Skip to main content

 
In the beginning, GNI discussion forum was a place of harmony with positive and humorous discussion, where many lasting and helpful friendships were made, but   it now seems to be a forum with  people who like to speak within their own minds, while  knocking down others.
Typical of some Guyanese who are shamed in many countries, they seem to behave like crabs in a  barrel and would step on others, to make themselves look good, or  destroy any effort to get ahead.
Is there presently a ‘purpose for achievement’ on GNI political discussion forum?  I doubt it and believe if it continue in this manner,  it might  degrade further into its own destructive force. 
 
It became a place that destroy by building on negativism, that is shameful to see, because Guyana badly need positive assistance.
If just 1% of negative energy on GNI political forum is used to support the people of Guyana to achieve a better life, it will make a huge difference, because many don't have anything now. This is nothing new, because members on GNI previously came together to help others in need.
We  wonder what type of   productive life some posters must have.  We assume they are employed, but  they spend so much time daily on GNI knocking down others and  we know posting  takes away from doing other things.
 
Youth in Guyana  read GNI political, but don't post because of nastiness by some members in response.  It puzzles them with shame to understand, if these are educated people in the diaspora who left to improve themselves, it might have been better if they had remained in  Guyana, because some seems worse than some people in Guyana.
They also wonder how these people portrait Guyana to others, if they are so negative and ungrateful about their homeland, that gave them so much to improve their lives.  
 
It is unfortunate to see a site representing Guyana, don't take an initiative to help build Guyana more productively, instead of  members trying to  destroy it.
Free speech yes, but for what purpose.
I believe Mr. Odeen Ishmael’s  family started this site with good intentions, but it  degraded to a place that discourage visitors, especially the youth in Guyana, who badly need positive leadership.
 
With no assistance from regional and local officials, even with  a letter of introduction from the Guyana National Suicide Prevention Committee,  our foundation started in 2006 building sport facilities in schools and communities.  We later trained hundreds of multi-race youth  in leadership, peer counselling and suicide intervention at UG, with neutral facilitators.  We selected dozens of  youth from this group and provided additional training in peer counselling.  They  were sent to their communities for counselling and training others.  Resulting in school dropout returning to school, where some graduated from UG and high schools  and are teachers at the school they dropped out,  mentoring to others with similar problems.  Other graduates  are married with families and have productive lives.
 
Our committee members are from Canada, United States, Europe, as well as in Guyana. We take turns for ongoing training in suicide intervention and prevention.
Our funding partners are Canada Fund, Air Canada, Caribbean Airlines, Scotia Bank, Telus Canada, Larpakan Shipping, other corporations and numerous individuals.
One of our goals is to have an NGO conference in Georgetown for all NGOs operating in Guyana, so we can compare notes regarding how to better operate in the Guyanese environment.   
 
Our program was derailed when  officials demanded  large fees, that our funding partners were unable to pay. This resulted in  schools and medical clinics told, there will be consequences, if they continue to support our foundation.
The issue was taken to MOH and MOE, who told us its a local matter,  to be dealt with local officials, the same people demanding the fees.
Our foundation is rebuilding in Guyana and plan to be as effective  as before, but a coordinated national strategy is required, if any significant  improvement will be made in suicide prevention.
    
As long as we continue to dwell on racism and negativism in Guyana, the country will continue to be stagnant for development of  its people.
If GNI discussion forum presently is a reflection of things to come, there might be  little hope for Guyana, under any government.
Like a disease, negativism is contagious with destructive forces and positive attitude achieve continued growth.   The one we feed will determine  our life and the future of Guyana.
 
Among all the challenges, instead of knocking down others who might be trying to improve things. Ask yourself, ‘What am I doing to help  the people in Guyana grow ?’
There are many non-government charitable organizations  operating in Guyana  that need help badly, because the work  is  overwhelming and if you are dedicated to assist, they will not be hard to find.
An effective  organization  is the Good Hope – Lusignan  Learning Centre.  Sandra will be happy to hear from you.    
 
An important person said  ‘Come, see and  help build lives’, but  the choice is always ours.
If you should make this decision, it might be beneficial  to do so, with an open  mind of one Guyanese people. 

Replies sorted oldest to newest

You guys are all doing excellent work, Tola. Keep it up and don't be distracted or discouraged by negative comments. I wish you success in the long term. Trying to save lives is a noble undertaking.

FM

Is there a possibility the help phone lines also come from outside of Guyana. Or, because those in the diaspora are so far from the problem it could prove futile?

I'm playing with the thought that perhaps with help from the outside, those using the service will be more inclined to open up without fear of neighbourhood gossip.

 

cain

Thanks Gil, its hard sometimes, but debriefing is very important.

Cain, lack of trust and confidentially are big issues in Guyana. It prevent  some people  from being open with their challenges.

Building trust and relationships are very important factors.  This can be established more efficiently with living among the people. Swinging an axe to burst coconuts for copra, work well to build relationship.  

Help lines seems more effective when manned by local people. Tone of voice from the diaspora can portrait superiority. Some local Guyanese don't like 'outside' people.

Thirty years ago we started a teen crisis line in our town, because teens were hesitant to speak to adult volunteers 'who sound like their parents', with whom they are having problems. We trained youth to man the crisis lines and suicide levels went down drastically.

This was one of our goals in Guyana with a building and crisis line of our own, to be funded by Canada Fund, but a lawyer with political connections bought the building for his family business.       

Tola

Tola, Excellent work! Also, as I mentioned, I reside in Guyana and will gladly help in any  way I can. If you think that you need to explore how I might be able to help, please contact me privately. 

Z

Talk talk talk and nothing doing.  Don't blame GNI and its members.  This is just a place for opinions and everyone is entitled to theirs. We are not running the country.  Blame the de facto government for not doing its job.

When is the government going to take responsibility for its people? All the election promises have been broken.  It is not the job of the NGOs to run government programs. They are only there to assist and provide extra help if needed.

And while you are at it tell Sandra and her cronies that they are not getting one more cent of my money or from anyone else in my family.  I am working with my own contacts to make sure donations go to the people who need it the most.  

Bibi Haniffa

Tola, you were in Guyana for well over decade, exactly what's your objective pointing your fingers to this forum with a few dozens of Guyanese who vent, rant and rave over little to nothing.  You cuss and blame the PPP, now you pointing to this obscure board.  Ok, PPP was no good, so I say you have the Govt you want, start there.

FM
Last edited by Former Member

It is of my opinion that Guyanese at the most are never contended. We had the PPP in the Govt, we complain. We get the APNU/AFC we still not happy we find fault.

Many of us here love to sit on the sideline and complain but will not do anything. Yet when others try and do something we find fault at what they are doing. It is the crabs in a barrel mentality that somehow keeps passing on from one generation to the next.

Twenty years from now Guyanese will still complain. Our children who are born in NA do not give a rats ass about what is going on in Guyana. Those of us living the comfortable life in NA do not care either, but we PRETEND, we do care.

I have nothing to contribute to Guyana, I can only voice my opinions, and that means nothing. My life like many of you here is right in NA.

I do not donate to any Charity for Guyana, because I do not know exactly how the money is being used. Instead I do give to people or familes directly.

Amral

Baseman, as you say, I do not have the government I want.  

If Granger screw up, I will say the same about them and encourage our supporters not to vote for them. We wait to see how his government will perform.

The last government did nothing to help the situation, its members were too nasty, arrogant and vindictive. Jagdeo admitted this fact for losing the election.

From the start the RO and NDC did nothing to assist. They even refused a letter for the national committee.  Instead, they swore at us and called Jagdeo their king, placing roadblocks for their own greed, that caused many more youth to die.

What type of government, instead embracing assistance to a huge problem, would degrade it for their own profit.

I don't want to get onto details, but there were issues also at Lusignan, when the last government was in power.        

Tola
Tola posted:

Baseman, as you say, I do not have the government I want.  

If Granger screw up, I will say the same about them and encourage our supporters not to vote for them. We wait to see how his government will perform.

The last government did nothing to help the situation, its members were too nasty, arrogant and vindictive. Jagdeo admitted this fact for losing the election.

From the start the RO and NDC did nothing to assist. They even refused a letter for the national committee.  Instead, they swore at us and called Jagdeo their king, placing roadblocks for their own greed, that caused many more youth to die.

What type of government, instead embracing assistance to a huge problem, would degrade it for their own profit.

I don't want to get onto details, but there were issues also at Lusignan, when the last government was in power.        

Start with Granger/PNC and BBP, the epicenter of suicide.  Jagdeo is no longer a "roadblock".  Move forward!

FM

Amral, this might be your option to assist your relatives and its good choice. 

There has been fraud with NGO handing of funds and a huge mistrust exist in Guyana. The people also seem to have become  extremely selfish. A member on GNI seem to have a sense of mistrust with an NGO that we support, but we see them supporting their cause and will continue to help.   

Our funds are handled with committee consensus. We recently received a request to support a Mandir with some maintenance, it was denied until they could provide more accountability about how the funds will be spent and our local member will oversee the transaction. 

For those who get foreign government assistance, they will know the  criteria required  to receive the funding and its not easy.     

Tola
baseman posted:

er.        

Start with Granger/PNC and BBP, the epicenter of suicide.  Jagdeo is no longer a "roadblock".  Move forward!

What dat mean, Big Batty Priya? You bad bad man.

cain
baseman posted:
Tola posted:

Baseman, as you say, I do not have the government I want.  

If Granger screw up, I will say the same about them and encourage our supporters not to vote for them. We wait to see how his government will perform.

The last government did nothing to help the situation, its members were too nasty, arrogant and vindictive. Jagdeo admitted this fact for losing the election.

From the start the RO and NDC did nothing to assist. They even refused a letter for the national committee.  Instead, they swore at us and called Jagdeo their king, placing roadblocks for their own greed, that caused many more youth to die.

What type of government, instead embracing assistance to a huge problem, would degrade it for their own profit.

I don't want to get onto details, but there were issues also at Lusignan, when the last government was in power.        

Start with Granger/PNC and BBP, the epicenter of suicide.  Jagdeo is no longer a "roadblock".  Move forward!

It is not so easy to move forward, when Jagdeo and his sidekick Mutt and Jeff, continue to influence the people with anything to do with a 'Granger program'.

Regional officials did not support our programs during the PPP government  and they continue to do the same now, due to their hatred and vindictiveness for the Granger government.

End result : More Indo kids die from suicide and families are devastated.    

Tola
cain posted:
baseman posted:

er.        

Start with Granger/PNC and BBP, the epicenter of suicide.  Jagdeo is no longer a "roadblock".  Move forward!

What dat mean, Big Batty Priya? You bad bad man.

Thanks Cain, this is good one for teachers at Lesbeholden and Mibricuri schools. The MOE was not their favourite place, when they had to wait months for their salary and new directives that was not compatible to BBP.  

Tola

Another thing we can look at. Do these who decide to end their lives have access to the net?

If not, why not?

If so, maybe we have a link where they could go if they need to reach out. If any here feel they have what it takes to "listen" and assist just by carrying on a conversation maybe we could have our own group right here. To do this, we have to get away from the gutter mentality even I can sometimes be drawn into, keep politics out.

 

cain

Cain, BBP don't have net service because of cost. Digicel has a cell tower, but GT&T don't. It was only a few years ago when the Digicel tower was erected that BBP got electrical power and the place was built in the early 1960s.   

There was a private tower erected at Mibricuri for the general public, but it was taken down.

One of our biggest disappointment was the loss of CDN$230,000 from Canadian funding partners, to provide a wireless system at BBP. We collaborated with Ron from Metro Office Supplies in NY and  US Peace Corps volunteers.  But after waiting for  over a year for the regional people to complete a new room in the school, the deadline expired  to use the funds and it was rerouted to a community in the Philippines. This would have been net service to all the schools, business and the people did not have to travel for an hour in Rose Hall Town to make overseas calls. It would have also created jobs, but officials did not see a cut for themselves.  

It took us three months for the regional people to cut the tall grass in the school yard.

Unfortunately, Guyana is not set up for things to be done from overseas and its even challenging done in Guyana.    

Tola
Zed posted:

Tola, Excellent work! Also, as I mentioned, I reside in Guyana and will gladly help in any  way I can. If you think that you need to explore how I might be able to help, please contact me privately. 

Zed, thanks for your offer. When things are flowing properly again, we will make contact.

Tola

Where the ppP were in power the afc/apnu contingent were carrying on the same, scaring people away from Guyana and constant negativity.  Why are you surprised?  What goes around comes around.

FM
Amral posted:

It is of my opinion that Guyanese at the most are never contended. We had the PPP in the Govt, we complain. We get the APNU/AFC we still not happy we find fault.

Many of us here love to sit on the sideline and complain but will not do anything. Yet when others try and do something we find fault at what they are doing. It is the crabs in a barrel mentality that somehow keeps passing on from one generation to the next.

Twenty years from now Guyanese will still complain. Our children who are born in NA do not give a rats ass about what is going on in Guyana. Those of us living the comfortable life in NA do not care either, but we PRETEND, we do care.

I have nothing to contribute to Guyana, I can only voice my opinions, and that means nothing. My life like many of you here is right in NA.

I do not donate to any Charity for Guyana, because I do not know exactly how the money is being used. Instead I do give to people or familes directly.

This is the best advice I see.  I do exactly what Amral does.  Family and close community people benefit, mandir and so on.  Canjee, Soon.

FM

Add Reply

×
×
×
×
×
Link copied to your clipboard.
×
×