So tomorrow is the big day for Guyanese voters and another opportunity for us to decide the fate of our history. Many had already made up their minds long before the political campaigns even began and for as far as they could see ahead in their lives. They still believe that they should vote along dominant party lines because they were “born into it”, their parents and grandparents voted for the same party, history has Read more…
2019 has been a quiet year for me in comparison to the previous. But sometimes quiet is progress, quiet is achievement, quiet is resourcing. The very heart of chaos is quiet. And sometimes, you need quiet to learn what you’ve unconsciously unlearned. You’ve wondered if I’ve lost my mojo, my passion, my fire. I haven’t. I’ve just decided to keep my voice for myself, to recalibrate my priorities, to be selfish in my pursuit of Read more…
With Guyana’s outstandingly low deforestation rates, you’d think that mining is done on a relatively small scale. Or at least so I thought. But on a recent trip to the Middle Mazaruni I was reminded by the vast swaths of lands cleared for mining, of how big a sector it is and why it accounts for over 60% of Guyana’s deforestation. According to the World Bank, mining contributed to 15.4% of the country’s GDP in Read more…
Climate change has become a global priority, but not for everyone. For some, it is a spoke in the wheel of economic interests; the splinter that sparks a dangerous political debate seeking to turn climate change into a myth. But if anything should summon global consensus, it is the fact that our planet is rapidly transforming into hostile territory and that we are part of both the problem and the solution. Yet, the anti-climate-change lobby Read more…
A glimpse at how sexual abuse is treated in Guyana reveals that out of over 230 reports of rape in 2015, only 36 perpetrators were actually charged. For the average Guyanese citizen and woman, this is not a surprise. The police are often accused of trivializing rape allegations while in other instances, political connections and wealth are more powerful than the law. The case of a renowned Guyanese politician and TV station owner who allegedly Read more…
In recent years Guyana became famous for having one of the highest suicide rates in the world ranking among the top 5 countries in 2017. Available prevalence data and statistics on gender-based violence (GBV), inequalities and discrimination paint a similar picture of the horrendous reality confronting women and girls in this small English speaking South American country. The latest UN Gender Inequality Index (GII) stats for 2017 rank Guyana 125, far behind its Caribbean neighbours Read more…
