Dear Editor,
On Thursday of this week, we celebrate the observation of the 53rd year of being a Republic. When we were granted Independence in 1966 we knew that as a result of the advocacy of the PNC and United Force team, a provision was inserted to allow us from having the UK Monarch as titular Head of State to a Republic. This act, fifty three years ago, was another step in our desire for total liberation to free the indigenous people, the descendants of slaves and indentured laborers from the notion that the British Monarch was still our Head of State in spite of us having our own flag, an anthem, so that our God-given resources would be controlled by the six peoples of Guyana.
This objective to overcome forms of mental slavery must still be pursued by this generation. In our circumstances today, this would a herculean task but an honourable one, a necessary undertaking if we are to give meaning whenever we recite our National Pledge. We must be true to what we chanted in 1970, that ‘Massa day dun.’ We also use the occasion of the Republic to honour those men and women who courageously sought to make our republican status a reality. Republic Day must be used to publicly identify those persons who continue to shed light to pierce the extant darkness of secrecy in dealing with the mighty conglomerates who are here, as was the case centuries earlier, to harvest our non-renewable natural resources.
On Republic Day 2023, I list independent media, Stabroek News, Kaieteur News, and Village Voice for piercing the darkness that is extant in our beloved country. For special honour, I single out Publisher Glenn Lall for his courageous crusade of enlightenment. This is particularly significant when we seem to have an oligarchy daily manipulating, massaging and mangling what the old folks say are ‘the true facts.’ There is also a list of writers: I think of Eric Moseley, GHK Lall, Earl B. John, Christopher Ram, Ret’d Asst Commissioner Clinton Conway, Ret’d Asst Commissioner Paul Slowe, Dr. David Hinds, Eric Phillips, Bro Ogunseye, and not leaving out FaceBook Advocates, Sherod Duncan, Mark Benchop, et al
Happily we have a brilliant intellectual line-up of ladies in the frontline whose courage of advocacy provides guidance and goodness with grace for Guyana. My honour roll of females include Melissa Janki, Janette Bulkan, Anette Ferguson, Vanda Radzik et al. On behalf of citizens, young and old, we thank them, confident in the belief and faith that the pen is mightier than the sword and that by next Republic Day, we will see the cracking of arrogance that is suffocating Guyana. As we continue the struggle, let us know that we can overthrow the principalities sitting on the old ramparts of imperial domination and 21st century neo-colonialism.
Let us use this week for being thoughtful as we seek to make fuller use of our massive resources made glorious a country that experiences no natural disasters. On Republic Day, let us turn to our Churches, our temples, our mosques, or whatever means we use to seek divine intervention, and pray that our leaders not be puppets controlled by puppeteers. Happy Republic!
Sincerely,
Hamilton Green
Elder