Dear Editor,
I am about to return to Guyana after spending a couple weeks with professional colleagues, family and friends in Toronto and Ottawa. I used to work and live in Toronto in the 1970s when immigrants from around the world including Guyana were not as widely and numerically present as they obviously are these days.
The relatively high representation of immigrants and their offspring in all spheres of Canadian life, especially in professional, community and cultural activities was a special joy to behold.
This contrasted remarkably with my recollection of the 1970s. For example, at an intersection close to my family home in Markham, a part of the Greater Toronto area, there are 15 colourful, obviously costly pictoral placards of the candidates vying for election. Judging by their photos and names 4 are women and 12 are apparently descendants of immigrants.
Also interesting was the fact that the placards are planted on the ground at all busy intersections for weeks without any noticeable attempt to vandalize or remove them by any of the 15 contestants or their respective supporters.
In my view, this is refreshing and speaks volumes about their high level of sophistication and good sense, and of mutual respect for civic responsibility.
It was also quite uplifting to note the absence of mud-slinging in the campaigns among the candidates. The positive, non-accusatory electioneering for municipal/local government representation and the relatively high participation rates among immigrants and their Canadian-born children and grandchildren are worthy of note by their families and friends ‘back home.’
Of note also was the apparent absence of rancour and the presence of civility during the televised mayoral debates.
Having regard to the possibility of imminent elections in Guyana, one hopes that the level of sophistication and civility witnessed in Toronto can be emulated in spirit and action among our compatriots.
Yours faithfully,
Nowrang Persaud
