Dear Editor,
Since the dawn of Guyana’s political Independence on May 26, 1966 successive leaders and Governments have publicly dreamed about “One People, One Nation, One Destiny”. Fifty-eight years later that dream remains as illusionary as it was then. The perennial struggle to survive created by backward and oppressive political and economic policies have pitted rank and file Guyanese against each other over bread-and-butter issues. This in turn bred corruption and tribalism within governments and among those struggling to survive. Law and order, discipline, professionalism, standards, morals, fairness, equitable distribution of limited resources and equal opportunity, all became victims of the struggle, the corruption, the tribalism and the obsession to gain and maintain power.
Two hundred and sixty-one [261] years ago on February 23, 1763 angry and disgruntled African slaves in Berbice struck the first and most decisive blow for liberation from a cruel and oppressive system administered by inhumane and dictatorial colonial planters. The rebellion which broke out in the Canje River was led by an educated house slave Koffi who had initially rejected the idea of a violent confrontation and preferred a negotiated settlement. However, there were others who were more militant and bent on an armed conflict creating dissension and disunity among the slaves. A fight subsequently erupted between the forces of Koffi and another slave Atta in a leadership struggle. Koffi and his forces lost the battle and he subsequently shot himself. Atta was captured and executed. The slaves had been in control of Berbice for just over 10 months when the rebellion was finally crushed in May 1764. How much as a people have, we learnt from that rebellion and its outcome which left the land soaked with the blood of hundreds of our ancestors? The evidence today indicates that we have not learnt anything.
Unfortunately, today, there are still major divisions between and among Guyanese of all backgrounds as that class struggle for survival and human development which began after political independence intensifies. Most free societies across the globe have been built on law and order, discipline, rules and regulations, accountability and transparency with independent constitutional oversight institutions free of political interference. Most normal families are built on order, rules, discipline, norms, morals, principles, respect, truth and love. Any group of people or nation that refuses to develop or uphold such precepts are doomed to self-destruct. Today, sadly in this dear land of ours there is no respect for law and order, there is a breakdown of the rule of law, an absence of enlightened and moral leadership, widespread indiscipline, violence, a lack of professionalism and poor standards in high and low places. Instead, there is an acceptance of mediocrity, poor standards, immorality, licentious behaviour in high and low places, lewd music/profanity on our airwaves, promiscuity among the young and old, disrespect for our elders who toiled to build our country and an absence of role models for our young people.
Truth has become an alien attribute to those who govern and those who are governed while there is an almost wholesale adoption of foreign lifestyles and cultures. We no longer care for the environment which sustains us, corruption reigns in every nook and cranny, violence, illicit drugs and crime are now national plagues. Parental care and guidance are almost non-existent. Political, civic, religious and educational leadership is either mediocre or simply deficient and/or absent. In the absence of strong and enlightened political and religious leadership and parental guidance, the masses including the young, will create their own norms and sub-culture of lawlessness and disorder. In the absence of wise and upright governance, lawlessness will fester and the lawbreakers will prevail/dominate and take control of the nation. In the meantime, independent views of patriots seen as critical to those in power are deemed false and/or subversive and are suppressed.
The authors are victimized and, in some cases, subjected to prosecution. At stake is the erosion of citizens’ constitutional rights of freedom of expression. Suppression of certain fundamental freedoms and rights, recourse and/or justice can lead to political and economic strangulation and subjection. We are in this predicament today because of our inability to assess, analyze and comprehend why and how we arrived at this juncture and our unwillingness to take unified and corrective action as a people. Decades of survival struggles, political intimidation and suppression have left Guyanese weakened psychologically and physically. As a result there is an inability and/or unwillingness to stand up for one’s rights and what is right. The refusal to uphold and practice one’s traditional culture and spiritual tenets have left many disillusioned, confused, fearful, weak and lost. Guyana is unique in the world for the absence of independent intellectual public discourse, dialogue and research on our socio-political, economic, social and cultural affairs. Any nation which fails to enable or pursue such an environment cannot claim to be progressive.
The unawareness of one’s authentic history and practice of one’s authentic culture erodes a people’s norms, principles and precepts and weakens their ability to be crafters and masters of their destiny. It allows others not only to disrespect and/or belittle you but also opens the doors to miseducation, manipulation and eventual control and suppression. A people who neglect their own traditional culture are lost and will ultimately be subjugated.
Sincerely,
Daniel DaCosta
