MPs must implement national programme to end persistent poverty

The great scientist and humanist Albert Einstein warned humanity that “the world will not be destroyed by those who do evil, but by those who watch them without doing anything”. Thankfully, in line with Einstein’s wise advice, an energized Guyanese citizenry, Diaspora and media, with significant international support, defeated the outrageous attempt to impose a “dressed up” dictatorship on the Guyanese nation.

Now, this energized citizenry and media are looking forward to a new way of doing politics in the 12th Parliament. What is very encouraging are the increased number of female and Indigenous (Amerindian) representatives. Parliament is becoming less and less a male coastal preserve that is distinct from the people “out there”.

But before outlining what we the people want all of our Members of Parliament (MPs) to do, we have to follow the advice of Mahatma Gandhi who implored people to “be the change they want to see” because, when we change, the world around us changes, including the leaders.

First of all, as ordinary Guyanese, we have to change our mindset and learn that, in a diverse multicultural and multiethnic society, there is no one truth or one reality. We have to stop acting as victims and blaming each other, and avoid a rigid position that there is only one approach to any problem.

Instead, we Guyanese should be always engaging in dialogue by actively listening to each other, by respecting and understanding our different points of view, by asking hard questions, by complimenting each other and by staying positive. We have to follow the advice of Michelle Obama who said when competitors go low, we go high.

We know that separately our PPP/C and APNU+AFC parties could not successfully implement fundamental economic, social, political and constitutional reforms. There has to be collaboration to avoid the domination and exclusion of any political party in the governance of the country. Otherwise, there will be grave consequences with the widening of ethnic and class disparities.

As Guyanese, we have to change and work together for inclusive economic growth in all ethnic communities, for an end to corruption, for quality public services, for world-class education and healthcare, for enhanced public security, and for expanding quality infrastructure.

Then, as we change, we expect to see the new generation of political leaders, who make up a large part of the Members of Parliament (MPs), avoid talking about the past, blaming each other, passing judgement, demonizing others, or acting as victims instead of resolving the deep division in our country.

We want to see all MPs focus on the future of the society and the economy by putting forward their points of view in a respectful and civilized way, and by responding constructively to other ideas.

All Members of Parliament (MPs) are equal, and they are all equally responsible for bringing the nation together and for delivering positive results on the fundamental social and economic problems in every ethnic community.

As an MP, Cheddi Jagan’s focus was on taking Parliament to the communities and, at the same time, he championed the concerns and needs of the communities in Parliament. As a Parliamentarian, he paid equal attention to the big picture and the details. In parliamentary debates, he focused on policies and programmes, not personalities.

Like Cheddi, all MPs must practice power for the benefit of the people and not for personal gain.

One of the major problems in Guyana is persistent poverty in all ethnic communities. After 54 years of independence, Guyana is the 6th poorest of 32 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean! Today, at least 40% of

Guyanese are living below the poverty line.

Dr. Cheddi Jagan always noted that politics is about “who gets what, when and how”.

This Parliament will be judged not by how it treats its highest citizens, but its lowest ones. Therefore, the priority of the MPs must be to represent the concerns and fulfill the needs of “working people, the unemployed, the under-employed, the dispossessed, the marginalized, the poor and the hungry” who are the overwhelming majority of the population.

The great transformational leaders, like Cheddi Jagan, Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther King, emphasized that “the world has enough for everyone’s needs, but not for everyone’s greed”.

Significant growth of GDP from oil revenue will not be sufficient. Throughout Guyana’s history, even when there were periods of GDP growth under PNC and PPP governments, unfair ethnic and class competition continued.

The priority is for all of our leaders, beginning with the Members of Parliament (MPs), to successfully implement a national programme to end persistent poverty by providing equal economic opportunities in all ethnic communities.

Yours faithfully,

Geoffrey Da Silva former Minister, Chief Executive Officer and Ambassador