|
The nation state of Guyana was born on the 26th May 1966 so that we
are approaching the 40th year of attaining Independence from Great
Britain, whatever status we assumed subsequently as a nation cannot
replace the significance of being an independent state. Yes, we are
now a Republic having assumed that status in 1970, but the emphasis
and honoured celebration will always be the date on which we were
born.
However, in reality Guyanese somehow and perhaps symptomatically,
find ourselves in a dilemma as to which of the two achievements
should truly be given unreserved recognition, perhaps the facts that
February, the month in which we assumed Republican status and in
which we also celebrate Mashramani is favoured, typically we have
created this confusion, but in the name of sanity, the day on which
we were born must be the cherished day.
Is there a serious case for re-examining the celebration of the two
dates with a view of dropping one or the other? Is there a national
consensus on this question of priority given to Independence or
Republican status? It is believed that the apparent twin focus is
not contributing towards the desired unison of a nation so
desperately needed in our Guyana. Achieving a national consensus on
this will dictate how advanced are we as a people and the degree of
our philosophy.
This question of ambiguity has been a poignant feature of our brief
history as a nation and somehow, whatever the subject, it becomes
ingrained as an accepted given, without ever being challenged. For
example, where is the empirical evidence to conclude that the
Westminster system of parliamentary governance has failed in Guyana,
rather we have permitted ourselves to be bullied into acceptance,
the current notion that there is a national desire for “change” and
that the two traditional national political parties have failed as a
government is clearly another absurdity. Whichever way you view the
situation, the PPP/C administration is not a failure. The truth of
the matter is that despite the relentless efforts of the PNC/R at
destabilization, this government’s record of achievement is most
enviable. This brings us to the most troubling thought about our
politics and at the same time emphasizes the obvious ability of the
PPP to cope with whatever the machination of the PNC/R. Has anyone
stopped to think that so long as the major opposition political
party embraces their current modus operandi, there will always be
hell for whichever political party that forms a government? In plain
words, the problem is the PNC/R, without delving way back, just
examine all of the turmoil that has afflicted this country since
1992 (the year we restored democracy) and it becomes clear that the
genesis of all the trouble lie at the door of the PNC/R. This
reality is deliberately stifled by most sections of the print media
and social commentators. Can we hope for an honest and
straightforward review of this malignant impediment to full and
sustained development?
As we observe the anniversary of Independence on May 26, we should
ponder on the malignancy of the PNC/R. |