Dear Editor,
Last Friday, at the bicentennial anniversary of the 1823 slave rebellion, President Ali spoke passionately about the importance of democracy as a protector of freedom. He reminded us that ‘’Guyana’s freedom must never be threatened again’’. And indeed any, nation which cherishes freedom and democracy must struggle unceasingly to support them. But was the nation’s freedom under threat?. And by whom? The address, though delivered with passion and conviction, seemed more tailored to appeal to attendees at a political rally than at an event to commemorate such an important historical event as the 1823 Demerara Slave Rebellion. This conclusion is arrived at by looking at the main thrust of the address which seemed to focus on the manipulation at 2020 General Elections as noted by the editor, rather than the slave rebellion. One can almost say that the slave rebellion became a side show.
Democracy, as most of us to know it is a form of government in which supreme power is vested in the people. The effort to throw off the shackles of that brutal institution called slavery engendered by depraved minds, and avaricious hearts, is too important an event to be diminished by coupling it to extraneous events. What happened that day 200 years ago should forever be etched in the minds of all Guyanese. It is an integral part of our history Mr President, please don’t trivialize it. Political campaigns have their seasons. An event to honour the stalwarts who gave their lives to strike at the foundations of human exploitation should be fully respected and not be confused with democracy.
Yours faithfully,
Colbourne Wilson