We, the small parties, should recognize there is little scope for success without a single solid force

Dear Editor,

As March 02, 2020 draws near, we can rest assured that Guyana as we know it will never be the same again. The magnitude of our oil reserves along with as yet undeclared quantities of natural gas unquestionably underwrite Guyana as a prime destination for foreign direct investment and the inflows of foreign talent in the future for quite some time to come.

Many of these individuals will ultimately adopt Guyana as their second, or even primary home, once they have properly surveyed our national landscape. I personally urge us all to welcome these individuals and learn as much as possible from them while helping them to integrate into our society. It is important that our global image as a stable society be maintained to increase the inflow of new talent, technology and financial resources, all of which will redound to the benefit of us all.

However, even as the scope of opportunity becomes clear to all, we as a nation are arrested by our political crisis and previous failures in economic management. There is little question that unless we can produce a strong alternative government by January 10, 2020, Guyana will have to resign itself to the ills of our major political parties going forward.

I have concluded that there is a systematic commitment to keep Guyana in a state of dependence and penury, inclusive of our failed education system and entrenched unemployment, as a conditioning tool intended to keep the Guyanese masses oppressed, divided and uneducated. Because if we were to become educated enough to understand that it is these same political parties who are the source of our problems, they would lose our support.

Because there is no question whatsoever that both of major political parties have failed as social organizations, and have in a number of instances, actively engaged in degrading our social and economic conditions. Refer to persistent denial of negotiations with unions and the depressed state of our social services and infrastructure within our communities. This is not to mention the nearly sure onset of the Dutch disease (worsening unemployment, loss of global competitiveness and contraction of other economic sectors) which thrives in corrupt economies.

I myself have sought to raise the level of our thinking and appreciation of our national problems in the public domain, and have even gone on to create a new political party to encourage persons to take up the challenge of better leadership in our political and economic affairs. I have further demonstrated that with a strong new political force backed by a sound policy framework, we can indeed break the deadlock in our racial politics and set Guyana on a course to prosperity. The policies of our major political parties are so bad that even addressing the simple matter of improving contractual arrangements with foreign investors yields tens of billions of United States dollars. Yet this is the amount of our national wealth that has been signed away, not to mention our Finance Minister having to pay the income taxes of one oil company on our behalf. And our future under either of the two parties does not offer relief.

I myself remain committed to my fundamental belief that Guyanese are rational, even as they are driven to support our major political parties for reasons of ethnic security. I also maintain that it is the responsibility of our leaders, many of whom have remained silent or else have resigned to complaining and surviving our environment, to recognize that they are the ones who have to speak and represent those who can’t, to come forward and navigate with the new political leadership to form that single force to offer Guyanese.

Because without a doubt, Guyanese are looking for, and will support a strong alternative government in 2020. Now is the time for those of us who are capable to be the change we are looking for, because this is a problem started by our parents, and we have to fix it. We cannot leave it anymore to our children or their generations. I wish to acknowledge our new political parties, and encourage us all to pool our resources, because by now we should recognize that there is little scope for success without a single solid force Guyanese can feel confident voting for in 2020.

I further encourage all Guyanese to engage with their neighbours and friends, within their communities and throughout their regions, to raise persons to represent them in our new government. This is the way of democracy. Let it prevail.

Yours faithfully,

Craig Sylvester

Party Leader, Democratic National Congress