So we conclude this May 2016 Independence Half Century Anniversary “series” of Reflections today.
First let’s reflect on Forbes Burnham’s message to the British and to his brand new nation in the Assembly on May 26, 1966.
“After 150 years of British rule, and in some cases mis-rule, we are now independent. But we harbour no bitterness! Bitterness, we feel is for children and the intellectually under-developed. It is difficult, maybe impossible, to change the facts of past history and in the circumstance, though we welcome with enthusiasm our new status we are prepared not to spend the time ahead of us abusing those who once dictated to us, but rather to seek means of co-operating with them to our mutual advantage; shall I say self-interest”.
In those few sentences alone Burnham was pointedly clinical in terms of letting all realise that independence could not mean abandoning 
even those who colonised us. “Co-operating” meant good “relations”, trade, other needed assistance. But our current Historian-President Brig. (rtd.) David Granger has come out forcefully on the side and cause of reparations for the varied damage suffered for hundreds of years through slavery and contractual indenture. Wonder what would have been Forbes’ position on that issue?
This final look-back must pay some tribute to Burnham’s structured, almost revolutionary, strategies to bolster meaningful independence after May 1966. He ushered in Republican status four years after ’66. Our Head of State was thus a Guyanese President. He “Guyanised” major industries as best he could using available local brains and expertise.
Soon our Police and Defence Forces would be headed by locals-replacing Englishmen. And the role of the new Parliament was to be pivotal based of course on a reformed constitution. The latter would take a whole full-fledged article to discuss properly.
But where are we as a nation today, 50 years after May 1966. It is not possible for this citizen to delude himself. To me we are way behind where we should have been about say 30 years ago. The politics of elections, of division, of greed have all combined to stagnate us when little places with scant resources galloped past my Guyana—a resource rich haven. Do you dear readers realise that amongst the most negative aspects of our post -independence era is the migrations of bodies and brains? A vast independent CARICOM “nation” with less than a million souls! I know migration is world-wide whereby the needy trek to wherever they feel they can improve themselves but they also “improve” their host countries. We need our people back!
There could be hope. During the past fortnight our countrymen and women returned in droves to celebrate. Many spoke of returning for good. Of course, I don’t expect them to give up the best of both worlds that they enjoy through multiple citizenships. But they can find ways to contribute to this homeland permanently.
I dare to hope. Hope springs eternal. The arithmetic, I remind again, since 1966, is PNC rule 26 years, PPP in “power”, 23 years equal 49 years. Granger and PNC in disguise with a spoiler (AFC) just one year this month.
You mean to tell me we can’t expect that which has eluded us for most of the 49? Are we not the ones to dictate to the PPP and the APNU+AFC that their role is to serve us all? To make Lady Guyana our mother of Mutual Success.
Let this anniversary steel our resolve to so do. Until…
