Dear Editor,
As the nation winds-down the celebrations on the occasion of our 60th Independence Anniversary, the Alliance For Change (AFC) joins all Guyanese at home and abroad in celebrating the 60th Anniversary of our nation’s Independence, and saying thank you. Sixty years of nationhood is a remarkable milestone – worthy of pride, reflection, gratitude, and renewed commitment to building a stronger and more united Guyana.
We commend the Government and all those who worked tirelessly to organise the commemorative activities and national events marking this important occasion. National celebrations of this magnitude require significant effort, coordination, and resources, and many citizens appreciated the spirit of patriotism and pride displayed throughout the country.
At the same time, the AFC believes that love of country also requires honesty and reflection.
Several aspects of the official celebrations revealed shortcomings that should not be ignored if future national events are to truly embody the spirit of “One Guyana.”
The decision to host the principal Independence celebration at Fort Island raised legitimate concerns among many Guyanese. While Fort Island is undeniably part of our colonial history, many citizens viewed the choice of venue as insensitive to the painful legacy of slavery, oppression, and colonial domination associated with that location. Independence celebrations should inspire national unity and symbolise the progress of a free people moving confidently into the future. After sixty years of independence, many expected a venue and atmosphere that reflected our aspirations as a modern nation rather than reminders of our subjugation. Confronting the threat to our sovereignty, by the symbolic flag-raising, should not have been the primary consideration that inspired the chosen location.
Equally troubling were the logistical difficulties and transportation problems experienced by many attendees. National celebrations should be accessible, inclusive, and welcoming to ordinary citizens from every walk of life. Independence observances have historically been public events where parents brought their children to witness the raising of the Golden Arrowhead, to share stories of struggle and sacrifice, and to pass on a sense of national pride to the next generation. Sadly, many Guyanese were left with the impression that this year’s principal observance separated the privileged from the ordinary citizen.
The unfortunate flag-raising incident also became symbolic of broader frustrations felt across the country. While many Guyanese responded with humour and satire, beneath the jokes lies a serious national sentiment: citizens want celebrations that are authentic, inclusive, dignified, and reflective of the realities facing ordinary people.
The AFC therefore proposes that future national anniversary celebrations be organised through a resuscitated, and broad-based, National Events Planning Committee comprising representatives from the Government, Parliamentary Opposition, civil society, faith-based organisations, youth groups, cultural organisations, Indigenous representatives, and the private sector. Our national celebrations belong to all Guyanese, not to any one administration or political party.
Such a committee would help ensure that future commemorations are more inclusive, culturally sensitive, historically balanced, and accessible to the wider public. More importantly, it would reinforce the principle that our Independence is a shared national inheritance.
As we celebrate sixty years of freedom, the AFC calls on all Guyanese to recommit themselves to the ideals upon which our nation was founded: unity, justice, equality, democracy, and opportunity for all.
The Golden Arrowhead belongs to every Guyanese, and is ours to defend. Our Independence celebrations should always reflect that truth. May God continue to bless Guyana.