Dear Editor,
HISTORY has recorded the rise of people and personalities from poverty to presidency and the fall of property and power from prosperity to paucity. Their advocacy and adversity streamline a continuum of one extreme of excessiveness to the extension of an end in expiration.
From the former group, the iconic figure of the internationally renowned former President of the United States of America, Abraham Lincoln, takes centre stage. Aligned to this historic journey is none other than our very own Guyanese Dr. Cheddi Jagan, referred to as the “Father of the Nation.”
Not privileged to be “born with a silver spoon,” they did not live a life in luxury. In commonality, they also departed leaving a wealth of words and wisdom rather than a world of material and money.
In the latter group, many celebrities from the “Rich and Famous,” left a bankrupt domain after descending from “riches to rags,” literally. Emerging to enjoy the limelight of name and fame, many have submerged to be dethroned with doom and gloom.
Vulnerable to this legacy points to King Croesus of Lydia (Ancient Greece) who lost kingdom and freedom, and Emperor Nero (Roman Empire), whose downfall and death left Rome in turmoil.
In the annals of Guyana’s fight for democracy, the writings and wordings of Dr. Jagan have left an indelible mark to make and shape the policies and principles of politicians, parties and people to sustain a binding Guyana bonded and banded in dignity, honesty and morality:
“We didn’t come into the government just to have glory, big names, to make big money and to live in high style. We came into the government with the help of the working people and other democratic forces in this country to see that we have real development, to build a new democratic culture, to make a new ethic, not that one person must live at the expense of others, but an ethic based on humanity and high moral content”— Dr. Cheddi Jagan 16.06.1993.
How many have acknowledged, adopted and articulated his ideals and ideas to idolise an awareness for a culture of truth, temperance and transparency in today’s context? A plague in today’s society is contagious of crime, corruption, conspiracy, controversy, contradictory and complacency, which contaminate the free flow of law and order. It is often said that, “when money talks, morality walks!”
APJ Abdul Kalam, India’s 11th President, sold newspapers in order to finance his studies and became a vegetarian for economic reasons. Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, India’s 2nd President, used passed down text books in college, being born during difficult times. Sam Nujoma, Namibia’s 1st President, hailed as the “Founding Father,” once worked as a railway sweeper. A champion of the poor, Jerry Rawlins, a former Ghana’s President, rather than vast wealth, he left a legacy of strong leadership.
“Privatisation and divestment must be approached with due care. I was not elected President to preside over the liquidation of Guyana. I was mandated by the Guyanese people to rebuild the economy and restore a decent standard of life for all Guyanese. In all my political career, I did not succumb to pressure to serve narrow partisan interests; I do not intend to do so now. I will not surrender the interests of the nation for expediency or short-term gain”— Dr. Cheddi Jagan May 1993.
Burnham’s nationalisation programme was self-serving and accommodated the whims and fancies of party card holders who were the friends, families and favourites of the PNC party.
Sustained in power through the rigging of elections, dictatorship, control of the armed forces and financial misappropriations, Guyana suffered from a bankrupt economy and became the poorest nation in the Caribbean, next to Haiti. It was the PNC and AFC who sold out the birthright of Guyanese when they signed the worst lopsided oil agreement in the history of the industry.
“The people are indestructible. You may beat them, gag them, detain them, imprison them, shoot and toll the bell for them, but they will rise again, not mysteriously, but inevitably. And we who speak for them and voice their aspirations will never be silenced”— Dr. Jagan 26.04.1963
Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr, Nelson Mandela and Dr. Cheddi Jagan, they all were jailed in the fight for democracy, independence, civil rights activism and in defence of human rights infringement and racial discrimination.
Gandhi used non-violent civil disobedience in India’s fight for freedom to break the back of the British Empire. He held no political post and died as a pauper, having given away all his material wealth and left with a lasting legacy of immense moral authority.
“How can you preach in Sunday school and elsewhere: ‘thou shall not steal,’ when stealing at the top has become the high road to success”— Dr. Jagan 11.07.1973
The truth, many cannot handle as it becomes an inconvenient tool to work with. For some, to look into the eyes of others and lie is an easy task and there is no remorse to follow.
“We (CARICOM Heads of Governments) must set our face sternly against corruption and extravagance. We cannot have a Cadillac-style living with donkey-cart economies. Our leaders must set the example of democratic, accountable, clean and lean governance and efficient governance”— Dr. Jagan 1992.
The Home Affairs Minister, Honorable Oneidge Walrond, is on a clean-up campaign. We Guyanese should pledge our support in this worthy cause.