The theme for this year’s Mashramani is ‘Mixing and Mashing as One Guyana.’
This theme creates a picture of Guyanese being in one struggle. Of the amalgamation of cultures, erasure of the political and racial divide, and as a collective tackling of the common enemies who wish to exploit, enslave, and destroy us.
Are our themes in these momentous events like Mashramani and Independence simply to impress or deceive us? Deception to con us into believing that no borders or features separate us. At the 53rd Republic are words with powerful meanings irrelevant to the reality that is the truth about the lives of most Guyanese or are they needed to boost the morale of the people even when they know that the dark hole of desperation is widening in Guyana. Do we celebrate and pretend for one day that we are healed, and every Guyanese can live a life free of poverty and threat. The resources of this country tell us that every Guyanese can live a life free of poverty. The threats are not only the common social issues like crimes and mental instability, but watching Guyana quickly change before our eyes, shows us that the very essence of what it means to be Guyanese and therefore our existence is at risk if we do not truly mix and mash and stand as one Guyana and own our country.
This Mashramani, do we tramp in this Guyana separated into ten regions, knowing that our greatest enemies are not us, but others? Or do we stand still knowing that our greatest enemies are in fact ourselves? Like how timid we are in confronting the ones who oppress us. Or how we disregard the poorer selves of this One-Self. Conditioning the poorest of our people to accept the bare minimum. Like the five million turn-key homes that are being built in Great Diamond that were the talk of the week – about how ugly and small these homes are especially if one has a family. Perhaps the naysayers will be silenced when the homes are completed but for now it is looking like poor people are being sold what is subpar, because often out of desperation we accept anything in this country.
I watched a video and pictures of these homes, and I was partly fascinated and partly shocked. On one hand the government’s efforts to provide low-cost housing is commendable and I understand that desperate Guyanese will rush to secure one of these homes for which it is said they are to pay a $23,000 mortgage a month. But couldn’t a bigger more spacious home been built for that cost? And must the people almost breathe on their neighbours’ necks because the homes are built so close together? With all the land in this country will there be playgrounds for the children? Will the families be able to plant kitchen gardens in this season when the price of food continues to stun and depress us? Will there be paved roads and reliable water supply when the people move in? How hot will it be when these homes are completed? Without air conditioning or fans many of our homes are already too hot as the heat continues to humble us and the Atlantic threatens us. How will the metal, cement and plastic hold up in these low-cost homes? Maybe the geniuses behind the designs will surprise us and shame us into silence when the homes are completed perhaps with air conditioning and other modern amenities showing that the poor are respected in Guyana.
I followed the discussions on social media as a rich Guyanese captain vehemently defended these homes. It was reinforced how far removed the rich in Guyana are from the poor. Men living in mansions can defend Guyanese living in what seemed to be shaping up to be subpar homes and sell dreams about Guyanese being able to comfortably live off as little as $90,000 a month in this oil rich dreamland. Most of the rich will not even attempt to live in these same conditions even as a social experiment.
So, with all these issues in our faces, this Mashramani do we choose to stand illuminated in the hope that is in Guyana and join the celebrations? Or do we choose to mourn the forgotten and lost ones in Guyana. Do we choose for one day to forget about the Mocha residents that were bulldozed a few weeks ago, or about oil contracts that will not be renegotiated? Do we choose to ignore the crime, racism, or the murdered ones for which justice has not been had…like Joel and Isaiah Henry. Do we remember the faces of women being plastered too often in the newspapers. Whether it be injuries or deaths at the hands of loved ones or the one foot in the grave becoming two when they go to give birth at our public hospitals. Will the revellers pause for minutes of silence?
Do we remember the fires like the one that gutted Parika Market last week? Do we tramp on those potholed roads where Lamborghinis and donkey carts can both get stuck or the paved roads while imagining all the possible ways of creating our heaven in Guyana?
There was a two-year hiatus of Mashramani because of the global pandemic COVID-19. Mashramani has always been one of my favourite times of year. Not only the 23rd of February but the events leading up to it. Events such as the Mash festival stage, the Children’s Mashramani Competition, soca, chutney and calypso competitions and steel pan all make this season exciting for me.
Last year’s return of the Guyana Prize for Literature was also celebrated during this Mashramani season with the winning writers being awarded last week at the National Cultural Centre, a literary festival at Castellani House where there were lectures, workshops, and the National Poetry Slam; and to end the Literary Festival the staging of the 2012 Guyana Prize for Literature winning play.
For me these events were a spark of hope amid the issues that plague us. I can stand in the light for my peace of mind and hope while observing minutes of silence for the Guyana that is fractured.
‘Mixing and Mashing as One Guyana’ – perhaps one day this will be undeniably true.
