Dear Editor,
We are still in our Jubilee year, so how belated could I be in adding my two-bits? I didn’t indulge in anything whatsoever for our 50th Jubilee celebrations except for what was televised, although for the theme: ‘Celebrate Reflect Inspire’, I did take a little time to reflect. First I need to mention that I was pleasantly surprised at the plethora of songs that were composed and played for this occasion; they brought such wonderful nationalistic feelings. I asked myself when did all this happen? All of these songs reflect a strong sense of patriotism, unity and love, and a positive outlook that is so desirable for this nation, or any nation for that matter.
If only these songs could reach across and touch us, then we certainly would be more compassionate, reaching out towards each other.
Editor, ‘Jubilee celebrations or African Fest?’ by Henry Jeffrey in SN May 25, was a very frank column that made mention of things that aren’t comforting. He referred in part to the lop-sided participation of our two major races in the Jubilee events: “The apparent massive Afro Guyanese support for and participation in and the apparent Indo Guyanese absence from activities associated with the Golden Jubilee celebrations have led some to claim that the event will be more of an African Fest, rather than a national celebration … most Afro Guyanese know that comparatively not much progress has been made over the last 50 years, but they are celebrating not so much the anniversary but their release from what they perceive to have been nearly a quarter century of PPP dictatorial rule … Indo Guyanese also know that not so much has been achieved since independence but had the PPP still been in office today, Afro Guyanese participation would have been muted and critical. However our Indian compatriots would have been flocking to Guyana to celebrate our 50th independence which would have been demarcated to expose the years of Burnham dictatorship and vast developments that have taken place since the return of democracy …” It is indeed an extremely sad reflection of the state of the nation.
Editor, as I have observed before, a good way of gauging our unity and harmony is from our attendance at national events and other social, community and regional activities, excluding cricket. So it was with Mashramani and so it was with President Granger’s state inauguration at the National Stadium; thus the Social Cohesion folks need to be mindful that partisan politics will not in any way help them achieve their goal. If there is one thing that the President got right it was when he stated that the 5,000 vote victory at the elections should be an opportunity for national unity and not just for rejoicing and gloating over a party victory. And of course Mr Moses Bhagwan hit bull’s-eye in stating: “We are yet to see the flowering of unity.”
Just how do we move beyond, forward and upward? This for me is a tall order and demands a magnanimous and patriotic approach. We are not yet out of the ugly past of yesteryear and if we are not careful, we will sooner rather than later be back there again; there are symptoms aplenty. Who can look me in the eyes and honestly say all is well with my Guyana El Dorado? Too many of us are walking around blind with eyes wide open, refusing to call a spade a spade.
It is so disturbing that responsible people at the helm, persons of repute and in command within the scheme of things, who should be conscious of what is happening, are the very ones in denial. But truth though a lonely man is stubborn; twist it and turn it the results will always tell the story. And it really annoys me hearing folks endorsing corruption as a way of life ‒ “Is all over de world, yuh can’t stop it” ‒ and in saying so they feel comforted. What floors me is the confidence with which they say it; so emphatically, as if it’s some kind of virtue no nation can afford to live without.
In the midst of trying to set this country on solid ground, there is a major reason for immediate concern, which is the plight of our youths and which demands serious attention. We seem to be manufacturing more than our fair share of warped minds; the direction in which they are heading is exemplified by the excesses which they commit. It seems to me that in the haste to empower our young folks we have probably unwittingly allowed them unlimited latitude which in a number of instances has proven counterproductive. Understand I am not ‘dissing’ our youths, they are a vital part of us and deserve inclusion, but like the great Chinese man once noted, before you put a gun in a man’s hand, you must first put something in his head, lest he point the gun in the wrong direction.
Young folks must be involved yes, but it appears as if the concept of youth involvement has been somewhat misconstrued. Elders are considered obsolete, are treated shabbily with no respect, or even discarded with contempt.
Whatever the reason, we cannot blind our eyes to the negatives by which the youth are consumed. In contemplating the future, one is left in total bewilderment, especially if one is blessed with a fertile imagination. This is why we have to keep knocking the behaviour of top functionaries with dangerous egos, which is being emulated by young ambitious ones who desire upward mobility in haste and by any means necessary. As optimistic as we would want to be the prevailing evidence is not so reassuring.
Yours faithfully,
Frank Fyffe
