Dear Editor,
Earlier I reminded readers of the popular column “Believe it or Not”, just a few unbelievable but, as the boys would say, true facts, in the Cooperative Republic of Guyana.
(1) Our two illustrious doctors in charge of the “ship of state”, boast and brag that we are the fastest growing economy in the world in spite of their bankruptcy as a result of poor management of our vast natural resources. The people I speak with are still struggling to make ends meet, and provide enough protein daily, so in certain areas you find young people not developing physically and mentally to their full potential
(2) In a functioning democracy, except for extremely sensitive security matters, the general public is expected and entitled to have information shared. Instead, we passed an Act and established a well funded institution whose duty is to give information as required. Believe it or not, the Access to Information apparatus seems to have gone dormant, or better yet dumb. That institution is headed by an honourable gentleman who does not care about sharing information as required by statute, a woeful, unforgivable waste of taxpayer’s dollars.
(3) We have this gentleman’s offspring who seems not to understand the importance of culture as part of his portfolio. Culture, apart from its intended usefulness, is that important vehicle to harmonise the experiences of the ancestors of this land, of six people, so we can realise the dream articulated some six decades ago, to become one nation, of one people. Instead, we have folks masquerading, being unable to reach that plateau of one people, one nation, one destiny. A shameful, woeful waste of money.
(4) We have a well funded propaganda machine producing high sounding speeches, having us believe that after over 30 years in office, gold smuggling and under-invoicing are new and will be tackled. The old folks say “you hear lie, that is lie”.
(5) A group of the government and party continue the relentless criticism of Burnham going around on horse back to distribute planting material and encouraging people in urban and rural communities, to plant every sq ft of land.
(6) Our government have only now announced, free education at the university level, but this idea was posited after we became a Republic. I recall that after CARIFESTA it was proposed that every teaching institution, every place of learning should have some musical instrument or instruments, so that our children can develop an appreciation for the harmonising and calming effect of good music, song and dance. Instead, today, and Editor don’t doubt me do some research, we have Guyanese children, ministers, high party officials who cannot sing the National Anthem without the aid of a song sheet. Some have never heard of our musical icons, the likes of the Dolphins, the Lonckes, the Kerrys, the Pilgrims, Mahadai Das, Dolly Baksh, Lord Canary, Sherry Garraway and Nesbit Changur, the present crop like Dr Wendy Rudder, ‘Slingshot’ Paul Drepaul, Marlyn and David Dewar, Mighty Chief, Rebel, and many others.
In an effort to overcome our divisive colonial experience, and inherited prejudices, an Afro Guyanese Philip Mc Clintock was sent to India, and returned to execute traditional Indian dances to the amazement and admiration of culturally elevated members of the Indian High Commission to Guyana. Song, dance and music are vital tools if we are to achieve the utopia of oneness. Culture, therefore, in its variety of manifestations must not be used as a weapon or a money-making venture. So when, has happened, we send a sporting team to an international meet in all red, the known colour of the party in office, this is not helpful. As Boy Scouts we proudly sang “Oh Demerara, for when you see Demerara in her royal green and gold, you better clear the way, let we pass”.
If a neighbour crosses the boundary into Guyana what music can be a rallying call for defence and defiance? In many other countries in times of adversities some patriotic song or music is used as a rallying call, to resist any intruder. Thanks to Dave Martins we can use “Not a blade of grass”.