Dear Editor,
I attended the Opening Ceremony of the UNESCO Mobile Slavery Exhibition and wish to compliment the architect of the programme which was both interesting and informative.
Both the President and the Minister of Culture reminded us of the brutality of the Transatlantic Slave Trade and Slavery itself. They adverted to the several slave rebellions and specifically the 1763 event, and the fact that, for sixteen months, the slaves were in control of their colony.
In today’s environment there are lessons to be learnt, as you look around Guyana, there is a bundle of evidence that the hegemonistic philosophy which characterized our erstwhile imperial masters seems to be extant.
For example the State machinery seems only comfortable with those descendants of slaves who are compliant with the wishes of the rulers.
Example:
The President announced a reconciliation commission.
Minister and Mr Phillips, one could not help getting the feeling that no one from the independent African groups will find a place.
It is also interesting that no one mentioned the concerns by the many groups in Guyana about the location of the 1823 Monument. I thought that the Director of the Schomburgk Centre would have used the opportunity to persuade the President and the Minister that they should respect the views of the majority of African organizations that are concerned with the unilateral decision to locate the 1823 Monument at a site that has no historical relevance to the 1823 event.
This is in spite of the fact that on August 1, 2000, the then President Bharrat Jagdeo, Minister Gail Teixeira and others including your humble servant buried coins at the Parade Ground, the government thereby gave a commitment to have the monument built at the Parade Ground (Independence Park) to honour the slaves whose heads were cut off and stuck on poles and staves on Independence Park, better known as Parade Ground. This area is hallowed by their blood – so we now ignore it.
A pity it is so easy to forget.
Yours faithfully,
Hamilton Green, J.P.,
