Guyanese Online

New Year Reflections and Wishes

By Eusi Kwayana

May the New Year bring new efforts to allow the Guyanese people to achieve what we deserve. When a religious personage of the Hindu faith, Swami Aksharanda, recently addressed the broad Hindu community in the context of a festival, he spoke prophetic words. He called on men to respect ALL WOMEN. If every religious faith called on its men to respect ALL WOMEN, there would be a chance of growing respect for all women. That would be the beginning of a great change.

 I am personally grateful for all support in many non-political ways from ordinary Guyanese wherever I happen to be. In particular they organised to help sell my modest books. Their support was given whether they agreed with my views or not. To the extent I have the capacity to give back in return, I do freely volunteer my time and services where I am, though it is not home. 

I admire and support morally those at home, in Guyana, and many abroad who are doing things to improve education and win simple rights. Salutations to all who struggle with non-violence and firmness.

Is This Not History?

There is one VITAL issue not getting the attention it deserves, or any attention. I say this with respect and understanding, but also with disappointment. On November 28, 2011, Guyanese voters did a great thing. They voted in such a way that no one had to be on top and no one had to be put down! One List, (PPP/C), won the post of President with less than 50 percent of the votes and got 32 seats in the National Assembly. Two other lists together won a majority of the National Assembly (33 seats) with just more than 50 percent of the votes. What we have here was a recipe  for unified governance that came directly from the electorate, the voters, and with their   expressed authority.

Where do we look for what to do? It is the politics of government so we look to the Constitution, not to any one party’s dreams. November 18,2011 was made possible by Proportional Representation–those who introduced it, and those who opposed and then accepted it, and those who worked under it. All took part! All sides deserve credit.

To Heal or Not to Heal

The President within six days of his election under the Constitution ignored his clear constitutional power and chance, not to heal, but to begin to heal the nation. No one has said that this is an unfair or false claim. The President chose a government that excludes a little more than half the voters. Since World War II the whole international standard of government is tested by Article 21 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) as a minimum standard. Article 9 of the Guyana Constitution says that sovereignty belongs to the people who exercise it through elected representatives.

This is a chance for political healing. If we do not want political healing, what do we want? Those who think that political healing will take the sting out of politics forget that Guyana has had 60 years of sting!

Background

Before 2011, many citizens put forward ideas, with good intentions, for putting an end to one-party rule. A few of us did so some fifty years ago and were seen as a lunatic fringe.  Dr Jagan publicly (1977) and Mr Burnham privately (1985) put forward their formal ideas. The WPA put forward some in 1979 and again, as the two other parties present did, at a TUC all party symposium in 1984. The TUC had loyally put some proposals to a Constituent Assembly. In 2009 Dr Judaman Seecoomar published a second book on the subject. Mr Kampta Karran edited many publications on the matter. A group of political thinkers, ROAR, has suggested a federation. In 2010 Dr Bertrand Ramcharan published a book with proposals for discussion of national cohesion and a national strategy. Others saw no need for these concerns.

A Sovereign People Spoke with their Ballots

November 28, 2011 was nobody’s “brainchild.” The beauty of it is that it is some- thing given to us by people acting rather freely in defence of their own interests. Your support will be welcome. If life and health permit, whether alone or with others, I hope to find out whether the Lists of the 2011 elections have turned their backs on the historical creation that the people, supporters of these three Lists, made with their ballots.

Walk good!

Eusi Kwayana                                     Jan 25, 2013

Footnote: Walk good! is a very Guyanese parting expression in creole. Our elders of all races on the coast on parting said it to the one leaving. My age group took it up and used it. It must have come out of our need and experience. It means: go in safety; don’t get hit; I wish you the best. It also means: do the right thing.