Dear Editor,
There appears to be a low level of understanding, at least with regard to comments in your letter column and letter blogs, as to what is secession. The following letter is intended to help. The meaning of secession varies widely as the number of ongoing secession movements in the world. Nevertheless, secession, according to political thought, is the formal withdrawal from an association, in this case Berbice, from the centralized, defunct administration of Guyana, by a group or territory discontented or unhappy with current status and treatment from that nation-state.
The ultimate aim of the seceding territory or the secessionists is to end artificial centralization and integration, become a master of their destiny, pull their own political strings, and dictate their own economic and social future course with the hope to achieve sovereignty. Put differently, secession seeks to break hegemonic, compulsory bonds between the secessionists and a government which they no longer accept.
Actually, a better definition of secession is what it is not. Secession does not seek to overthrow or change the state, but seeks to limit the state’s control over the seceding territory. It is not a civil war nor does it represent a revolution.
Secession does not seek to engage in a sustained battle with state, but seeks to free itself from the unjust stranglehold of the state. Secession is not an act of punishment, for those who seek secession are simply expressing their desire to govern themselves. Furthermore, secession does not seek to transform the political and social order of the state, although secession may inadvertently lead to some changes.
What is certain about nearly all secession movements is that they conceive their territory – Berbice is no different − and people as being exploited by others. Equally certain is that secession would leave the nation-state (Guyana) in a reduced form.
This is not a bad thing since states sometimes are too large to control and manage efficiently and effectively. Actually this is precisely what leads to discontent among ethnic groups and regions. Conversely, no territory is too small to secede. Berbice is as large in land mass and population as many independent nation-states in the Caribbean.
Secession can proceed under two conditions or grounds. The first is unilateral secession which occurs without the consent of the state and without constitutional sanctions. The second is consensual secession which occurs with negotiations with the state like what has happened between Canada and Quebec and between St Kitts and Nevis. Berbice favours consensual cession. In many respects, this movement is protected and promoted by law because the right to secede is enshrined in a state’s constitution. However, only a few countries allow or recognize this constitutional right. Guyana is not one of them. Realistically speaking, a majority of secessions then occur according to the unilateral theory which is argued on the principles of morality and rights.
Yours faithfully,
Lomarsh Roopnarine
