Dear Editor,
Governments are chosen by the people of that country and not the other way around where a party chooses itself and stays in power ad infinitum. This has been the position ever since the advent of democracy, where the masses choose who govern them, or in other words from the mass of people a government is chosen, this is the formula that has stood the test of time. A true labelling of the process is “A government is of the people” and one that governs “For the benefit of the people of that jurisdiction, it is a Universal Law that transcends every political jurisdiction known to man. When this ceases to exist then dictatorship takes over, and the state becomes mired in conflict, similar to what we experienced here in Guyana.
No person, or party should be in power/office except that mandate originates from the people, simply put a people choose who governs them. So, when President Ali made the statement that “The Guyanese Government stands in solidarity with the people of Cuba, as it welcomes a sustainable solution to the economic and humanitarian challenges that country faces.” He goes on to say, “A resolution to the current situation must be based on the will of the Cuban People and based on universal values, the rule of law, transparency and good governance.”
These words clearly enunciate the principles that govern us as a people in the regional family, however, it is a sad picture when these principles are not upheld for one reason or the other. Other Caribbean heads get dicey when certain countries are brought under the microscope, at the present moment they are up in arms against the utterances of Guyana’s president calling him a “snitch” or one that is aligned to the dictates of The United States.
But is this so? And the answer is a resounding no, instead, they are the ones who by convenience became amnesiac to what democracy and the rule of law means, they are living out the same behaviour like they did to Guyana, they are doing it again for Cuba, that is, turning the blind eye. Like sympathetic Judases they have blinded their eyes to the fact that Cuba needs to get out of that authoritarian, one party rule and get into the ambience of true democracy and progressive governance, there is no other way.
So, the people of Guyana would like for Cuba the freedom of choice of government in just the same way we longed for democracy to return to our country. We had to wage a valiant battle to get rid of that albatross of rigged elections and one-party PNC Rule in Guyana, for 28 years we languished in the dumps waiting for that day to come. When that day came, we welcomed it with open arms, and have since moved full speed ahead with our development.
This is our wish for a fellow Caribbean Territory to get into the future of development where people’s voice as well as their votes must be counted, Cuba needs this now!