By choosing to work together, these two gentlemen offer the best hope for Guyana
Dear Editor, In just about fifty days from now, voters in Guyana will once again decide whether this nation shall remain divided as it has been over the past several decades, or whether it is time to take that brave step towards national unity. On May 11, Guyanese will exercise a basic, but yet powerful right that is now enjoyed by every adult person excepting those in one nation within this hemisphere. This is the right to decide who should form our next Government. On that day, May 11 2015 β a few days before we celebrate the anniversary of our independence from Great Britain, we will either squander this chance and continue as a divided people where a token Prime Minister again serves as a pretense of racial inclusion, or we will find the strength to break old habits and use this electoral process to forge a bright future for this nation. Changing a Government is not always easy. The last time we did that was in 1992 when the voices of Guyanese people were heard loud and clear. That change of Government, unfortunately, did not bring the development for which so many of us had hoped. Instead of seeking reconciliation and national unity, some of the new leaders chose to enrich themselves as is evidenced by the many mansions they built and the vast amount of wealth they quickly acquired. It seemed as though those that were elected were asking only what this country can do for them, and not what they ought to be doing for the people of Guyana. Twenty three years have passed since we had that change, and we are still a nation divided along ethnic lines. We are still a country where corruption is rampant. We are still a country where crime remains out of control and where the police succumb to political pressures. It is no wonder that with all of this, we continue to seek better futures in America, Canada and even Trinidad or Surinam as the increasing numbers of visa applications will confirm. It has been too long that our country has remained unable to live up to its potential. When this country gained independence in 1966, it was wealthier than Singapore. Today we are among the poorest of nations despite being blessed with abundant natural resources including gold and petroleum. With the potential for rapid growth, Guyanese ought not to be among the poorest in this region. Our children should not have to be working as gardeners and house maids in Barbados or Surinam. There should be enough high paying jobs for everyone right here at home. We can pull this country out from being among the poorest to becoming one where we can experience the quality of life enjoyed by those in more developed countries. But we have to make the right choice when the time comes. History is filled with moments where people have chosen the right option when the time came. In South Africa for example, after the fall of the white minority Government, the blacks could have squandered the moment and resolve to cycles of revenge. Instead, they chose a path of national unity and reconciliation which led to a proud South African nation with all races working as one people. This is our time to do the same. This election cycle brings us a rare opportunity to fix the problems of the past. We have two leaders who have demonstrated their unselfish commitment to put aside their egos and past baggage so that they may give this country a chance to move forward. Moses Nagamootoo has shown that he has the courage to do what many East Indians have been afraid to doβ¦he reached out to the other political leaders so that the races in Guyana can begin to work as Guyanese instead of Afro or Indo or other ethnic labels. Likewise, APNU under David Granger must be commended for sticking to the idea of national unity and for working to forge a platform for such. By choosing to work together, these two gentlemen offer the best hope for Guyana. If these two men win the elections in May, then all of Guyana will have won. The time has come. Max Mohamed