Perhaps a little research can reveal if we – less than a million of us – really boast, proportionally, too many national holidays. (But who dares decide that?)
Apart from standard holy days, nations create national holidays for good reason and purpose. Hopefully. How many national/public holidays, when all government entities and most commercial-sector agencies are closed, do we have? Are they really necessary? The latter query always stimulates interesting, sometimes heated debate. Who declared these days as (annual) holidays? Why? In Guyana which months do not accommodate any type of public holiday?
In a few hours in our part of the planet the fifth month (of) May will be upon us. And if you like to stay at home you’re fortunate: There are five Sundays and three national holidays in this year’s May. Holidays like peas! For what reason(s)?
Workers, “Indians”, Independence Granger…
I, we, cannot have any problem with the First of May holiday here. Because “May Day” is the workers day. Or Labour Day. Set aside to celebrate the working-class, this day is supposed to hail workers as agents of the production society needs.
At first most of the world used May First to do so but the Americans switched to September for some reason (the Russians?)
One of my national heroes, H.N. Critchlow, stimulated interest in “May Day” inspiring then TUC General Secretary Rupert Tello to table a motion in the legislative council. The PPP government declared 1st May 1958 a public holiday in respect of May Day. (I suspect that Dr Cheddi Jagan was pleased to discontinue the then May 24 holiday know as Empire Day.)
There was a period when Forbes Burnham’s government required certain unions to become affiliated to his administration (and party). The local labour movement has been split asunder by political preferences for years. Too long a story but guess what. They’re all supposed to be united – by/in convenience – on Sunday. Let’s see.
It was another PPP administration, about four decades after 1958, that deemed May Fifth as Arrival Day. It really should have been Indian Arrival officially, but the government buckled to include all the historical-arrivals – Chinese, Portuguese and other Europeans. Fooling no one. It was the Indian coolies who arrived on May 05, 1838!
Frankly Speaking, the celebration of the “arrival” of immigrants from the sub-continent sometimes assumes elements of triumphalism. Of political and economic supremacy. A pity. Because it submerges the fantastic survival of a new slavery – indentureship; rich consequences of sustained sacrifice, determination, adaptation and real rugged achievement.
The descendants of the 1838 coolies who arrived on the three boats are now solidly in charge of most of this country’s economic spaces. Participation now nears domination – a result of generations of hard work, religion, culture, initiative and yes, large doses of political, governmental patronage recently. What? There are thousands of poor Indo-Guyanese amongst us? Discuss…
Independence Day: PPP, Granger
Again! It was the post-1992 PPP government that made May 26 the Independence Day holiday. I won’t elaborate about why.
Suffice to say that our Brigadier President Granger is out to demonstrate certain concepts and statements. After 26 years of PNC and 23 years of PPP in control (49), David Granger’s one year (May 2015 to May 2016) is (his occasion to showcase his achievements and intentions. From the 50 years since 1966.
His national objectives are in consonance with our own hopes for a better life which the fair and just management of our resources can afford us. Will it happen? Granger’s project(s) should be national, permeating all communities irrespective of the politics and ambitions of the few,
So even if we don’t subscribe to the May month Granger-brand anniversary activities, let us then pay tribute quietly to Cheddi Jagan’s anti-colonial struggles for Independence. Even as you note Burnham’s shrewd, American -assisted, political, opportunistic manoeuvrings to be the one to welcome Independence as head of government. Burnham was not all bad. Remember, he embraced Cheddi’s socialism. And remember too, this country is ours. And our children’s. Enjoy somehow your three days in May.
To prosecute, to jail, or not?
Look! This is just for you to ponder upon. The head of the country’s tax authority knows how many millions are being lost to tax-dodgers; lost through the machinations of savvy accountants and a few loopholes in the tax-laws.
The head will be aware too of his greedy or vulnerable staff who might be processing the billions of imports at our ports-of-entry.
The CEO of the Power Company finally catches five big businessmen who were stealing or under-paying for electricity for years.
And assume that the Office of the President, the Attorney-General, the Public Security Minister and the Director of Public Prosecutions now know where and how millions were stolen and stashed during 2002 to 2015. [CID, SOCU, SARU, FIU, CANU AND GRA told them(?)]
There is legislation here and in the USA to facilitate knowledge of where all the loot might be in America. What then should our law-enforcement/state assets recovery authorities do?
Lock up and prosecute with a view to jailing the top thieves who raided the Public Purse, as they should be jailed? Or negotiate with them to return the tax-money and the millions mis-appropriated so as to fund the country’s children, poor and national projects? Or both of the above?
Frankly Speaking, I’d love most of those executive thieves to be jailed as examples for the “ambitious” now amongst us.
But do you know that the Christian Bible- in Proverbs accommodates the use of even recovered “drugs money” for the greater good? Discuss…
.1) Should I travel to New York, USA with only a wallet to hold my passport and ticket. No carry-on. No luggage whatsoever?
.2) Want to know why Bharrat and Gail don’t concentrate on Joe and Chu Hungbo?
.3) How are former ministers Persaud and Webster getting on?
Til next week!
