Alleviating and reducing poverty is the touchstone to determining governance and by far the most important criteria by which our political leaders must be judged from Guyana’s Independence to now.
From poverty in our hinterlands to poverty in our urbanized ghettos to places which by their names underline poverty, such as Plastic City nestled on the north-eastern foreshore of Region 3, the so-called city has a spectacular view of the Atlantic Ocean and the city of Georgetown.
Maybe of the “residents” from the shoreline of the eponymously named Plastic City can also see or conjure in their mind’s eye the Stabroek Block on the horizon and maybe they too have heard of the eight billion barrels of oil discovered in off-shore Guyana and valued at US$65 per barrel, and total value amounting to US$520 Billion. The residents may dream and hope for the day that Guyanese obtain a 20% royalty or US$104 Billion from the oil discovered, knowing this will greatly improve the quality of their lives and lift their poor brothers, sisters, children, the youths and the elderly across Guyana out of poverty. From dreams to reality.
Poverty is the benchmark to judge our political leaders, not the environment, not gender issues, not the constitution, not race, not religion, not culture. Poverty in our natural resource rich nation should be the least of our problems, but instead, it is overwhelming us, due to party paramountcy and excessive self-interest.
Included amongst the political leaders are lawyers, pastors, doctors, military leaders, engineers, entrepreneurs, environmentalists, accountants and economists; some individuals deny being politicians even when they are more political than card carrying party members. At what point do we put doing what is right above politics, above material things, above status and power? Is there a litmus test, heuristic model or mode of behaviour that we can use to determine what is beyond the pale even for politicians?
At what point do we have enough wealth, enough property, enough power, enough titles or status to take action that enriches the lives of the downtrodden, the vulnerable, the impoverished and people, who by accident of their birth, need immediate assistance to obtain food, clothing and shelter. It is this poverty, this “survival thing”, that has contributed in no small way to increasing criminal activity in Guyana; it has resulted in too many residents and foreigners worried about security and safety on the streets of Guyana. Extreme level of poverty exists in far too many communities across Guyana.
The need to survive with dignity, by having access to food, clothing and shelter must not be relegated by our politicians and subsumed under party edicts, party power or personal power. Poverty alleviation for our political leaders must be the principal focus, the raison d’être (the most important reason or purpose) for governance. At some level of consciousness of the mind there exists a conscience we must listen to and obey. We cannot ignore the suffering of our people for personal gain, status or partisan politics.
That our political leaders can contract for a trifle, assets and resources that belong to the poor people of Guyana without a hurting and foggy conscience, is inhumane. What is worse than to abandon the poor and vulnerable across race, religion and generations. Politicians will not lose power when doing what is right for the poor, it will make them better, it will make Guyana stronger. Alleviation of Poverty is the cornerstone of our religious books and we are mostly a religious people.
Guyana is among the top 10 natural resource rich countries in the world, with natural resources such as gold, timber fertile agricultural soil, bauxite, oil, expansive fishing waters and a population of less than 800,000. Why do we have such high levels of poverty, such high levels of extreme poverty? The answer is an absence of servant leadership. Most of our political leadership are too easily compromised, too willing to sellout the masses of poor people in Guyana.
Political Leader and Philanthropist – Nelson Mandela noted: “Like slavery and apartheid, poverty is not natural. It is man-made and it can be overcome and eradicated by the actions of human beings.”
Nigel Hinds