Lessons from Georgia
published: Thursday | November 27, 2003

THE EDITOR, Sir:

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS in Georgia have shown just how effective people power can be! They forced their own Government into resignation, standing up for what they believed in, a powerful vote of no confidence against a Government that represented rampant corruption, and which managed a country with increasing crime & a poor economy! The people would not have it. They united 'en masse' and took back their country.

Georgia, a small state, which borders Turkey & Russia, had a leader who was once the darling of the West; Former President Shevardnadze was one of the key players behind Mikhail Gorbachev's perestroika policy, which eventually brought about the end of the Cold War and the collapse of the Soviet Union.

I'm not in any way suggesting revolution in Jamaica, but Jamaicans could surely learn a thing or two from this State. It shows the strength and power in a people united. It shows that an elected government is by no means above the law and has a responsibility to the very people that put them in power. Georgians have shown that unity and strength is indeed powerful and it doesn't have to be violent. There are lessons to be learnt here, even as political organisations such as JLP continue to fight internally amongst themselves. True democracy is based on people power and accountability and effective authority, and no one should lead by virtue of tradition or history or think they are above the law!

I am, etc.,

P. CHIN

chin_p@yahoo.com

Canada

Via Go-Jamaica