(Originally published in the Kaieteur News on 09 Oct 2005)
I have always been a person who finds it difficult to take a statement from someone else at face value. Growing up in church, I was the one who always questioned the teachings from the minister and teachers instead of just accepting these dogmas as true just because an adult said I should.
Further, if I saw actions that would contradict the teachings, I was not one to stay silent and let it slide – as one is expected to do. In fact, I would even point these inconsistencies out and ask the obvious questions that would accompany such incongruities. In other words, my distrust of the “system” was a constant thorn in the sides of those who were supposed to be instructing me.
With age, this pesky little trait didn’t seem to diminish, as one would expect. Instead, it seem to grow stronger with the more knowledge I gained from my education and the lessons learnt in life. I can still remember the day when I realised it was not only permissible - but also a noble trait - to question even the President of the United States. This is the type of environment in which a person like me thrives.
Then I started my training as a journalist. We are taught to question everything. I can still hear the words of my instructors ringing in my ears as they emphatically tell me, “Even if your mother tells you she loves you – you must still question it”! No problem; I had been questioning these types of everyday occurrences for as long as I could remember.
When Bush said Iraq had “weapons of mass destruction,” I knew it wasn’t true and wrote columns upon columns against the immorality of invading another country unprovoked. I still question everything. I simply can’t help myself. Even when I want to believe someone, I find it so very difficult to do so. It seems that I have an innate ability to question and a natural instinct to seek out the truth, even if the truth is not what everyone wants to hear.
Which brings me to the point of this column. Guyana has started its 14th year as a free country and this achievement nothing short of remarkable. There should be dancing in the streets and fireworks flying in the sky. My dear friend, Smart and Sharp Robert Persaud wrote a beautiful column that called for all Guyanese to remember where they came from, take joy in their achievements thus far and to expect even more from the future.
He really had me hooked and I was soon basking in the rays of patriotism and revelling in the beauty of progress. But that all came to a screeching halt when I was so very near the end of the column. It was then when that darn intrinsic questioning started sending up red flags and I had to pause to make sure emotionalism hadn’t overtaken my sense of rationale.
The paragraph started out, “Look at how far Guyana has come since 1992. All freedoms are growing.” At this point, I’m still hooked and enjoying my sense of pride in Guyana. Then he said, “Our Constitution is the most inclusive in the Hemisphere.” BAM!
That was the end of my little trip down memory lane and the start of my uncertainty. Is that statement true? Well, I studied Guyana’s Constitution for a college paper, so I know that it is very inclusive. Is it “the most inclusive in this Hemisphere”? I’m not too sure about that, but I do know there is a difference between having a well-written constitution and the actual implementation of that charter.
This little statement is what caused me to turn my brain back on and check my emotions at the door. By the next statement my distrust had kicked in and was on full alert. Smart and Sharp Robert then said, “Our economic and financial framework is one of the most open in this part of the world.” I must say that at this statement my distrust sirens were going off and my own sharp mind was cranking away again.
With all due respect, Smart and Sharp Robert, but I think that a reality check is definitely in order my friend. Do you live in Guyana? Right off the top of my head I can give you a handful of examples of how Guyana is NOT open to investors.
At this point, the righteous indignation of a truth seeker is rising up inside me and I’m ready for a good, healthy debate. But the column goes even further. It said, “Our people today are free to criticise, object and even protest against their government.” Ha! Maybe someone should ask Sharma and Christopher Ram is this statement is true. My guess is that they would beg to differ.
The paragraph ends with his statement, “Our human rights record is world-rated.” It was at this point that I had start protesting to my husband because I was so upset. Like I said, I wrote an in depth paper on Guyana’s history, constitution, international relations, etc. This paper included the degree to which human rights are respected in Guyana. There are international organisations that track this type of important information, one of which is Amnesty International (AI).
Anyone can visit AI’s site and find out what they have to say about Guyana. They cite rampant crime and the government’s inability to control it as an infringement against the human rights of Guyanese. This is what it says, “Violent criminal acts, such as those occurring in Guyana, cause shock, outrage and grief and give rise to strong public demand for the punishment of the perpetrators and the prevention of further attacks. Although Amnesty International does not use the term ‘terrorism’ because it is an emotive and politically-loaded term without an agreed legal definition, the organisation takes action against killings and other acts which constitute abuses of human rights as defined under international humanitarian law and general human rights instruments.”
There are other considerations to take into account as well, such as death squads, women’s rights and children’s rights. Just the underlying fear that plagues the citizens and those who visit the country is enough to prove that my friend Smart and Sharp Robert does indeed need a reality check. If the human rights in Guyana were indeed “world-rated,” as his column would have us believe, then perhaps someone should tell Freedom House to take down its Website’s very long diatribe that specifies the various violations of human rights in Guyana.
In the end, I agree with Smart and Sharp Robert on the point of Guyana’s growing freedoms. However, let’s be realistic concerning the state of the country. Guyana still has so very long way to go. While it is good to be proud of how much growth has taken place in the last decade, we need to remember that there are still so many changes yet to be made and playing pretend games of make believe is not the way to get it done.
Email: stellasays[at]gmail.com
Sunday, October 09, 2005
Friday, October 07, 2005
Freddie willing to fight tirelessly for just society - Annan Boodram
Here's a Letter to the Editor written by Annan Boodram in today's Kaieteur News regarding sweet and sensitive Freddie.
Dear Editor,
Like Stella Ramsaroop whose columns I immensely enjoy, I too would like to throw my two cents' worth of support behind Freddie Kissoon. Love him or hate him, I'll wager that Freddie is today one of the most widely and intensely read of all Guyanese newspaper columnists.
The passion that imbues his writings seems to infect readers whether they agree or disagree with his positions. Indeed Stella puts it so succinctly when she states with respect to Freddie that “a society that is thriving in intellectual stimulation and encourages a healthy exchange of ideas and philosophies would be lost without him”.
But I venture to go one step further and disagree with Chief Magistrate Juliet Holder-Allen when she stated that “a proper society that is well-ordered would have no place for the likes of Freddie Kissoon”. In fact it is a Freddie Kissoon who would not only fight with every breath in his body to bring about such a society, but who would also strive with every bone and sinew in his being to ensure that such a society continues to flourish.
This love of country, this mission to right the wrongs of individuals and society, this endless striving to give voice to the voiceless and to represent the underdog is what separates Freddie from other columnists. And, while we may argue and debate Freddie's positions, curse or praise the man, very few will doubt his sincerity. So Freddie, keep that pen flowing because Guyana indeed needs you, my brother!
In the same vein, I find it rather ironic that Ms. Holder-Allen (as Freddie pointed out) threatens to sue for libel when the letter in which she makes that threat is chockful of libel. I wager that, had that letter been directed at someone else rather than Freddie, it would never have been printed simply because the owner and editor of Kaietuer News would have known that they would have had a lawsuit on their hands.
In that same letter the Chief Magistrate indeed waxes narcissistically (as Freddie also pointed out) while she proclaims herself a leader in her community. Strange that not only does this ‘leader' have to blow her own trumpet but that her followers have not rushed in their numbers to let her symphony reverberate.Methinks the Chief Magistrate's diatribe, nay rantings, speak more volumes about her than everything Freddie has written.
On the matter that raised the ire of the Chief Magistrate, while I agree that myriad factors go into bail-setting decisions, is it not rather logical that the bail, like the punishment, should fit the crime?
Surely those impacting factors are not simultaneously mitigating factors to the extent that the entire bail structure becomes skewed? For then, are we not sending a message that the more serious the crime the less severe the bail?
Finally, I enjoyed the Peeper's column of September 29th entitled “Has history ended for the PPP?”
But I must express disagreement with Fukuyama regarding his thesis about the end of history. Given the emotional, psychological and sociological complexity of the human being, it seems rather far-fetched to accept that mankind would be satisfied with a sterilised, placid, downright boring world.
And, given the now universally accepted Hindu philosophical proposition that the world exists in dualities, it becomes evident that placidity, sterility and boredom will give rise to their opposites. So, while massive ideological struggles
may have come to an end, massive religious struggles continue to fester — as do internecine ethnic conflicts. In fact, even in the realm of the ideological, differences continue to impact on nations and economies.
Venezuela's Chavez, for example, has been hogging the limelight as he pits himself as the champion of socialism willing to take on the American super-power.So not only is the world a far cry from being a sterile, placid habitat but, at the end of the day, whether religious, ethnic or even ideological at the level of rhetoric, conflicts and confrontation have as their end result the striving for power and control.
And wasn't that what the Cold War was about - this endless striving for power and control over human lives?
Annan Boodram
Thursday, October 06, 2005
Stella Says…Polls Can Be So Temperamental
(Originally published in the Kaieteur News on 06 Oct 2005)
I was a participant in a recent poll at an event that was largely attended by journalists, political science junkies and historians (I am a little bit of all of these). The man we all went to hear started his lecture by polling the audience on their political views.
His first question was, “How many of you voted for George W. Bush in the last election”? Out of about 2,000 attendees, only three people timidly raised their hands. The speaker then asked, “How many of you think the war in Iraq was a wise and conscience decision”? Again, the same three people raised their hands again.
Then the man asked, “How many of you voted for John Kerry in the last election”? The room was filled with a sea of hands. Then he asked, “How many of you think the decision to invade Iraq was probably not the wisest move to make”? Again, waves of hands rolled through the audience.
At face value, a poll such as this would provoke one to question how on earth Bush ever got back into the White House. However, it is necessary to understand that the attendees at this particular event, though it was just a book signing, were most likely Democrats, which would explain the overwhelming disapproval of the current US administration.
If the same questions were asked in almost any church in America, the results would probably be just as disproportionate – but in the opposite direction. This is why I say polls are so temperamental. Yes, I took statistics in college and know there are mathematical equations and scientific methods used to gather, sort and dissect this data, but I also know that ever poll is subject to human error and partiality. This is why a stated margin of error usually follows the results of every poll.
Which brings us to the recent polls in Guyana. Politicians need a way to gauge the people – they want to discover the political temperature of the country. Polls are certainly vogue nowadays and there is just no way getting around that fact. I just have to wonder about the reliability factor though.
How can a poll possibly foresee a future that has yet to be decided? In fact, I would surmise that many Guyanese are still in the decision making process, so how can a poll know the results of next year’s election when the people still haven’t made up their minds?
Everyone has their own opinion about a matter and that is the purpose of a poll, to find out what that opinion is and if necessary, sway that opinion to favour the interested parties. For example, Freddie’s column yesterday was on many things: Of shoes and ships and sealing wax -- Of cabbages and kings --And why the sea is boiling hot --And whether pigs have wings (Okay, he didn’t talk about all of that, but it sure seemed like it).
After reading his column, if I took a poll and asked, “Do you think Freddie will indeed find God”? – Each person’s response would be based on several factors like religious views and the interpretation of Freddie’s column.
Further, even the interpretation of the final result is in the eye of the beholder. Those who want Freddie to find God will seek to interpret the results in a manner fitting their desires. Those who never want Freddie to find God will find ways to interpret the results in an entirely different way than the first group. And of course, there are those who would like the results to reflect neither heaven nor hell for Freddie.
In the recent political polls, the margin of error leaves enough space for pretty much anyone to swoop in and win the hearts of the people. This is what I hope happens. Not that I want emotions to take precedence over sound reasoning in the election booths, I would just like to see someone who truly cares about Guyana and her people win the election next year. I don’t care who that person is – as long as his/her focus is the people for the entire term in office.
Meanwhile, let’s test my theory on polls. I will present a question and anyone who wants to respond can do so through my email at the end of this column. Sometime next week I will let everyone know the results.
Here’s the question:
Should Smart and Sharp Robert Persaud ever vacate his post as Information Liaison to the President, who do you think should replace him?
a) Peeping Tom
b) Freddie Kissoon
c) Dem Boys
Feel free to vote as often as you like for as many candidates as you like. No scientific methods will be applied to the poll since I am not very scientific. In fact, we’re going to be lucky if I can simply count the responses without messing it up, because math is not my strong point either. Boy, it sure is good that I can write.
Email: stellasays[at]gmail.com
I was a participant in a recent poll at an event that was largely attended by journalists, political science junkies and historians (I am a little bit of all of these). The man we all went to hear started his lecture by polling the audience on their political views.
His first question was, “How many of you voted for George W. Bush in the last election”? Out of about 2,000 attendees, only three people timidly raised their hands. The speaker then asked, “How many of you think the war in Iraq was a wise and conscience decision”? Again, the same three people raised their hands again.
Then the man asked, “How many of you voted for John Kerry in the last election”? The room was filled with a sea of hands. Then he asked, “How many of you think the decision to invade Iraq was probably not the wisest move to make”? Again, waves of hands rolled through the audience.
At face value, a poll such as this would provoke one to question how on earth Bush ever got back into the White House. However, it is necessary to understand that the attendees at this particular event, though it was just a book signing, were most likely Democrats, which would explain the overwhelming disapproval of the current US administration.
If the same questions were asked in almost any church in America, the results would probably be just as disproportionate – but in the opposite direction. This is why I say polls are so temperamental. Yes, I took statistics in college and know there are mathematical equations and scientific methods used to gather, sort and dissect this data, but I also know that ever poll is subject to human error and partiality. This is why a stated margin of error usually follows the results of every poll.
Which brings us to the recent polls in Guyana. Politicians need a way to gauge the people – they want to discover the political temperature of the country. Polls are certainly vogue nowadays and there is just no way getting around that fact. I just have to wonder about the reliability factor though.
How can a poll possibly foresee a future that has yet to be decided? In fact, I would surmise that many Guyanese are still in the decision making process, so how can a poll know the results of next year’s election when the people still haven’t made up their minds?
Everyone has their own opinion about a matter and that is the purpose of a poll, to find out what that opinion is and if necessary, sway that opinion to favour the interested parties. For example, Freddie’s column yesterday was on many things: Of shoes and ships and sealing wax -- Of cabbages and kings --And why the sea is boiling hot --And whether pigs have wings (Okay, he didn’t talk about all of that, but it sure seemed like it).
After reading his column, if I took a poll and asked, “Do you think Freddie will indeed find God”? – Each person’s response would be based on several factors like religious views and the interpretation of Freddie’s column.
Further, even the interpretation of the final result is in the eye of the beholder. Those who want Freddie to find God will seek to interpret the results in a manner fitting their desires. Those who never want Freddie to find God will find ways to interpret the results in an entirely different way than the first group. And of course, there are those who would like the results to reflect neither heaven nor hell for Freddie.
In the recent political polls, the margin of error leaves enough space for pretty much anyone to swoop in and win the hearts of the people. This is what I hope happens. Not that I want emotions to take precedence over sound reasoning in the election booths, I would just like to see someone who truly cares about Guyana and her people win the election next year. I don’t care who that person is – as long as his/her focus is the people for the entire term in office.
Meanwhile, let’s test my theory on polls. I will present a question and anyone who wants to respond can do so through my email at the end of this column. Sometime next week I will let everyone know the results.
Here’s the question:
Should Smart and Sharp Robert Persaud ever vacate his post as Information Liaison to the President, who do you think should replace him?
a) Peeping Tom
b) Freddie Kissoon
c) Dem Boys
Feel free to vote as often as you like for as many candidates as you like. No scientific methods will be applied to the poll since I am not very scientific. In fact, we’re going to be lucky if I can simply count the responses without messing it up, because math is not my strong point either. Boy, it sure is good that I can write.
Email: stellasays[at]gmail.com
Tuesday, October 04, 2005
Stella says…If I Were President of Guyana, I would…
(Originally published in the Kaieteur News on 04 Oct 2005)
Don’t start worrying your pretty little heads; I am not adding my name to the list of those who want to be the President of Guyana. I don’t even want to start another party, like my friend Peeping Tom, although I do think I would make a great Minister of Groove (hint, hint Peeper).
However, since there are newly forming parties out there that do not seem to have an established platform as yet, I have decided to establish my own and since I have no plans to use this platform, these other parties are free to borrow from any part of it if they wish to do so.
Okay, here we go:
If I were President, I would establish an adopt-a-mile program so organisations, churches, schools, etc., could adopt a portion of a road and help keep it clean from litter. In fact, I would also impose a harsh fine for all the litterbugs and those menacing deviants who don’t know the difference between a toilet and a stranger’s home.
If I were President, I would privatise The Chronicle. As much as I would LOVE to have my very own newspaper to write gobs of columns on important issues such as shopping and dancing, I just don’t think sweet and sensitive Freddie could find the time to be my editor – and I don’t see how The Chronicle could possibly operate effectively under anyone else.
If I were President, unlike The Peeper, I would make the Pumpkin Eater a prime example of how the Diaspora can return home and have a positive impact on the investment climate of the country. Cutting through the red tape would be my platform - not something I promise to do years after being in office. After all, pumpkins don’t look very good when they are covered in red tape.
If I were President, I would never sue a newspaper – even if they hurt my feelings. However, I would keep Smart and Sharp Robert Persaud around since he is so good at spinning and that could come in handy on the dance floor when we are all getting our national groove on.
If I were President, I would build a world-class resort right next to Kaieteur Falls to let the world know that “Guyana is Open for Tourism.” I would also institute Baganara Lime-aid as the official drink of Guyana. This could help sell more rum, thereby creating new jobs and sparking fresh life into the economy.
If I were President, I would ban all forms of Puppet Politics. Important national decisions would be made with the good of the people in mind. I would cut the strings of puppet politicians with the same scissors I use to cut through the red tape. Then I would cut the nametags off of any airport employee who is planting drugs on unsuspecting travellers and give them a prison identification number instead. Those scissors would definitely get some good use.
If I were President, I would start building a road to connect to Brazil…yesterday. I would move heaven and earth to make sure that road is built and then I would open the borders to Brazilian tourists who would visit the new resort at Kaieteur Falls. I would also make huge cuts in import/export taxes, so the Brazilians can share all of their fun stuff with us and we can share all of our fun stuff with them. Everyone would be having tons o’ fun.
If I were President, I would let the world know that we love foreign investors. I would make buttons to pin on the shirts and lapels of those in Parliament so they could wear them everywhere in the country and when they are at official meetings outside the country. I would also teach each of them to hug potential foreign investors as a sign of trust and appreciation for considering Guyana for their business ventures. This brings a whole new definition to open arm economics and we all know that a little hug can go a long way.
If I were President, I would have the mothers of Guyana screen each applicant for the Police Force. Mothers have a knack for knowing if a person is good or crooked and they could help reduce the corruption in law enforcement. Mother’s are also very protective and take their jobs as guardians of their families and society as a whole very seriously. This would mean that the dad’s would have to start helping out around the house more and maybe even learn to make his own dinner. Now, wouldn’t that be a travesty? (Not!)
If I were President, I would plant great smelling flowers in the places where every sewer has backed up – after I have fixed the sewer system. According to Smart and Sharp Robert, it is important to remember our history, and since our history has smelly sewers, I think it is only appropriate to redeem that history with nice smelling flowers.
This is just a small sample of what I consider to be a healthy platform for any of the newly forming parties. Please feel free to use any part of this platform as your own since I will not need it. I believe each of these points to be an obvious issue that should be considered by anyone who want to serve the people of Guyana. In fact, I bet the people could add to this platform exponentially – so why not ask them.
Don’t start worrying your pretty little heads; I am not adding my name to the list of those who want to be the President of Guyana. I don’t even want to start another party, like my friend Peeping Tom, although I do think I would make a great Minister of Groove (hint, hint Peeper).
However, since there are newly forming parties out there that do not seem to have an established platform as yet, I have decided to establish my own and since I have no plans to use this platform, these other parties are free to borrow from any part of it if they wish to do so.
Okay, here we go:
If I were President, I would establish an adopt-a-mile program so organisations, churches, schools, etc., could adopt a portion of a road and help keep it clean from litter. In fact, I would also impose a harsh fine for all the litterbugs and those menacing deviants who don’t know the difference between a toilet and a stranger’s home.
If I were President, I would privatise The Chronicle. As much as I would LOVE to have my very own newspaper to write gobs of columns on important issues such as shopping and dancing, I just don’t think sweet and sensitive Freddie could find the time to be my editor – and I don’t see how The Chronicle could possibly operate effectively under anyone else.
If I were President, unlike The Peeper, I would make the Pumpkin Eater a prime example of how the Diaspora can return home and have a positive impact on the investment climate of the country. Cutting through the red tape would be my platform - not something I promise to do years after being in office. After all, pumpkins don’t look very good when they are covered in red tape.
If I were President, I would never sue a newspaper – even if they hurt my feelings. However, I would keep Smart and Sharp Robert Persaud around since he is so good at spinning and that could come in handy on the dance floor when we are all getting our national groove on.
If I were President, I would build a world-class resort right next to Kaieteur Falls to let the world know that “Guyana is Open for Tourism.” I would also institute Baganara Lime-aid as the official drink of Guyana. This could help sell more rum, thereby creating new jobs and sparking fresh life into the economy.
If I were President, I would ban all forms of Puppet Politics. Important national decisions would be made with the good of the people in mind. I would cut the strings of puppet politicians with the same scissors I use to cut through the red tape. Then I would cut the nametags off of any airport employee who is planting drugs on unsuspecting travellers and give them a prison identification number instead. Those scissors would definitely get some good use.
If I were President, I would start building a road to connect to Brazil…yesterday. I would move heaven and earth to make sure that road is built and then I would open the borders to Brazilian tourists who would visit the new resort at Kaieteur Falls. I would also make huge cuts in import/export taxes, so the Brazilians can share all of their fun stuff with us and we can share all of our fun stuff with them. Everyone would be having tons o’ fun.
If I were President, I would let the world know that we love foreign investors. I would make buttons to pin on the shirts and lapels of those in Parliament so they could wear them everywhere in the country and when they are at official meetings outside the country. I would also teach each of them to hug potential foreign investors as a sign of trust and appreciation for considering Guyana for their business ventures. This brings a whole new definition to open arm economics and we all know that a little hug can go a long way.
If I were President, I would have the mothers of Guyana screen each applicant for the Police Force. Mothers have a knack for knowing if a person is good or crooked and they could help reduce the corruption in law enforcement. Mother’s are also very protective and take their jobs as guardians of their families and society as a whole very seriously. This would mean that the dad’s would have to start helping out around the house more and maybe even learn to make his own dinner. Now, wouldn’t that be a travesty? (Not!)
If I were President, I would plant great smelling flowers in the places where every sewer has backed up – after I have fixed the sewer system. According to Smart and Sharp Robert, it is important to remember our history, and since our history has smelly sewers, I think it is only appropriate to redeem that history with nice smelling flowers.
This is just a small sample of what I consider to be a healthy platform for any of the newly forming parties. Please feel free to use any part of this platform as your own since I will not need it. I believe each of these points to be an obvious issue that should be considered by anyone who want to serve the people of Guyana. In fact, I bet the people could add to this platform exponentially – so why not ask them.
Sunday, October 02, 2005
13 Years of democratic rule - Robert Persaud
Here's the column by Robert Persaud from today's Kaieteur News. Look for my response soon.
October 5 marks 13 years since the return of democracy to Guyana . This is a landmark date in the national calendar and an equally important fact of our history.Read My Response
As we reflect on this occasion, we all need to recall the struggles of our ancestors and celebrated freedom fighters. The struggle for a return to democracy, after the blatant rigging of elections and the institution of a repressive dictatorship by the PNC regime, was inspired by earlier epochs of struggles.
Our ancestors' fight to end slavery and indentureship and more recently, to achieve Independence , steeled our people for the freedom battles which took place during the 1964-1992 period.
There are the apologists who harp that we must not recall the infamous dictatorship period. I caution them that a nation unaware of its past cannot move forward firmly. On Emancipation, Indian Indentureship, Independence and Republic Anniversaries, the entire nation engages in an exercise of recognition and deep reflection of past struggles and tribulations.
We would annually recall the contributions of our ancestors and fore-parents and their impact on current development and progress. Those who urge that we must forget the past are very selective; they only want us to erase the PNC's 28 years of dictatorship from our national reflections. Our history cannot be selective or rewritten. What has happened cannot be erased from our national consciousness, especially as new generations emerge.
These apologists want us to forget the ballot box martyrs who were gunned down at No. 63 Village, Corentyne while objecting to the removal of the ballot boxes in 1973. They want us to forget the cold-blooded slaughter of Fr. Bernard Darke, Dr. Walter Rodney and others and the tens of thousands who were forced to flee this land.
They want us to forget the hundreds who were tortured and abused for speaking out against the dictatorship. They want us to forget the suffocation of the private sector and destruction of the national economy. They want us to forget the squander-mania and rampant corruption. They want us to forget the ethnic and political discrimination practised in that by-gone era.
I have always advocated the view that our people's full appreciation of our newly- found democracy is impaired by the fact that we did not convene a Truth Commission following the return of democracy. Notwithstanding, our past should not be a burden on the future.
Many would urge that this past should not be a millstone as the nation moves forward. The misdeeds of the main opposition party do not mean that its political influence or its potential to contribute to our society's advancement should be ignored. Our celebration of democracy involves the painful exercise as we must always reflect on the journey covered.
This soul-searching has reinforced our people's commitment to build and strengthen our democracy.
Look at how far Guyana has come since 1992. All freedoms are growing. Our Constitution is the most inclusive in this Hemisphere. Our economic and financial framework is one of the most open in this part of the world. Our people today are free to criticize, object and even protest against their government. Our people's freedom is now safeguarded by our Constitution and a raft of international conventions. Our human rights record is world-rated.
Guyana as an emerging democracy is a shining example for countries which shared that similar destructive past. We are constantly reminded of the mantra – development requires democracy.
The month of October provides for activities to reflect and celebrate our freedom. This month must strengthen our resolve to defend our democracy, and prevent the enemies of freedom from retaking our society.
The significance of October 5 cannot be underestimated. We build on our national democratic state, which the late President Cheddi Jagan articulated, will grow in the coming years.
With every October 5, 1992, we must heighten our defence of the democracy.
Stella says…Caveman Ideology is So Last Season
(Originally published in the Kaieteur News on 02 Oct 2005)
This week the Ministry of Labour, Human Services and Social Security announced the re-launching of its quarterly magazine, “Woman Powah.” In light of the many vile headlines that blazed in front of our eyes this week detailing a woman dying because of a botched abortion, a woman being abducted on her way to work, 110 rapes in this year so far and little girls being sold by their families to disgusting old men – this is one headline that offers a bit of hope for the women of Guyana.
According to a Kaieteur News article from last Friday, Minister Bibi Shadick, “stated that ‘Woman Powah' has a role to play in keeping women informed, and by so doing creating that awareness which is required for moving Guyana towards its goal of gender equity.”
Bravo Bibi!! Bravo!!! I think you just might be my favorite person in the entire PPP government. In a time when gender equality is still on shaky grounds in even the most progressive countries, Guyana’s government is taking significant measures to dispel notions of inequity. Now this is one policy I can support 100 percent.
Caveman ideology, or misogyny – as they call it in modern language, is slowly being weeded out of civilized society since women are now “allowed” to get an education, work outside of the house and leave abusive or unfaithful husbands with compensation for their contributions to his success in life. We’ve come a long way baby! This is where we raise our wine glasses for a toast – clink!
Really now girls, isn’t it about time? Can you believe there was a time when men actually thought they were smarter than us? Please! That would mean that I wouldn’t have the intellectual capacity to hold my own with the likes of Freddie Kissoon – and we all know the rest of that story.
Further, when it comes to having a drive to succeed, we are on par with our male counterparts. In fact, in almost any university opened to both genders, female enrollment usually surpasses male enrollment. Once we have attained a good education, we go on to greatness.
Women are now lawyers, doctors, judges, businesswomen, reporters, editors, etc. In fact, one would be hard-pressed to find a profession where women have not penetrated. However, studies do show that women embrace a completely different style of leadership than men. Women tend to be more inclusive. They don’t step on others on their way up the ladder; because they choose lay the ladder down flat so everyone is working together.
This is the way women have always conducted their business. In fact, did you know there are archeological records that give credence to the notion that women were the first farmers? Or that it is highly probably that a woman created the first written language? Thousands of years before the start of the current patriarchal system, a design that confers sole leadership to the male, women served as judges and magistrates of the court and even as the leaders of their communities.
Once the patriarchal system was accepted as the norm in society, the benefits of female leadership were lost and women were confined to their homes in ignorance. Think of where the human race could be today if women and men were historically accepted as equals. Some say humans only use half of their brain. To further impede the growth of the human intellect the women and their extraordinary brains were hidden away for thousands of years.
The result was a species at a severe disadvantage to function to its full capacity and a world incessantly plagued by war. I bet two women could have sat down together and halted almost every war in history. Think of all of the lives that could have been saved! Women solve their issues through relationship development. We choose to talk and nurture those around us instead of the more violent means of problem solving.
This is same leadership style we mastered from inside the home within the framework of the family unit and the human race has thrived because of it. This is also the leadership style now being implemented into many companies – making the corporate ladder obsolete.
Societal changes such as industrialization and commercialization have reorganized the social structure in such a way that feminine leadership is now just as essential in the workplace as it is in the home. In fact, a New York Times columnist, John Tierney, recently said the old leadership structure simply doesn’t work anymore and he cites a study showing “large companies yield better returns to stockholders if they have more women in senior management.”
He also mentioned a businessman he knows who buys companies. He said the first thing this businessman considers is the gender of the boss since companies run by women are more likely to survive due to their capability to "create a healthy culture within the company.”
Corporate leadership structures are increasingly starting to resemble the feminine approach of the inclusive web or circle because it favours direct communication with several points of contact. I read a book recently called, “Woman’s Place.” It said in today’s technologically driven world, this type of leadership makes perfect sense. “The image recalls that of the microchip – making quick connections, breaking information into bits, processing, rearranging units: energy moving in pulses rather than being forced to run up and down in channels.”
Such a model is obviously more suited to the information age than the hierarchical structure, which found its most widespread application in the industrial era. Women understand that leadership is about more than money or being on the top. It is about the larger picture of creating an environment that promotes a sense of group accomplishment and connectivity. This method shuns individualism for the greater good of the whole, which in the corporate world means the company.
When I see a company that still doesn’t have a woman in its senior management position, it sends up a red flag for me. If a company is thinking long-term and is strategically planning for the future, then a feminine approach to leadership can increase the chances of reaching of those goals.
The winds of change are blowing once again and the astute male business owner will acknowledge the changing of seasons in the next phase of human development and find a woman to help lead his company as soon as possible.
As for me, my wine glass is empty and my bubble bath and a good book are calling me. I do have one last bit of advice for the ladies though – girls, never stop reading; knowledge is power.
Email: stellasays[at]gmail.com
This week the Ministry of Labour, Human Services and Social Security announced the re-launching of its quarterly magazine, “Woman Powah.” In light of the many vile headlines that blazed in front of our eyes this week detailing a woman dying because of a botched abortion, a woman being abducted on her way to work, 110 rapes in this year so far and little girls being sold by their families to disgusting old men – this is one headline that offers a bit of hope for the women of Guyana.
According to a Kaieteur News article from last Friday, Minister Bibi Shadick, “stated that ‘Woman Powah' has a role to play in keeping women informed, and by so doing creating that awareness which is required for moving Guyana towards its goal of gender equity.”
Bravo Bibi!! Bravo!!! I think you just might be my favorite person in the entire PPP government. In a time when gender equality is still on shaky grounds in even the most progressive countries, Guyana’s government is taking significant measures to dispel notions of inequity. Now this is one policy I can support 100 percent.
Caveman ideology, or misogyny – as they call it in modern language, is slowly being weeded out of civilized society since women are now “allowed” to get an education, work outside of the house and leave abusive or unfaithful husbands with compensation for their contributions to his success in life. We’ve come a long way baby! This is where we raise our wine glasses for a toast – clink!
Really now girls, isn’t it about time? Can you believe there was a time when men actually thought they were smarter than us? Please! That would mean that I wouldn’t have the intellectual capacity to hold my own with the likes of Freddie Kissoon – and we all know the rest of that story.
Further, when it comes to having a drive to succeed, we are on par with our male counterparts. In fact, in almost any university opened to both genders, female enrollment usually surpasses male enrollment. Once we have attained a good education, we go on to greatness.
Women are now lawyers, doctors, judges, businesswomen, reporters, editors, etc. In fact, one would be hard-pressed to find a profession where women have not penetrated. However, studies do show that women embrace a completely different style of leadership than men. Women tend to be more inclusive. They don’t step on others on their way up the ladder; because they choose lay the ladder down flat so everyone is working together.
This is the way women have always conducted their business. In fact, did you know there are archeological records that give credence to the notion that women were the first farmers? Or that it is highly probably that a woman created the first written language? Thousands of years before the start of the current patriarchal system, a design that confers sole leadership to the male, women served as judges and magistrates of the court and even as the leaders of their communities.
Once the patriarchal system was accepted as the norm in society, the benefits of female leadership were lost and women were confined to their homes in ignorance. Think of where the human race could be today if women and men were historically accepted as equals. Some say humans only use half of their brain. To further impede the growth of the human intellect the women and their extraordinary brains were hidden away for thousands of years.
The result was a species at a severe disadvantage to function to its full capacity and a world incessantly plagued by war. I bet two women could have sat down together and halted almost every war in history. Think of all of the lives that could have been saved! Women solve their issues through relationship development. We choose to talk and nurture those around us instead of the more violent means of problem solving.
This is same leadership style we mastered from inside the home within the framework of the family unit and the human race has thrived because of it. This is also the leadership style now being implemented into many companies – making the corporate ladder obsolete.
Societal changes such as industrialization and commercialization have reorganized the social structure in such a way that feminine leadership is now just as essential in the workplace as it is in the home. In fact, a New York Times columnist, John Tierney, recently said the old leadership structure simply doesn’t work anymore and he cites a study showing “large companies yield better returns to stockholders if they have more women in senior management.”
He also mentioned a businessman he knows who buys companies. He said the first thing this businessman considers is the gender of the boss since companies run by women are more likely to survive due to their capability to "create a healthy culture within the company.”
Corporate leadership structures are increasingly starting to resemble the feminine approach of the inclusive web or circle because it favours direct communication with several points of contact. I read a book recently called, “Woman’s Place.” It said in today’s technologically driven world, this type of leadership makes perfect sense. “The image recalls that of the microchip – making quick connections, breaking information into bits, processing, rearranging units: energy moving in pulses rather than being forced to run up and down in channels.”
Such a model is obviously more suited to the information age than the hierarchical structure, which found its most widespread application in the industrial era. Women understand that leadership is about more than money or being on the top. It is about the larger picture of creating an environment that promotes a sense of group accomplishment and connectivity. This method shuns individualism for the greater good of the whole, which in the corporate world means the company.
When I see a company that still doesn’t have a woman in its senior management position, it sends up a red flag for me. If a company is thinking long-term and is strategically planning for the future, then a feminine approach to leadership can increase the chances of reaching of those goals.
The winds of change are blowing once again and the astute male business owner will acknowledge the changing of seasons in the next phase of human development and find a woman to help lead his company as soon as possible.
As for me, my wine glass is empty and my bubble bath and a good book are calling me. I do have one last bit of advice for the ladies though – girls, never stop reading; knowledge is power.
Email: stellasays[at]gmail.com
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