What the people say about...
By Miranda La Rose
Stabroek News
May 28, 2001

Thirty-five years after independence, Guyana is still suffering from the agony of political tension and the economy is in the doldrums. We asked the man/woman-in-the-street to share their views on the way forward after 35 years of independence. Their views follow:

Beverley Rogers - public corporation employee: 'The reality is that after 35 years of independence, we are nowhere near achieving our goal of One People, One Nation, One Destiny. It is no use pretending, so the racial division in the country which surfaces especially during the political and elections season must be tackled or we will continue to make little progress. However, I am optimistic that with the dialogue between President [Bharrat] Jagdeo and [PNC Leader Mr Desmond] Hoyte we will begin to see a change for the better in the mood of all Guyanese people and we will begin to see some progress. We needed two leaders to get together and they have begun the process. One cannot do it without the other because of the uniqueness of the Guyanese people. No one must feel left out. It should not have taken us 35 years to tackle this but better late than never. I will dare to predict that in another four to five years, because of the dialogue taking place this economy would be on the upswing and people will be talking about wanting to invest in Guyana. We have nowhere else to go but forward now. However, I would caution that no one person should try to take credit for what will happen. It will be a partnership.'

Richard Lee - refrigeration/electrical technician (unemployed): 'As we are observing 35 years of political independence we should have been on our own two feet and not depending on foreign countries to supply us with food, clothing and building materials for housing. Guyana is potentially one of the richest countries in the world yet young people in this country are denied opportunities and their future seems bleak. Young people are not getting the full support of the education system, sports, housing and economic development. I would go further to ask, what is government doing to really move sports forward? Young athletes with talent but without the financial background fall by the wayside. There is no programme in place to hone and develop these talents. Many go overseas to represent Guyana but at their own or family's expense and who gets the glory? Look at [Andrew] 'Sixhead' Lewis who has made his name virtually on his own but government is now basking in his glory. What did government do for him before now? In brief, 35 years after independence, young people cannot find jobs and when they do, the salaries are so low that they cannot pay a rent and upkeep a family. Young people cannot think about buying a house when their salary is about $20,000 and the price for land ranges from $100,000 to $1.2 million. We cannot think about marriage and children. I mean, it is tough contemplating the future. Government and the private sector have to get real and really plough funds into making things better for young people. What is even tougher too is that we have to stop thinking selfishly in terms of who is African and who is Indian, and think of ourselves as Guyanese otherwise we could talk and talk but if we do not go forward as a people we will get nowhere and 35 years from now we will still be asking ourselves what is the way forward.'

Jermaine Snagg - refrigeration/electrical technician (unemployed): 'When Guyana gained independence we had the economic base and potential to live off our own resources. Young people like me, 35 years after, would not be looking to find solutions on the way forward for ourselves and indeed the country but instead we should have been building on the base left for us. However, because our country is divided, we cannot go forward. Once we can unite as a people seeing ourselves as Guyanese a major part of the problem would be solved. We have a race problem and that should not be ignored but confronted by persons at all levels of society. Even though we are the future, young people's voices are not heard. I think that policy makers should follow Jamaica's lead and appoint youth advisers as one of Jamaica's ministers has done in appointing a youth to advise on youth and technology. We may not have computer wizards but we would have young people with other talents and they could make their contribution at the policy and decision-making level. In short, if young people cannot get the authorities' attention then we may have to join in the protest against all those who would not give young people a chance.'

Lennox Jemmott - upholsterer: 'God is the way forward. He created all things and he has the universal government on his shoulders. The country's leaders have been thinking too much of self and they don't have the power to bring about anything because they don't have God. Man has stopped looking to him for guidance and has put too much of their trust in carnal man. Carnality is weakness and it lacks that potential to govern God's people. That is the reason why there has not been the progress we have been dreaming of since the pre- and post-independence era.'

Raffey Browne - businessman: 'Jesus is the way forward. The bible says that he is the only way to prosperity. We have not prospered or developed, compared to other countries in the region which share a similar history as ours because we have not loved each other as we should have. This makes us a divided people, looking at each other with suspicion because of differences, which should have been used to the country's advantage instead. There is no pretending that whatever the causes this country is divided and some hate each other. John, chapter one verses 4,7 and 8 talk about love. God in persons' hearts is the only one who could bring unity and once there is unity that will be the way forward.'

Delbert Greaves - photographer: 'The way forward for the country 35 years after independence is to put Guyana first. We have a history in which the people in policy and decision-making, those who hold power were more concerned about themselves and preserving their image than the people's interest. We need to get rid of that mentality. In addition, it is no use fooling ourselves that we are a united people and a nation divided is a nation lost. Thirty-five years after we are not on solid ground. We need no scientific proof to tell us that this is so. Because of this I would say that we have to stop seeing ourselves in terms of our ethnicity but to see ourselves as Guyanese.'

Orin Whittington - auditor: 'To move ahead we need cooperation from all the races. We need to stop condemning each other and most importantly we need to see ourselves first as human beings and secondly as Guyanese. We need to pray more to God, whatever we conceive him to be, to understand and to respect each other. God is the only source of inspiration for what we aspire to achieve... including peace and stability without which the seeds of progress will not grow roots and bear fruits. We cannot depend on man. Man is only the instrument through which God works. We have to continue to pray that the dialogue begun by President Jagdeo and Mr Hoyte continues and that we see a better Guyana for Guyanese of all generations. If we do not play our part, through prayers or as productive citizens we will in our old age regret not making that contribution.'

Rawle Pile - self-employed: 'As we observe another independence anniversary and significant milestone in the history of the country, I see everybody as one. As such I would like everyone to treat me with the same respect I treat them. I must admit that some of us do have a lack of respect for each other's culture, origins and whatever else makes us a people. But if we should all as individuals begin to respect each other for what we are, Guyana would be a better place and we would see development taking place, 35 years after independence, because of respect.'

Dwayne Dolphin - secondary school student: 'The way forward for me 35 years after independence is there must be peace, respect and cooperation among the various ethnic groups in Guyana; hard work and equal opportunities for all Guyanese without discrimination. There should be no leaning for a particular race because of who is in government. Commonsense must prevail among our leaders. And Guyanese must be encouraged to increase local production, while government places high import duties on goods that are imported and which could be produced locally.'

Onica Edwards - secondary school student: 'We need to stress unity. Unity must be the call word from every organisation, political or non-political. The right of all Guyanese to benefit from what Guyana has to offer must be for everyone and not for just a segment of the society. Glory be to those who call for unity.'