Dear Editor,
On Sunday, October 12, 2008, the hundreds who attended the ACDA sponsored ‘Maafa’ event at the Sea Wall Band Stand, were fortunate to hear a forthright, incisive and exceedingly relevant statement by Sister Violet Jean Baptiste.
It was among other things, an appeal for good governance, with a clarion call for some form of shared governance, indeed this is the only way to prevent our society from imploding and losing an opportunity to vindicate those who crafted our National Motto of “One People, One Nation, One Destiny”.
This, I believe, is the desire of every good Guyanese, irrespective of race, age, colour or creed.
The main address delivered by Ms Juliet Holder-Allen was well researched and made powerful, thanks to its poignancy, which, when she related two instances of brutality, brought tears to my eyes. She spoke as a concerned patriot.
The event is the sort of knowledge sharing that ought to be available to every true and young Guyanese, as part of their education, socialization and preparation for life.
The programme was deliberately timed to coincide with the same day the West celebrates as Columbus Day. A reminder that Christopher Columbus’s arrival in these parts triggered the cruel Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade, where more than forty million Africans were transplanted, some historians merely say, transported, but I say uprooted, to the so called New World.
The significance of using the Atlantic Ocean was highlighted by participants who placed floral tributes at high tide to recollect how more than half of the captive Africans died during that journey. Their bones are sitting at the bottom of the Atlantic, restless, crying for their descendants to free their spirits. Beyond that, a silent testimony of man’s inhumanity. More lives were lost even after they were assigned to the plantations in their new homes.
Records show that in one Caribbean country between April 1839 and November 1848, there were 1,337 suicides, mainly by the proud Ibo’s who could not fathom their new status of being beasts of burden – death was a nobler way out. But I write for the following reasons:
First, it was shocking that neither the Party in power, nor the Government was represented at this significant event to commemorate the martyrdom of millions, yet just a few hours before, very high government officials including the Honourable Prime Minister attended Eid Fest 2008. They were backed by full media state coverage. This function at Lusignan was to celebrate the end of Ramadan, the Muslim period of fasting. What is interesting is that, this Islamic function was apparently spearheaded and promoted by the Indian Arrival Committee, and according to the State media, the ‘Muslim Community’ of Guyana.
Happily, the main and most respected Muslim body, the CIOG did not take part.
What is the nexus between the State functionaries, the Indian Arrival Committee and Ramadan?
Was this another political gimmick?
Elsewhere, I have praised the IAC for the good work being done, but are they aware that the first batch of Muslims to arrive here in Demerara were Black Africans from the Fulani tribe – that is why up to a generation or so ago, all Muslims were referred to as ‘Fullamen’?
If the Indian Arrival Committee is now promoting the arrival of Black Africans, I say bravo – excellent – great progress – a major step towards unity.
How come all of a sudden, the IAC has gotten involved in what is essentially a Religion that knows neither race nor ethnicity!
What is really happening in our country and to our history? Is this part of a master plan for dominance by a certain political group, prepared to use any occasion to advance its cause?
If the IAC has moved beyond its mandate, we need to be told.
Second, let us have some level ground.
Eid fest 2008 dealt with the horrors of Bartica and Lusignan but avoided reference to Lindo Creek. What is the message?
Can we get an explanation?
Next, on August 1st 2000, in the presence of a large representative gathering, coins were buried on this sacred site, Independence Square [Parade Ground] with a promise made by the Head of State on behalf of this Nation, to have erected a suitable Monument to honour the Martyrdom of over 300 slaves, many who had their heads cut off and placed on staves around this sacred ground, as a lesson to others.
We seem to remember and celebrate a small number of our brothers and sisters killed through no fault of their own, but seem to have a problem dealing with hundreds and millions of our ancestors who were martyrs.
We can forgive all who did us wrong but we must not forget any of those wrongs – lest they recur.
Yours faithfully,
Hamilton Green, J.P.
Mayor
