Dear Editor,
I was there at the National Park forty-two years ago when the British Union flag was taken down and our own Golden Arrowhead was hoisted by our own Major Robert Roberts. Immediately after that we were no longer British Guiana, but had become a sovereign nation – Guyana.
I was 25 years old and I was with a contingent of members of the United Force youth arm, the Guyana United Youth Society (GUYS).
There also were members of the PPP youth arm, the Progressive Youth Organisation (PYO) and also the youth arm of the PNC, the People’s National Congress Youth Organisation (PNCYO).
It was tough previous to our independence. We of the youth arms of these powerful political parties had our ups and downs, but we were all one on that night of May 26, 1966. I was there when Cheddi, Peter d’Aguiar and Forbes Burnham embraced.
Yes, we had our political differences, but we had achieved what we were fighting for and after our struggles British Home Secretary Duncan Sandys had no alternative but to grant our country its independence.
I was there previous to our independence when the British soldiers came to British Guiana. I still remember the names of some of the troops that came here – the Argyles, Worcester Regiment, the Black Watch (they were Scottish and wore kilts; we used to make fun of them in their ‘skirts’). They came with their bagpipes (I love the sound of that instrument). I played football with some soldiers of those regiments who represented British Guiana at one time or the other.
Regardless of who says what, I am proud to be part of the few who are still alive (I am 67) and who struggled for my country’s independence.
We Guyanese of every race should be proud to be a sovereign nation. I lived through colonialism for 25 years and I can say now we the ‘natives’ were taken as second-class peoples.
Today our political founder fathers have all gone home (Cheddi, Burnham and d’Aguiar).
As we go into our 43rd year of independence I pray that all of us try to be united to make this land of ours a better place. You politicians stop the blame game, stop the power-seeking, stop the racial division.
We have not achieved much economically since independence, but I was there and I feel proud to be Guyanese; you can’t deport me from here.
My President is Bharrat Jagdeo, my Opposition Leader is Robert Corbin, my political leader is Manzoor Nadir. They are all my leaders and I have no apologies to give to anyone. I was politically involved since 1961, when I was 20 years old.
My political mentor is Mr Kit Nascimento (thank you Kit, you can take a bow). I was there on the streets, in the ‘trenches’ politically for 49 years.
I am still here, I saw it all. Let us stop the fighting and move on. God, Allah, Bhagawan, bless my country. Politics does not divide us, race does.
Yours faithfully
Murtland Slugger Williams
