I loved – and still do like – our national Song of the Republic. And the story behind it. The story alleges that the late attorney–poet Cleveland Hamilton, who was once Forbes Burnham’s law-student pal but became continuously upset over the autocratic President’s politics, really believed that Forbes would not have allowed the Culture folks to award him (Hamilton) any award if his entry had won the national Republic Song competition.
So Cleveland, the credible story goes, submitted his entry under his original Halley family name. He won and we now enjoy Guyana’s Song of the Republic “From Pakaraima’s Peaks of Pow’r …”
That was forty five years ago. What have our lofty leaders done with our Republican status? The PNC and PPP political behemoths have “shared” those 45 years almost equally. Is it too difficult to feel the national disappointment, amongst both the working-class and the “better-offs”, over Guyana’s decades of stunted growth, lost opportunities and its status as a poor cousin to even little islands in Caricom?
And this status of near-poverty still exists in a land still blessed with abundant natural, creative and human resources. So, after 49 years as a so-called Independent nation “enjoying” 45 years as a Republic, what is there to celebrate?
My perspective, Frankly Speaking, is that after half of a century “celebration”-time is long past. Any achievement we experience as a nation should have been reality decades ago. I, objectively, can blame both of the larger political parties. And yes, “we”, their supporters, must share that blame of backwards-standing-still too. We allowed – and still do – their excesses. Here we are at a stage where migration seems to be the future as just a few enjoy the resources and the opportunities.
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Elections Mashramani?
Being quite an adult in 1970 and beyond, as well as “a PNC man” to boot; then latterly attached to the Ministry of Culture, I was truly a Mashramani person. Today I say we must observe national milestones. Tolerate celebration, but our institutionalised fora and national events still identify us as a nation – – however blighted and struggling. So observe if not celebrate.
In 2011 we knew in February that there would be elections under Mr Jagdeo. Imagine this year the Ramotar Regime will seemingly require its employees to dance and jump, not even knowing when the most crucial poll will be called! What contempt!
However, I’ll still support Republic Anniversary observances for reasons stated above. The Mashramani celebratory aspects still do stimulate creative expression and genuine, national, secular cultural involvement. Again I call on those scores of business-places in Water, Sheriff, Robb and Regent streets in the capital to support a selected component of the celebration that suits your budget and your taste. Recall your Diwali motorcades. I suspect that Culture Minister Frank Christopher Stanislaus Anthony can assist in motivating some indifferent businessmen in this regard.
So don’t give up on Mashramani. Take part if even in a muted fashion. The better-offs can afford to “celebrate” their wealth. We, the salt-of-the-earth may still savour what Republican status can be. (Name three ways in which the Opposition parties can “use” the observance…)
Financing the campaigns
In some democracies which strive to be civilized through law, order, accountability, transparency and so on, there are stringent laws and oversight to prevent governing political parties utilizing State funds and resources in pursuit of the Party campaign in an election period.
In our Guyana that is well nigh impossible. I refer to all election campaigns since, say, 1968. Ministers and their associates must visit their constituencies, right? Suddenly roads will be repaired and loans and grants disbursed. Electors long denied their resources and rights, gladly accept. But, in the case of the incumbent governing Party, I point out the following which I picked up from another country’s experience.
Knowing exclusively the Election Date, the government organizes projects and contracts for favoured big-businessmen and contractors. In that country, therefore, even projects funded by international institutions and donors provide campaign finances for that Ruling Party when favoured contractors collect. Before Polling Day!
Poor Opposition Parties; if they don’t attract financial and logistics support from friendly wealth, they have to indulge in those things described as “fund-raisers”. Of course, shrewd business-people give to both big Parties catering for a friendly future under either. Secrecy attends these “donations”.
Then too, the government in that other country I mentioned, as in Guyana too, I suppose, was free to use aspects of certain financial/fiscal legislation to discover sources of Opposition funding. The Opposition contesting Parties there, then had to be creative, innovative – – and naughty. More later…
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Please ponder…
*1) The lady acting as the Capital’s Town Clerk assures its citizens: “We are prepared, the engineers have assured me that all systems are in place and we have them monitoring the weather patterns.”
The drains and kokers are also cleared. Georgetown’s streets, pavements and trenches will not flood. What more do you-all want!?
*2) My friend Len wonders why we do not have a search-and-rescue pact with neighbouring Brazil so that when aircraft vanishes they could bring their equipment and expertise to bear. Their jungles are so similar…
*3) I so appreciated SN’s Monday editorial `An election date must be named’, that I quote this small gem: “A government on its last legs is not in a position to give those assurances particularly considering its culture of unaccountability and the decrepit state of watchdogs such as the Office of the Auditor General.
There are of course more funds swilling around and more may be in the pipeline from Beijing. It would however be irresponsible for this government to commit the country to big ticket items considering its status. Parliament has now not met for six months and is therefore unable to discharge its crucial accountability functions.”
*4) What do government big ones and governing Party fellows do, if they feel they might lose an election?
*5) Name one current or former regional leader who – like thousands of Guyanese ladies – is a “single parent”.
‘Til next week!
(Comments? allanafenty@yahoo.com)
