By Bertrand Ramcharan
Seventh Chancellor of the University of Guyana
The basic challenge of Guyana fifty-five years after its independence, is to knit its peoples within a vision of justice, human rights, and fair life opportunities. Vision is vital for the future of the country.
Dr Cheddi Jagan, Guyana’s historical leader, set out his vision for Guyana as follows: “We are interested in creating a free Guyana, a new society, a society free from exploitation, a society of equality and a brotherhood where true human relationships will defeat. ”
His spouse and political partner, Janet Jagan, having recalled the above vision, echoed the following: “We want a harmonious country that embraces national unity. We want people to work together; to avoid conflict because conflict would not carry our country forward. We must work together and I believe that our Parliament is a way of working together for the benefit of the nation. ”
Guyana’s fate is now in the hands of President Irfaan Ali, and his vision for Guyana would be crucial for shaping the future of the Dear Land. The vision of President Ali is, initially, the vision of the PPP. His Mashramani statement in 2020 set out PPP’s vision: nation, one fate, as captured in our national motto. ”The PPP manifesto at the last election expanded on this vision.
President Ali followed a Government that had set its Vision 2040 within the framework of the Green State Strategy. According to that vision, national development policy would reflect the guiding vision and principles of the ‘green agenda’. The central objective of that vision was to develop that would provide a better quality of life for all Guyanese who derive from the country’s natural wealth – its diversity of people and its abundant natural resources (land, water, forests, minerals and aggregates, biodiversity.
Key messages of Vision 2040 above were that by 2040 citizens are “healthy and well educated, enjoy acceptable living standards and that the rights of vulnerable groups are protected. Guyana is governed by inclusive, transparent and accountable organizations, which manage the natural marriage efficiently and encourage citizen participation. ”Unfortunately, actions spoke louder than words.
Turning to President Ali’s vision for Guyana, he said to the nation in his opening address: “I will be President of all the people of Guyana, and will serve all of you with affection, without discrimination and with all due regard to fairness and fairness … From this day forward, our one nation and our people must join forces to transform our country peacefully into a path of economic and social development at home, and respect and respect abroad. “
His intention, he added, was to open up all parts of the country, and join them so that new opportunities would be created for housing settlements and businesses. It would invest in training and retraining the workforce so that they could contribute their bid to the nation’s prosperity. His administration would tackle hunger and malnutrition.
President Ali added, “this country”, “is our land – every Guyanese have the right to live, work in it and thrive in it.” He pledged to pursue inclusive Constitutional Governance stating: “We will hold a national conversation where all ideas compete and all voices are heard. And always, we will improve parliamentary democracy, support an independent and efficient judiciary and ensure that everyone respects the rule of law and proper Guyanese constitutional rights. ”The national conversation mentioned has not yet gathered momentum.
Every life in the nation was important, President Ali declared, “and my Government will ensure that all lives are protected from harm.” He acknowledged: “We still have a nation to build and people to raise.” These were really flowery words, if so far they were waiting for a sequel.
In his Address to the United Nations General Assembly on September 23, 2020, President Ali reiterated his vision: “My government is committed to greater political inclusion and to enacting institutional reforms to ensure democracy, rule of law and constitutional rights be respected. My Government recognizes the dignity and value of the human person and is determined to ensure a higher standard of living for the country’s citizens. ”
President Ali acknowledged that Guyana, as a low-lying coastal State, was well aware of the high toll of extreme weather. He underlined, in the Decade of Action and Delivery for Sustainable Development “We must focus on eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions. No one has to be left behind. ”
Such are, therefore, the elements of national vision that one can infer from the public pronouncements of the young President so far. It would be fair to say that his vision, as stated so far, is one of wide-ranging and less concentrated hits. Guyana remains a deeply divided nation, “two countries living under one roof” in the memorable words of Ralph Ramkarran to the New York Times. The country is shouting for healing, individual safety, fair life opportunities, and cultural enhancement. All of these require a vision as well as clear legislative and institutional action.
Healing is only through governance arrangements that have the confidence of the Guyanese people. Individual security requires that all Guyanese be brought to feel a sense of belonging in the country. Fair life opportunities require the implementation of basic economic, social and cultural rights alongside civil and political rights. Cultural improvement will be fostered when every Guyanese desperately feels that she or he belongs to one nation, one people, one destiny.
In our offerings on the future of Guyana we have always limited ourselves to boasting thoughts and ideas for exploration and not to get into the political fraud. In this spirit, in recognizing the political dynamics within the main political parties, I wonder if the Presidential Commission on a Future Vision for Guyana might be helpful. It could be non-political and non-partisan. It could bring a measure of gentleness that is lacking in the floral speeches so far. History urges the young President to rise to the challenges of building “One Nation, One People, One Destiny.”
This party cannot be driven by any one political party alone. That’s a basic lesson of Guyana’s history that the humble son of Windsor Forest allows himself to offer to the famous son of Leonora, the two villages nurtured by the vibrant Atlantic.