Editorial
Guyana Chronicle
May 26, 2001

GUYANA today marks its 35th birthday as an independent nation with many still bruised in body and mind by recent events that have rocked the society.

It's not much of an occasion for celebration for those beaten and robbed and who suffered in other ways from the violence and the unrest since the March 19 elections, particularly on the East Coast Demerara.

The government has set up a committee that is seeking to render assistance to the victims of the violence after an assessment of their needs.

The trauma of the period will be with Guyanese for a long time and the nation on this 35th birthday is still wondering when some politicians would get mature enough to peacefully accept the verdict of internationally-endorsed elections they entered into under accepted rules of engagement.

When all the convoluted talk and political jargon is put aside, that has been the major problem that has dogged this nation since it heralded its return to democracy at the October 5, 1992 elections - an unwillingness by some to accept defeat at generally free and fair elections.

In spite of the verdict of all the observers -- from home, the Caribbean Community and the international community - on the elections in March, there are still some who try to pretend the results were somehow tainted.

They try to put up smokescreens but observers and the majority of the population know that the real problem is the strange in-built resistance and unwillingness by some to accept defeat at free and fair polls and that the People's Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) was re-elected to govern for another five years.

This is a hurdle that the nation has to face squarely and cross with room to spare and it's no use pretending that the hurdle is not there.

There are flaws in elections everywhere - the United States provides the best recent example - but when the will of the majority is freely expressed under accepted ground rules, the contestants have to abide by the outcome.

Of course, there is ground to cover in governance and issues like inclusiveness and other matters on the agenda of the talks President Bharrat Jagdeo has initiated with Opposition Leader, Mr. Desmond Hoyte, also leader of the main Opposition People's National Congress Reform (PNC/R).

These are issues that the nation, still young at 35, has to grapple with.

But at 35, some of its leaders should have had the maturity to accept defeat graciously and to thrust aside narrow interests for the wider national good.

The nation deserves a commitment to that kind of maturity on its 35th birthday from those who vie to be in charge of its affairs.

On this milestone also, it continues to demand of its citizens vigilance to guard its fledgling status as a democracy. Any slackening on the close watch could spell worse trouble.

It is good that Guyana's friends in the region and the wider world are also keeping a close watch and speaking out firmly when the situation demands it.

In that and in the continuing pursuit of dialogue at the political leadership level, there is hope yet for the nation.

May this 35th birthday be the milestone that would mark a major turning point for the better in the life of the nation.

Happy 35th, Guyana!