“… on and after 26th May 1966 … her Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom shall have no responsibility for the government of the territory which, immediately before that day, constitutes the colony of British Guiana which, on and after that day, is to be called Guyana”.
Just a small portion of Chapter 14 of the Guyana Independence Act 1966. After Constitutional Conferences in the UK (1963/65 etc) the Queen’s Duke of Kent handed Forbes Burnham the Constitutional Instruments thus relinquishing control of another colony. Enter Independent Guyana and these two considerations: firstly, Constitutional, Governmental and Political “Independence” was no guarantee of Economic independence, development and progress – especially in a competitive, ever inter-dependent world; secondly, Forbes Burnham’s PNC Governments administered the first 26 years of this Independence; this PPP/C outfit inherited the (current/last) 21 years of that status.
So, where are we, the so-called, hopeful beneficiaries, after forty-seven years of Independence – come Sunday?
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Good, Bad, Pass, Fail
I sought to identify developments, lasting, innovative and meaningful, which both Parties’ governments caused to create for our permanent national wellbeing. Using “normal” criteria to assess tangible and intangible projects, it was relatively tough to single out real significant, governmental deeds. (And I acknowledged that the country’s citizens should have been contributory to any Administration’s efforts.)
I’ll repeat that which I deem positives since 1966, but with my own appended critiques as well.
One: Independence itself! Our anti-colonial struggle was glorious. None can deny Cheddi Jagan’s pivotal, relentless role in that saga. The American World Policeman assisted Burnham into power in ’64, but the truth is Britain was glad to rid herself of another colony. No group opposed independence. Even that was a stellar achievement. Two: I rate Republicanism in 1970 as another positive. Trouble is, both Independence and Republican status disappointed the new citizens, in terms of management of bountiful resources for their development.
Three: PNC Infrastructural achievements. Not a PNC Manifesto, but we should recognize the post-Independence Linden-Soesdyke Highway, the Demerara Bridge, the MMA Agricultural Complex, the Shipyards and pioneer ferryboats, et al. The PPP/C has chipped in with numerous school and hospital complexes, roads and bridges (Berbice) and their friends have erected commercial edifices. Imagine life without the above, then note my following comments.
Both the PNC and PPP governments were elected (?) to govern, to manage, to develop. So they were expected/obliged to do all the above. Away with campaign-like boasts and reminders! Secondly, human development, socio-economic justice means that the working-class parents must be empowered to afford the bus and taxi-fares to the new schools; can buy the expensive medication when the new hospitals don’t have.
Four: I like the motivation for our farmers who responded to growing our own cabbage; those who were inspired to manufacture our own salted-fish, preserved fruits, juices, milk – other foods. Pity what’s happening now!
Five – and so on: Caricom, Carifesta, Early Foreign Policy, all saw little Guyana being accorded regional and international recognition; our size belying the huge achievements we scored on the world stage. Amerindian Guyanese, frankly speaking, have acquired rights to lands they settled for years, without loss of life and decades-long conflicts, as obtain elsewhere.
Mr Jagdeo’s international recognition for his work on sustainable forests and climate change, along with his sustained stabilization of the exchange rate appeal for mention by me.
Okay, this week-end, you make a list of the negatives of Independence. From rigged elections to autocracy, to present-day corruption and our image as a Cocaine Facilitator, make your list. I conclude that after 47 years, the Report Card is: 30% Pass, 70% Failure! Discuss …
Guyanese in the Caribbean
Say what you like – the geographical description “Caribbean” tends to exclude South American Guyana. Sometimes! We can be less than an hour from T and T (from the North-West.) notwithstanding.
We are “Caribbean and West Indian” culturally and spiritually, But …
The statements last week by the Jamaican Attorney, bordering on his own Jamaican isolation(ism); his being Jamaican and not Caribbean, replete with advice for Jamaica to abandon Caricom and its (lame) institutions, have ignited heated responses. To me, frankly speaking, Mr Mason is entitled to his views, even when some are not supported by persuasive evidence. His perspectives on the failure of the leaders of the Caribbean Community emanate, in part, according to the eminent Sir Ronald Sanders, from the same leaders not “providing” the Region’s people with “sufficient information” about the real “benefits” of Caribbean “integration”.
Be that as it might be, Guyanese who inhabit the islands are not regarded as brothers and sisters from a land which once their (the islanders’) fore-parents trekked to for sustenance. Late-seventies-eighties deprivation forced Guyanese to flee to the Caribbean and to use it as the life-line for Guyanese parallel-market runnings. Suitcase traders later became today’s working-class entrepreneurs.
The new islanders would visit post-1990 Guyana and assess the socio-economic standards of Guyanese. Today’s Caribbean islanders seem to have decided that Guyanese are generally “have-nots”. They accommodate our academics, legal minds, teachers and media professionals, but just tolerate our hucksters, our masons, carpenters domestic attendants and yes, our “ladies-of-love”.
Owen Arthur, Bajan Premier, at the Pegasus years ago, had conceded that Caribbean Leaders, despite assurance to the contrary, were all obliged to heed the concerns of their respective constituencies when the issue(s) of free-movement (and residency) arose.
It is just natural for locals to guard their own turf, opportunities and welfare.
Conversely, but obviously, West Indian Heads will consider how their own territories would benefit first, from any grand Caricom Initiative. Even though they would have discussed strategies and projects, it’s always island first, Caribbean afterwards. So don’t you-all dismiss Attorney Ronald Mason, Jamaican!
Independent!?
*1) Four important 1966 Independence Trivia: A New Constitution came into being; Governor-General replaced Governor; Sir Richard Edmonds Luyt became Guyana’s first Governor-General and the House of Assembly became the National Assembly.
*2) Most Guyanese nationals live outside of their Republic. Many in the USA quickly adapt American accents. That’s why, 47 years after Independence, I accept American accents advertising local cricket and kweh-kweh on our radio and TV
*3) How is the Court Case against the Sophia Muslim Teacher, accused of sexually molesting young boys, coming along? Files there? Witnesses? Compensation? Cover-Up?
‘Til next week!
(Comments? allanafenty@yahoo.com)
