Dear Editor,
Across history, there are moments when a Head of State steps up to speak and the entire nation stops what they are doing to listen since they needed guidance. Moments of crisis, moments of transformation, moments of hope. Moments where a set of words help to calm the hearts of the people in a country where its countrymen are in pain. That time is now in Guyana.
Unfortunately, Guyana has had its horrible moment with the sinking of the MV Barima, when thousands of our people, both at home and abroad, woke up to this bitter news. That evening when the Guyanese people were waiting for a compassionate message from their President, Irfaan Ali was nowhere to be found. He was missing in action under some excuse that he could not get back home from Canada or where ever he was.
It did not matter if he was in a fowl pen, he could have and should have made a State of the Nation address and instruct his team to get him on a flight from Canada to Miami and then charter a jet from Miami to Guyana to be with his people. What Irfaan Ali is too immature to figure out was that his people wanted to see him and hear from him. But this crudeness, insensitivity and indifference revealed itself for all to see in a most callous manner, his personal business or his football game (whatever was his personal jaunt), was more important than the needs of the people.
For this cold-hearted act, this nation will never forgive President Irfaan Ali.
I hope he understands that it has become so easy for the protest movement to mobilise placard carriers today as compared to three months ago. Something has suddenly changed in the country, and no amount of outreach can undo the under-boil happening in Guyana. He will have to put up a barricade whenever he shows his face. Why? The people have seen him and his government for whom they are – most uncaring.
Let us reflect on a real example of a real leader. On January 28, 1986, millions of Americans watched in disbelief as the Space Shuttle Challenger disintegrated just 73 seconds after lifting off. All souls on board were lost. That evening President Ronald Reagan delivered a statement to the nation which can be considered one of the most compassionate, caring, and considerate speeches in the annals of history. Speaking directly to the nation from his work desk in the Oval Office, Reagan balanced grief with grace. He honoured those who lost their lives and he offered comfort to all those affected, conclusion on the process and concrete decisions without empty promises. The America people felt safe because Ronald Reagan showed up for work.
The speech from Reagan lasted barely four minutes but in those four minutes, he helped a shocked nation and a nation in pain to begin the process of healing. Reagan was a master at demonstrating the power of leadership and its privilege of consoling a people. He offered them a clear road map through the process. I quote from President Reagan: “We cannot bear, as you do, the full impact of this tragedy, but we feel the loss, and we’re thinking about you so very much”. He went on to say “We do not hide our space program, we do not keep secrets and cover things up, we do it all up front in public and you will get answers. That is the way freedom is and we would not change it for a minute.”
On the other hand, our President was lost. This nation will always remember that, when they needed him the most, he failed to show up for work. Rather he delegated that responsibility to a Prime Minister who tried his best as a military man, but failed to capture the pulse of the nation. The moment was lost and the rupture was allowed to bleed even further with the open display of public arrogance from Juan Edghill that first night.
I speak now directly to President Irfaan Ali, you can have all your outreach you want, Mr. President, the Guyanese people will come to it, take all that they can get from you and the government, but mark my word, for the majority of our people, their love for you and the PPP is now lost and cannot be recovered in the near future. The PPP is now politically scarred for a long time. History will confirm the fact that the PPP is the only political party from Guyana, while in Government, that has the record of losing more than 100 Guyanese souls. These are not American souls from the far-off state of California, as in the case of Jonestown, these are our people who live in our villages and who walk on our roads. This nation will never forget this mistake.
While the Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo thinks he is on solid ground in 2030, I want to tell him this solid truth, some Guyanese politicians are “really stupid people,” they lack the intellectual fortitude to read the political temperature on the ground. Only a political fool will believe that he is on solid political ground after the series of protest action across the land. If he is on such solid political ground, why did the Vice President have to sneak away from the people in Linden?
Yours faithfully,
Khemraj Harryram
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