Dear Editor,
As we celebrate our diamond jubilee of Independence, it is germane for us to suggest that after sixty years, it may be more appropriate for us to say that we are observing six decades of severing the ties from our last colonial master, the British. However, on this sixtieth year, there are ominous signs that we are being swiftly recolonized and reversing the efforts and sacrifices of those who went before us.
Mankind’s natural urge is to be free and independent. However, history everywhere suggests that running parallel to this innate urge for freedom and independence are forces and men determined to impose their will on others; be it within the family, the community, the country, and oft times extra territorial. The latter sometimes by conquest, using military might and other methods, such as persuading the local leaders that what matters is not the best interest of the people; but what is of benefit to the external master that comes under the guise of development. And as we see so often the enrichment of a new class within the country using the human and natural resources.
In Guyana, turn back the clock just a few centuries and witness the enslavement of Africans, who were tricked and held in what was called slave castles in West Africa; and thereafter, loaded in ships and on arrival in America and the Caribbean faced the horrors of enslavement. This sad situation was only possible with the tacit cooperation of some of the chiefs in Africa, who were mystified by the machinations of the Europeans. In fact, when the African ancestors were loaded on the ships, the European sailors threw overboard all of the cultural and religious paraphernalia. This ensured the cutting off of connections from the native land. Those who made the journey and were enslaved here and elsewhere did not surrender, did not yield to the blandishments of the Massa, and did not succumb mentally, in other words their spirit remained resilient, in spite of the whippings and torture of the Dutch and British.
The first major recorded blow that was struck for freedom and Independence was in 1763 at Magdalenburg Berbice by Cuffy, Akarabaye, and others. The Dutch by devious means secured the loyalty of the indigenous Amerindians, who helped to cause that initial blow for freedom and independence to fail by restricting the movement of the revolutionaries, who sought to establish their own government. Uprisings and revolts continued, the most significant being in 1823 known as the Demerara Uprising, where British administrators were tipped off by the house slaves. Several of the freedom fighters were rounded up; they were transported to the area in Georgetown, known as Parade Ground, where their heads were cutoff, and bleeding put on staves, with their deaths serving as a signal and lesson to the other freedom fighters to behave themselves. In spite of this, the will to be free and independent remained intact.
It should be noted that slavery of Africans in Guyana, which began in 1640 by the Dutch West India Company, ended in Guyana on August 1, 1838.This allowed for the bringing of Portuguese, Chinese and East Indian indentured Immigrants. Later they were part of the clarion call for independence.
After that period, the Trade Union movement, founded on January 11, 1919, and led by Hubert Nathaniel Critchlow, the ‘Father of Trade Unionism in the British Commonwealth, not only fought for workers’ rights, but also for the quest for self-governance. The Trade Union movement played a significant role in this effort, and we must not forget the likes of J. Henry Pollydore, Harry Lall, Richard Ishmeal, D. P. Sankar, Cecil Cambridge, Basil Blair, Jean Persico, Norman Semple, K. W. E. Denny, Seelo Baicham, Andrew “Stonewall” Jackson and others; and today’s freedom fighters, including leaders such as Lincoln Lewis, Norris Witter, George Daniels and Coretta McDonald. The latter facing principalities and powers who seem not to appreciate what true independence is all about.
In the meantime, the Waddington Constitution provided the opportunity for us to advance towards independence. An important recommendation was the implementation of universal adult suffrage, which for the first time gave Guyanese the right to vote at age 21, without having to satisfy the previous requirements of ownership of property or income. The 1953 election was seen as the penultimate to independence, but thanks to the “boogie-man” of communism, the six elected ministers were dismissed, and an interim government was installed. The first six ministers were Dr. Cheddi Jagan, Forbes Burnham who was also chairman of the PPP, Dr. JP Latchmansingh, Lawyer Jainarine Singh, Ashton Chase, and Sydney E. King, a centenarian alive better known now as Eusi Kwayana.
I remember seeing the other MPs all preceded by the three Js: Janet Jagan, Jane Phillips Gay, and Jesse Burnham, the first females to adorn the chambers of our Parliament. I was there to witness that historic moment, and we had all hoped that within four years or so, we would advance to full independence; however, that was not to be. The Americans and the British claimed that the duly elected government representing the will and wishes of the majority of Guyanese must be ignore; and so, on October 7, 1953, the constitution was suspended and the PPP ministers dismissed, making way for an imposed interim government.Elections were held in 1957, 1961 and 1964. After which the final conference was held in London which settled the details and date for independence, May 26, 1966.
Those of us present at midnight on May 25, 1966 would recall the bearhug between Dr. Jagan and Forbes Burnham. Moreover, when the latter arrived at Queen Elisabeth Park, a loud roar from the assembled crowd greeted this embrace by our two titans.
At midnight Lieutenant James Jimmy Jon-Klass lower the Union Jack signaling the end of reign over us by a Monarch resident 4,500 miles away. Lieutenant Desmond Robert with precision raised for the first time, the Golden Arrowhead our flag. When the flag unfurled, it danced gracefully by the strong north-east trade wind, the same winds that guided the ships to our shores, centuries earlier, in search of the golden city of Eldorado. Little did we know then, that Eldorado was real. And instead of keeping that gold that do not rust for Guyanese entrepreneurs to harvest, using modern equipment and technology, we are blissfully daily boasting how many foreigners are harvesting that gold. More regrettably, and what is now becoming traditional, Guyanese are kept in the dark about the quantities of gold produced. The same story is occurring with manganese, diamond and the stones from our quarries.
Beyond this if we had a government that truly appreciates what independence is all about, they would ensure that we the people obtain a little more from oil and gas production. I repeat just a little more from oil and gas, with a population of less than one million, should make every Guyanese comfortable and prosperous. All that is required is prudence instead of propaganda, and to put in place measures proposed when we did not have an abundance of oil and gas, such as free education from Kindergarten to University, supported by paying teachers proper salaries, to stop the exodus of trained teachers to the Caribbean and beyond, a similar situation for medical personnel and the health sector.
As we survey our country for the last few decades what will we tell our children and their children when they tearfully gaze on our rivers, waterways and creeks that are now muddy, mercury infested streams with no aquatic life, where the birds, bees, and trees have all disappeared? This can never be development, and if it is development in its broadest sense for whose benefit? It is now apparent that our illustrious rulers today, with imperial authority, have now replaced independence with dependence in Guyana’s dictionary.
Only last week we learnt that an Indian firm has been granted a license to operate a quarry, and this only became known because they brought in a number of Indian nationals, who complained of mistreatment and the confiscation of their passports. But this, as we observe independence, is not an isolated case, but it seems to be the pattern. Secrecy and no opportunity for the people’s representatives to ask questions in Parliament, since Parliament is no longer convened in keeping with tradition. History is a good teacher. King Charles I of England, Scotland and Wales decided to rule ignoring parliament, he was later executed. Corruption and discrimination now appear to characterize the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, I hope this perception is misplaced.
Recently, at a well-organized conference, promoted by Dr. Mark Kirton, with the title, “Navigating the future: Guyana, the Caribbean and Latin America in a changing global environment”, Dr. Kirton deserves our highest commendation for bringing together eminent Guyanese, persons from the Caribbean and further afield, to discuss this important matter. During one of the exchanges, Former University of Guyana Chancellor, Dr Bertrand Ramcharan posed this question: How much more marginalization can afro-Guyanese endure? This question with its known implications ought not to escape our attention as we mark our sixtieth year of Independence.
I have avoided the tedium of how we arrived at the date for independence, since this is documented elsewhere. As I wish Guyanese everywhere all the best on this significant anniversary of Independence it would be remiss of me not to note that, to the best of my knowledge, the only reminding member from the 1953 Waddington Constitution, a centenarian who is alive, was not invited to the planned flag raising ceremony, similarly the only person alive who participated in the final Independence Conference which settled the details and date for Independence, was also not on the list of invitees. The GDF officer who hoisted the Golden Arrowhead for the first time was also not invited. This suggests a lack of a sense of our history, or perhaps part of a noticeable campaign to rewrite our history. Beyond this travesty I recommend a program to teach our young people in all of our educational institutions our national songs which will help them develop a sense of patriotism and pride to be Guyanese, necessary if those who worked and fashioned Guyana are not to be replaced.
Finally, I have no doubt that the speech by our Head of State at Fort Island will be full of promises, and pleasant platitudes. We should therefore be reminded of remarks incorrectly attributed to Marie Antoinette, preceding the French revolution, where she is alleged to have said; “they have no bread but give them cake”, this remark showed someone not in touch with reality and a disdain for the discomfort and disappointment of the majority of citizens,
A Thoughtful and Happy Independence Day to all Guyanese.