Three months of the Christ-Mass?
Frankly speaking I’m quite aware that any discussion surrounding the overall socio-economic success of one ethnic group in this challenged land of ours might breed some internal ill-will – or open rancour. I must be cautious about sensibilities, sensitivities and affectations.
But because of friendly – though sometimes animated – debate in New York, U.S.A. and Georgetown recently, I now summarise discussions and reflections on the issue indicated in my lead caption above.
Years ago Chandra Narine (CN) Sharma would take his cameras to far-flung communities; very rural, a few isolated, far from cities. Those probing somewhat anti-PPP-government public visitations – with some follow-up, more scientific socio-economic analyses in Sunday Stabroek – revealed that most likely, there are many more poor “Indo-Guyanese” (families) than there are of other groups here. Including “African”!
But why the latter discovery? Up until recently in terms of population “Indian”-Guyanese were much greater proportionally. They still are, but both population and demographics are “levelling off” these days. Poverty prevailed where the members are more. How ironic and paradoxical – that verifiable fact is, regarding my following commentary on the relative socio-economic success of Indian– descended Guyanese in our midst here, today.
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Indo–canefield poverty, then delayed prosperity
The story – and his-story – of the coolies’ indentured, sometimes near-slavery suffering is well-documented. But seldom discussed – as my partners and I did recently – is how and why today’s descendants of those original sugarcane coolies are now titans of local industry and even political/governmental movers and shakers? The majority, mind you, like others not-so “blessed” are still mighty needy!
Consider “the rise”: 1838 to 1880’s – indentured Indians survived the “New Slavery” of the canefields and slowly but deliberately taking advantage of the still- rapacious planters and colonial government’s offers of Crown Lands for personal housing; accepting monetary compensation for not returning to India and beginning the establishment of immigrant villages throughout all the Atlantic Coast; the “Indians” soon began the farming that would precipitate a successful rice industry.
Even as the freed Africans’ Village Movement was undermined by the Planters and Government as early as the 1850’s the former indentureds shrewdly stuck with agriculture even as their offspring joined Africans in the professions, trades, commerce and industry.
To this day Indo-Guyanese retain stakes in agriculture and all other socio-employment ownership and pursuits. Opposition Leader Comrade Aubrey opined with me years ago that “East Indians are more “acquisitive” than others meaning that even today’s Indo-Guyanese are given to keeping and preserving – from religion to financial savings to political loyalties. Frankly speaking, I share that view too.
So why Indo-Guyanese economic status and success? So many reasons and answers. Their firm foothold in industry and commerce; slow but sure dominance from the medical profession to the gold-fields to construction to banking. That of course is a very partial diminished list of “reasons”.
I usually quip to provoke certain friends: “If you need to buy fresh seasoning, a vehicle, lumber or cement to build, an “Indian” has to be involved!” Accurate or not? Through education and from the Diaspora, they prevail!
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Decades of Guyanese poverty?
If poverty must be defined as the lack of money, material possessions and assets for prolonged periods, then I’m poor.
Growing up in the forties, fifties, I and my pals never really considered being poor as much of a disadvantage. We were contented with minimum mercies I suppose.
Today each generation is made to want if not need. Politicians make it their duty to blame; or demand from governments immediate remedies. The population easily agrees with the opposition. Naturally!
I’ve read both the September UNDP 2022 Human Development Report and the current World Bank fact sheet. They lay out, in stark descriptions, the need or poverty-line status of most Guyanese. Did we Guyanese ourselves not realise that status?
All I’ll say is that our poverty is not recent! Not two years old! Couldn’t be. But this government asked for the job. Oil revenues and other incomes must be skillfully deployed to erase the people’s immediate needs. Even as we are not alone in this predicament globally.
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Three months of “Chrismuss”
I shall return to this issue next Friday. Since October some “commercialists” were willing to fast-forward, even vulgarise Christmas. But that was tempered.
Until next week research these: who was Herod? Did the Three Kings really exist? Where did they originate from? Where did the baby Jesus spend his early childhood?
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So much to ponder…
●1) We must monitor and be told just how many new jobs for the working-class government’s mega-projects will generate.
●2) I ask again: are we fully prepared for sudden climate-change flooding?
●3) Ultimate in levity last week: – the naughty guy ordered thousands for dinner at Marriott then scooted away leaving his lady-date at the table! Ho-ho-ho.
●4) Is it next week? That the government will announce salary increases for its workers and pensioners?
`Til next week!
