This country will only start to improve when we witness respect at the top
DEAR EDITOR,
This an open letter to the below mentioned officials and all others in positions of authority…
Dear President Ramotar, Dear Honorable Speaker Raphael Trotman, Hon Mr. Granger, Hon Mr. Ramjattan.
We, the Guyanese people would like you to bring to the attention of your Honorable Members, the following things to consider:
1) The country is LOOKING and LISTENING to your speeches, slangs, heckles, insults, tirades, lies and acting at each other in parliament.
2) You are all big, educated people – elected to serve US the people. Our children’s future depends on YOU. When you insult each other, curse each other and belittle each other – all in the name of the political game what do you think happens?
3) Your cavalier attitudes rub off on us. Your disrespect for rules is being followed, your “show-off” attitudes are copied. Your mode of dress, (non)punctuality, absenteeism and even your sleeping – makes us all the same. Do YOU all understand that YOU are supposed to be LEADERS?
4) Every one of us is becoming like YOU. You insult each other – We insult each other. You belittle and disrespect each other – We belittle each other. You lie and we tell lies on each other – just for the heck of it.
5) We also then become like YOU and, just for the sake of the political game, we insult you, become disrespectful of you – after all – you are all disrespectful of each other – why should we respect you?
6) We are all intolerant of each other. We hurl insults; we use words to injure without thinking of repercussions.
7) We insult the Government and become intolerant of them and even the good that they do becomes bad – just because YOU have shown us how to belittle and degrade.
8) The Government shares insults to everyone and uses its political stage to insult people – and the people in turn show disrespect and publish insults when and where they can.
We can go on and on. If you want this country to improve, YOU have to start improving yourselves. Behave yourselves in parliament. Treat people with respect and we will respect you.
TRUST ME, no one out here admires your glib tongue when it is used to belittle and lie. If you have facts on each other about rape, torture and theft, present it to the police or let’s take civil action.
This country will only start to improve when you all start at the top. If you do not, then soon you will be exchanging fists in parliament and then this nation will spill over.
God help us all – but YOU can too.
Dr. Yog Mahadeo, on behalf of every affected onlooker
