Dear Editor,
In October last year on the occasion of the 90th birthday of the recently deceased Philip Moore, the African Cultural and Development Association (ACDA) held an activity at his home in Berbice to thank the creator and our ancestors who combined to bless us with his indomitable presence for just over 90 years.
In honouring his life and work that day, ACDA not only spoke on behalf of its members but it did so on behalf of the entire African community, who recognized that his unapologetic and sustained struggles for and on behalf of African Emancipation were indicative of the approach he brought to everything he did. On that day all of us, ACDA and Philip Moore himself were very aware that that may very well be our last such togetherness with him in the world of the living.
One of the things I recall from the discourse between us was his request that ACDA plant hundreds of oil palm trees in African villages across the nation. That request to ACDA was made out of Philip Moore’s understanding of the improvement in the economic well-being of the African community and if ACDA is to be taken seriously it must find the resources we must adhere to his request and implement this programme as a matter of urgency.
In the tribute I paid to him that day I spoke of his importance to the African race and the world. When I learnt of his passing I felt both saddened and happy. Saddened that Guyana has lost another of its very great soldiers but happy that the physical pains resulting from his illness are now no more.
Philip Moore has now joined the ranks of the ancestors and will continue his work among them on our behalf.
As we recognize and honour the life and work of this great iconic figure we must condemn the refusal of the Government of Guyana to allow his mortal remains to be interred at the Seven Ponds ‘Heroes‘ site. By refusing to accede to the wishes of his relatives and the broad mass of Guyanese what the Donald Ramotar government has done is to dishonour another African Guyanese.
It is no secret that I have on many occasions expressed my concern that the African political and cultural leadership has lost it way and is not providing effective leadership to the community and the nation. The insult and hurt which they have permitted the rulers to inflict on the dignity of the African collective and the Guyanese nation are unacceptable. This latest atrocity only adds to my ongoing concern.
I agree that representatives of the African community, collectively or individually have a right and duty to express their views on where Moore should be laid to rest – which they did and they have my full support for doing so. Where we part company is having stated their views on this matter they succumbed to what has now become habitual on their part – running to the rulers and begging them to do what a true national government would have done without the need for ‘lobbying.’
African leadership is in a state of confusion and is sending confusing signals to our people and nation. African leaders seem not to recognize that Africans in Guyana are an oppressed people. In this context why do they believe that the oppressors will treat the oppressed any differently. If the African people were not oppressed our true citizenship would be reflected in a National Unity Government, and there would have been no controversy, neither would there have been any attempt to dishonour our hero. What African Guyanese need is a liberation mentality, which will allow us to understand that begging the rulers is anti-liberation; and that some things are better left undone until we, the African people are truly emancipated. As I end this brief letter I have no doubt that our leadership will not learn from this humiliation experience.
Yours faithfully,
Tacuma Ogunseye