believe the most needed overhaul is in the governmental system. We need new leadership that promotes an overarching approach to progress even more than we need a new drainage system or a bridge to Berbice.

There must be a balanced to development. Georgetown, as the capital of the country, should be a city of which every single Guyanese is proud. However, there should also be a focus on the villages that are spread throughout every part of our nation. Quick fixes are sometimes necessary but a comprehensive approach that creates a sustainable solution is far more acceptable.

The quick fixes that were supposed to have been implemented for the drainage system to prevent further flooding are in fact a miserable failure. Those in charge of maintaining this system cannot even keep the canals clean for easy water flow or ensure that the pumps do indeed have functioning fuses.

This type of incompetence is akin to an episode of the Three Stooges, but there is absolutely nothing funny about the significant loss of money each time homes and businesses are flooded. Just imagine the amount of merchandise that is completely ruined from just the first minor rain of the season.

This situation is simply unacceptable. I would never allow this type of ineptitude in my business. How much more should a governmental administration require a skilled and immediate response to any situation when thousands of people are counting on them? Since it was common knowledge that this rain was expected, a competent team would have made sure the entire drainage system was in proper working order.

It is almost as if our entire government system is just going through the motions of what they think they are suppose to do, but do not really have a clue as to what it is they should be doing. They try to say the right things and act like they are in complete control of the vital aspect of the country, but then it rains and the whole charade comes crashing down.

This is exactly the same scenario when it comes to crime, the economy and almost every other aspect running a nation. It use to be said that the PPP was a reactive government, as opposed to a proactive one, that would scuttle to fix a situation when necessary and not one second before. However, now that cannot even be said of this party since they can no longer fix the looming problems with a simple patch job after the fact.

There is no reason why Guyana cannot be as modernised and contemporary as the rest of the Caribbean. Well, actually I guess there is one reason – bad leadership. Even as a big stadium is being built to host the World Cup, there are so many other aspects of this mammoth event that Guyana is simply not prepared to handle and no steps are being taken to resolve this issues.

We have a significant shortage of hotel rooms, we have very little to offer a tourist inside the city and most importantly, the government still cannot contain the crime problem as they continue to pay the police force crumbs, while big contractors get Donor’s money to do incompetent work. Does the PPP think the criminals are just going to take a vacation while the World Cup is here? A quick reality check will show that the criminally minded will be on their worst behaviour when lots of tourists, with lots of money, come to Guyana.

The World Cup is not an occasion that the PPP can serve up a quick fix or a patch job after everything has gone wrong. This is Guyana’s chance to shine; yet we haven’t even so much as fixed the drainage system. Can you imagine how embarrassed the entire nation would be if it flooded during the World Cup?

What would we tell the world? There was a blown fuse? The canals were clogged? That our drainage system cannot handle more than 1.5 inches of rain in a 24-hour period? The President could not find his Civil Defence Staff? This whole situation is a prime example of how much Guyana needs a government with a vision for the future.

The PPP cannot pass the blame of the recent flooding onto others without accepting responsibility for its own lack of preparedness. Pushing blame on everyone else for the sad state of the country is just not believable anymore. The people are starting to see with their own eyes that the PPP does not have the ability to effectively run a country.

Modernisation is not about a 666% increases in the value of the dollar that really buy less than in 1992 when one accounts for inflation. Modernisation of a nation is about a measurable, cost effective blueprint that when put into action, integrates infrastructure, economics, political and social components to improve the lives of the people.

When election time comes around, how will the people vote? Will they vote for more floods, more crime, more poverty and more corruption? Or will they vote for progress, vision, modernisation and development? There really isn’t a choice, is there?