With gradually increasing consistency, I’ve been picking up indicative hints about the emphasis that is to be placed on the May 2016 Independence Anniversary event, apparently in preference to the annual February Republic Mashramani activities.
Over the past two decades, Frankly Speaking, I grew cynical about the concept, then practice of celebrating these national milestones. My closer friends would hear my mutterings: “Celebrate? What is there to celebrate? After 40-something years of independence, potable water doesn’t reach up to my second flat in south!” In fact as we working-class citizens well-know water, electricity, safe cheap transportation, even reliable accessible security are all frequently absent from our lives much too often. So “celebrate”?
Yes I’ve commented on this issue before, both as an informed, concerned citizen, well aware of the decades of economic stagnation – born of political in-fighting, mismanagement and incompetence and latterly corrupt, greedy, selfish managers of all of our national resources – and as one who was associated with one of the major political machines which contributed to my eventual cynicism.
You see fellow citizens over 40, 50, we older ones in attempting to lay the blame for the under-developed status of our state and nation must recall unfortunate facts, negative realities.
Independence Day May 1966 saw a two-year old People’s National Congress (PNC) in power, in tandem with a small capitalistic outfit led by an iconic business captain Peter D’Aguiar – the United Force (UF). The PNC’s Burnham soon ditched the UF and ruled ‘till 1985, then 1992 – a total of 28 years. The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) regained power in late 1992 and held sway ‘til the other day May 2015, for 23 years). So 26 plus 23 (PNC+PPP) gave us our “Independence” administrations (49 years). A coalesced group will now spend a year up to May 2015, when 50 years of political, constitutional, governmental “Independence” will be branded our Independence Golden Anniversary and/or Jubilee. So who’s to be “blamed” for over 49 years of national, stagnated under-development of this land of gold, diamond, bauxite, marine, rice, and sugar wealth?
Good things past and future
Naturally, I’ll be upbraided for attempting that type of looking-back. However, the past must inform the present and the future so I’ll compromise. I’ll repeat a personal challenge I gave myself a few years ago: To list some really positive and significant developments since Independence Day, May 1966. It was a strain in the context of current economic and political stalemates, as well as the stark realisation that smaller societies and little economies have passed us by; left us standing still. But here are a few “good things” I came up with. To celebrate Independence itself: Britain seemed happy to rid herself of its BG colony. Our leaders claimed that they won our independence even though by 1963/64, the Americans had assisted Burnham to appropriate Cheddi’s status as Independence Leader but not as anti-colonial “hero”. Independence seemed and was necessary.
Republicanism in 1970 was another necessity to solidify independence from former colonial vestiges and to promote independent-thinking citizenship.
Infrastructure/manufacturing – amidst a burgeoning autocracy Forbes Burnham did superintend some massive successful, infrastructural projects (Linden-Soesdyke Highway, Demerara River Bridge, our own shipyards and ferryboats, numerous schools.) Do today’s youth know that we used to make our own good clayblocks and canned bangamary and pepperpot?
Import substitution – yes, Burnham persuaded us to make our own dried fruits and salted fish; to grow our own potatoes and cabbage and also made us realise that we imported too much milk and other foods. Alas, now that we have choices some of our production costs compromise buy local.
The Guyana National Service (GNS) was a necessary concept. Though it failed or was made to not succeed in its ultimate objective, which was to clear hinterland “bush” and create settled, productive communities, it did teach thousands of young Guyanese life-skills, discipline and understanding – if not harmony.
I also listed Carifesta and Caricom amongst our post-Independence achievements. Under post-’92 PPP “regimes” I singled out aspects of health-care, more infrastructure, press freedom and our people’s determination to sustain peaceful co-existence in the face of political and criminal upheavals. But why did I look back? Partly because I want to again remind the 50th Anniversary planners of some objectives and projects to consider.
Partying – and substance
The best Anniversary present for our Fiftieth of course, would be economic resurgence, projects to facilitate job-creation, more oil and gold discoveries and a return to high standards of discipline, quality and morality.
If Mashramani 2016 is to be miniaturised or downgraded for 2016 – as is being mooted – let May 2016 take over the pageants and parades and concerts to welcome the thousands from our Diaspora. (The planners Frankly Speaking, should have reps working now in the USA, Canada, the UK and the Caribbean to facilitate easy travel and accommodation when home here.)
Besides the usual exhibitions, lectures and monuments planned for all regions, earmark Economic projects to begin or to be concluded by next May, now! Let President Granger’s Village Economies bloom after the local management election. Identify Independence heroes. Let the usual suspects on the Anniversary Committee come up with publications, documentaries – “From El Dorado to a Green Land of Prosperity” (???) – Scholarships and the creation or establishment of locations of our history.
If any new ideas are needed, Contact A.A. Fenty! He will also will external friends to invest more by May 2016. Let Guyana really breathe under the Brigadier. Before and beyond the Golden Anniversary, May 2016.
Disloyal opposition?
The concept of a “Loyal Opposition” does not seem to be ever a reality in our neck of the woods. And I awaited with bated breath, to experience how those corrupt, crooked, perhaps criminal, players of the immediate past would be welcome(d) in some inclusive “unity” government.
The irate Opposition is against the Commissions-of-inquiries, state-asset recovery, forensic audits, Berbice Bridge toll reduction, strategies to rescue rice, sugar, gold, even the weapons amnesty. Can’t they offer any words of encouragement? Still, the Brigadier wants to woo them into government? Statesmanship? Or Great Expectations misplaced?
Just imagine!
*1) Trinidad’s First-Past-The-Post and the Constituency arrangements cost Kamla the elections. Check the final voting popularity even as she graciously conceded. Does that (latter) even happen here?
*2) Yes, I agree: the National Stadium is ours. The government manages. How is the Convention Centre being managed these days?
*3) Recalling that between 1835 and 1846, a few Irish, English, Scottish, German and Maltese immigrants were “imported to BG and that even Lebanese and Syrians found their way to the colony, Len is suggesting that we take a few hundred Syrians for our hinterland. Near Venezuela?
*4) A Republican will win America’s White House next year! Any wagers?
*5) Just how can I get onto a State Board or Commission-of-Inquiry? Boo-hoo. Poor me. I’m not a usual suspect?
‘Til next week!
