Forbes Burnham whose birth anniversary is next week Saturday, influenced the grand, official name of “the Co-operative Republic of Guyana”. Oh yeah, four years after the May 1966 Independence, there was relative political consensus that we should fully break free from Britain!
Cleveland Hamilton, an erudite, creative, but erstwhile pal of Prime Minister Burnham, secretly won the competition which gave us our lovely Song of the Republic and Oh, there was the official proclamation with its resolute penultimate paragraph: “and whereas pursuant to the said motion and in fulfilment of the processes of National Independence, the National Assembly, through the elected representatives of the people of Guyana in Parliament Assembled on the 29th day of August in the year 1969, resolved that on the 23rd day of February 1970, Guyana shall become a Republic and, accordingly, cease to be part of her majesty’s dominions…”
Man! Forty years ago, even without fully grasping the significance of the constitutional, parliamentary and technical changes, Republic status brought, the population went along with the government’s and opposition’s – achievement.
But what other “achievements” followed to determine our present status as citizens forty years afterwards? Rigged elections? Migration? Corruption? Education collapse? Skills/Brain Drain? Too negative (only) you say? I agree. Reflect on this factual point: of 40 years as a Republic, the Guyanese people who stayed at home have had PNC Governments for twenty-two (22) years (1970 – 1992). And PPP/C for eighteen (18) of the forty (1992 – 2010).
PPP says that what they inherited – a socio-economic disaster – stymied the robust start they should have orchestrated from 1993. You decide. Then reflect on the PPP challenges and self-made obstacles since the opposition-inspired destabilisation of the 1998 – 2001 periods.
The PNC claims…
The PNC- People’s National Congress – likes to publish (for the young, especially) its own record of “achievements” since 1970 (to ’92). A sampling? Demba GUYSUCO, GUYSTAC (nationalization), State Development Banks, Soesdyke-Linden Highway, Timehri Airport, MMA, Demerara Habour Bridge, Sea Defences, Ship-Building (Infrastructure), Turkeyen UG Campus, Cyril Potter College, National Cultural Centre, Multilateral Schools, GNS, Carifesta (Education/Culture); Feed/Clothe/House ourselves self-reliance programmes, as well as numerous Caribbean and International firsts in terms of Guyana’s standing in the international community through a vibrant foreign policy.
Great stuff! Except that the people’s quality of life was miserable by 1992 because of the cost of living. Remittances from the hundreds of thousands of migrant–exiles saved us, just as they probably do today. It is challenging for me to commend the PNC, purely on our national status, on the occasion of their Jimmy Carter-exit in 1992. But what of the 18-year-old PPP/C?
The PPP/C swears that…
We Guyanese, especially, know the claims, the mantras, and the refrains since 1993. With some justification the PPP/C could claim the restoration of freedoms, once severely restricted; the building of infrastructure and provision of housing; international recognition of many Jagdeo initiatives and even the weathering (sometimes literally) of the storms of unprecedented organized, violent criminal enterprise and the Great Flood of 2005.
I appreciate, full well, that the dedicated professional opposition is in no mood to agree with me on all the latter.
That’s their democratic right! But the PPP/C has achieved during the eighteen years of Republicanism!
Alas, as in 1992, today Guyanese quality of life is way below acceptable levels for those who continue to live within the borders. The most huge national Budget of Expenditure and Income ever, the temporary therapy and distraction of Mashramani; the inherent spirit of Guyanese to be resilient and survivalist – all cannot hide the fact that the average working citizen cannot make ends meet in a country so blessed with resources and great weather. The blame must stop at any administration. Forty years on the Republic is beset with too much confrontation and contention. Every day we read and see manifestation of moral and spiritual decay – from crime to crooked officials to timid governance.
What is the remedy? Some new group of elected administrators? Would you really bet on that, dear friends?
Dear Land of Cocaine
I just have to comment. It’s not just Enrico Woolford’s almost gleeful, vivid court reports from New York, with regard to Guyanese Cocaine traffickers on trial. It’s not just the visible manifestation of suspect wealth or the suspicious sponsorship of entertainment and sporting events which capture the imagination of Guyanese youth.
No it is the trepidation I begin to feel when proffering my Guyana Passport to American Immigration to get in to the people’s country to visit my lovely daughters. I, too often imagine what the American officers tend to imagine when they examine my little green book. And this Guyanese wants no other passport, believe me!
It’s just what the traffickers are doing to my country’s name and image. A government minister complains of the cocaine challenge at our only international airport. The media regale me with details about the scientific management, commercial expertise and human resource network the Cocaine Barons employ in and out of my green land of Guyana.
Roger Khan and Peter Morgan are recent well-known cocaine-convicted. But did you read, last week, that a British Cocaine “Ringleader” Stephens, just jailed for ten years, remitted nearly $50,000,000 (G) back to Guyana over less than three years! My Lord! And that’s just one gang in Britain.
My reinforced realization? That Guyana’s Cocaine Trade has to be fuelled by many in authority! This is bound to be top-level trading in the cocaine commodity. Consider and discuss. Even if you’re scared about it all, like I am.
Ponder well…
*1) Case flopped? “Accused in 2007 GRA Valentine’s Day $70M bust freed” Pity?
*2) Far from me to “dis” GECOM, but admit Chairman, Guyanese know precious little about the system to be used in any Local Government Elections. I have no interest in the polls, but it is time for your expert public education consultant to simplify.
*3) “Don’t ever speak if you’re caught with the drugs. You and yours can be hurt! Stay quiet! We’ll look after your kids and the mortgage. Understand!?
*4) This writer started buying fish with his grandmother, at Bourda market some 55-57 years ago! (They used to throw away shark and give away fish eggs in those days).
Imagine my delightful surprise last week therefore when I saw brand new, tiled fish-stalls! Wow! Half of a century to construct fish stalls!
‘Til Next Week!
Comments? Allanafenty@yahoo.com
