The African Cultural Development Association (ACDA) has called on the political representatives of the people to end their betrayal of the nation’s aspirations for true nationhood, reconciliation, peace, justice, economic development and equality as Guyana celebrates its 43rd independence anniversary.
In its message, ACDA said, “Guyana cries out for its leaders to give real meaning to our independence.” ACDA believes that independence is a tool to be used to correct the historic injustices created by colonialism and to reconcile the nation thereby opening up this country’s vast unlimited potential for the benefit of its people. The organisation added that it remains unshaken in its conviction that shared governance is the only meaningful solution to the country’s ongoing national crisis.
“The failed Westminster type winner take all political systems which promotes the culture of domination must be abolished if we are to give real meaning and expression to our national motto ‘One People, One Nation, One Destiny’,” ACDA said.
This system represses and rejects expressions of national interest based on ethnic differences and should be replaced with a system that promotes racial harmony, justice, equity and national cohesiveness. Shared governance will give real meaning to a government of national unity.
ACDA used the opportunity to warn the nation against electoral opportunism “elections have failed us and will continue to do so if we do not change our discredited political system, we must struggle to win constitutional reforms to enshrine executive power sharing and shared governance before the next general elections. History will condemn us as co-conspirators in betrayal of our country’s best interest if we persist in participating in elections without the required reforms in the national political process. We therefore call on all Guyanese of goodwill to recommit to the ideals and dreams of our fore parents and to support the just and righteous call for shared governance so that our children and our elders can live in a society where they are judged not by the colour of their race but by the content of their character.”
Guyana is a country of several races of people who share a common thread. All of the people arrived via the hazards of the sea although under different circumstances, ACDA said.
It noted that Amerindians freely came during the 9th century. Europeans freely came in search of wealth around the 14th century. Africans came in bondage and as chattels on slave ships in the 16th century. The Portuguese came as indentured servants from Madeira in 1835. East Indians came from India as indentured servants in 1838. Liberated Africans came in 1841. The Chinese came from China in 1853.
“Today, Guyana is our boat—our nation is lost on the turbulent seas, rudderless and visionless,” ACDA’s message said. “We are adrift in the perfect storm of disunity and racial animosity. The challenge before us therefore is to unite or sink. One thing that is clear on this 43rd anniversary of independence is that successive governments since independence have been unable to chart a course and steer our ship through the dangerous seas to the safe harbours of peace, prosperity, racial harmony and national development. All Guyanese have to live as equals so as to prevent our country from further degenerating morally, socially, culturally and economically.”