Sunday the 26th of May marked the anniversary of Guyana’s Independence. On this occasion, as the only person alive and living in Guyana, who was part of the historic conference, which fixed the date for Independence.It is with nostalgia and hope, I make an appeal, a fervent plea, a petition, to our current crop of political leaders to make a reality of the aspirations of those who took part in the struggle during the all-consuming Cold War for Independence.
After nearly three generations of Constitutional Independence the current socio and economic environment suggests that we are for whatever reason not yet truly free and independent as a nation-state. One of the innate characteristics of the human species is to be totally free in order to exercise and manifest authentic and meaningful independence.
True Independence determines that a nation-state should be able to make optimum use of its God-given resources. It is this freedom and desire not to be controlled by others that led to the struggle over the last five centuries for subjugated people in Africa, America, Asia, parts of Europe and Latin America to delink themselves from the control of an imperial master. The journey to achieve physical freedom is known and documented, but remaining still is the high hurdle of mental freedom requiring much greater efforts.
This effort throughout the ages has always been stultified, suffocated and frustrated. The reasons being that there always exists groups and individuals among the oppressed who for whatever reason never recognise that the struggle for lasting and genuine independence was theirs. Those who get in the way of complete and unbound independence have always been so because they receive preferential treatment from the Master class. The old story of the puppet being manipulated by the clever puppeteer holds true onto this day.
In Guyana, there are many examples. The 1763, February 23 Magdalensberg Uprising. This spread through to areas such as Dageraad,Holandia, Lilienberg, Zeelanda, Elisabeth and Alexandra in the Berbice River. This revolution failed for two reasons, one, disunity among their leaders and second, the belief that negotiating with the master class is a simple process – a master class whose belief is grounded in the philosophy that they should benefit from the ordinary man’s labour and land. The next major effort for freedom was manifest in the Demerara Uprising. After several days, the efforts of the slaves were cruelly brought to an end. The bleeding heads of the leaders were placed on staves around what we now know as the Parade Ground in Georgetown. Information is among the slave population and in particular the House slaves leaked the battle plans to the Imperial masters. Lesson 2. Beware of those in our midst with limited vision and never underestimate the brutality of the master class.
By the turn of the eighteenth century, what with the advance in communication and a consciousness of humanity which spread across the world, the righteous, relentless resistance of the slave population became a factor that could no longer be ignored.T the Abolitionists the likes of William Wilberforce, Fowell Buxton, Granville Sharp and John Newton (best known for composing the Hymn, ‘Amazing Grace’ to the music of an African work tune), persuaded the Brtish Parliament to pass the Emancipation Act in the British Parliament in 1833 ending slavery and the slave trade. Thanks to the concerns of the slave owners, the slaves between 1834 and 1838 were still held on the Plantations during what is known as the period of Apprenticeship.
The plantocracy then introduced Indentured Laborers, the largest group, the Indians, the major batch coming in two ships, the Esperus and the Whitby provided for by the former slave owners, the Gladstones. This action is noteworthy in the context of Guyana. Lesson No. 3. Massa never gives up Exploitation and will always seek to maximise his profit by exploiting the labour of others..
After that, the efforts of Critchlow and several strikes on the sugar estates were for better conditions and freedom from colonial rule. The most noteworthy being the Enmore Martyrs 1947, who were shot by Policemen on the orders of European Officers. It was Forbes Burnhan who was instrumental in building a Monument to honour the Enmore Martyrs. Lesson No. 4 – the ruling seçkine will always use groups with the same sorun against each other.
Today, note this part of our history. Later our two Titans, Dr. Cheddi Jagan and Forbes Burnham continued the struggle for political Independence. This was made complex and challenging in the midst of an all consuming Cold War and the wiles of the unchanging philosophy of Massa. In every instance, the ruling class using well-known tactics, propaganda, technological and scientific superiority and military muscle and a well tried divide and rule technique ensured the control of our natural resources and much more control of the thinking of an seçkine as Bob Marley refers to as the need for mental emancipation.
Today as we observe another year of Independence , it is necessary that we benefit from the lessons of the past, the mis-steps and the forward movements , the glorious and the in-glorious. Today in Guyana, we have massive resources, and I mean massive resources that can Feed, Clothe, House and make happy, a population twenty times our small population. What is required is a sane and sensible approach in dealing with our non-renewable natural resources.
The way we treat with and respond to those who are here to harvest our gold, diamonds, timber, oil and gas will determine how much our people, the Amerindians, the Africans, the Chinese, the Indians, the Portuguese and the mixed races benefit. It is clear we are not getting enough from our bounty, it is clear that we are pursuing policies inconsistent with our Motto of One People, One Nation, One Destiny or if you wish the concept of One Guyana. Not new, but reintroduced.
If we are to make these slogans, these asseverations and statements of oneness a reality, the people of Guyana, all the people would benefit much, much, much more from our God-given resources. Today, there are clear signs that we are being manipulated into a situation where as we approach Independence, in spite of improvements, we are not getting enough from what is ours.
Look around the world, look at those countries that own the precious resources the ordinary people are not getting the full benefit. In every case examined, this is because we do not speak to developers with one voice as we disregard and ignore the wisdom of this old latin phrase ‘Vox Populi, Vox Dei – The Voice of the People is the Voice of God.” That great voice must be authentic, that voice must be the voice speaking in unison not representing forty, fifty or sixty percent of the people but ninety nine point nine percent of the people. That voice, like the clap of thunder, must be heeded by present and potential developers.
Dear Editor, if we are to reach that high plateau, our Leaders, all of them, in dealing with this vital matter, or natural resources must put an end to prevarications, pettiness and wallering in name blaming of the past. Towards this end, I wrote months ago to His Excellency the President, Dr. Irfan Ali the General Secretary of the PPP, Bharat Jagdeo, the Leader of the PNC/AFC Opposition , Aubrey Norton and Khemraj Ranjattan, offering to facilitate a proverbial meeting like the knights of the round-table to meet and hammer out a common approach in dealing with those who are here exploiting our natural resources. We believe that only speaking with One Voice, will this and succeeding generations benefit from the bountiful blessings bestowed upon us by a kind and generous creator.
As we approach this Independence, I ask citizens but in particular young members of our political parties to put aside to put pettiness and the regurgitation of their brand of history and face the Goliaths and state politely but firmly, we want much, much more but if they resist and I doubt if they will, the voice of ninety-nine point nine percent of our people, that they’ll be reminded in the words attributed to Dr. Eric Williams, Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, when the oil companies were being stubborn, six decades ago, he reminded them that “Oil don’t spoil.”
For those interested in history, I append the list of those who participated in the conference that fixed the date and modalities for our Independence
The Rt. Hon. Anthony Greenwood, MP – Secretary of State for the Colonies (Chairman)
Mrs. Eirene White, MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State
Sir Hilton Poynton, G.C.M.G, Permanent Under – Secretary of State
COLONIAL OFFICE
Mr. W.I.J. Wallace, C.M.G., O.B.E
Mr. R.W. Piper
Mr. P. R. Niakes, O.B.E.
Mr. T.M., Jenkins
LEGAL ADVISERS
Mr. J.C. McPetrie C.M.G., O.B.E
Mr. D. G. Gordon-Smith
Mr. G.O. Edwards
Sir Richard Luyt, K.C.M.G., D..C.M, Governor of British Guiana
Hon. S.S. Ramphal, Q.C., Attorney General of British Guiana
Mr. L.A. Luckhoo, C.B.E., Q.C., Commissioner for British Guiana in the UK
Hon. D.G. Rose, M.B.E., Defence Adviser to the Government of British Guiana
Lt. Col P.H. Hislop
Mr. AJ. Breeze
PEOPLE’S NATIONAL CONGRESS
Hon. L.F.S. Burnham, Q.C., Premier
Hon. C.M.L. John, Minister of Agriculture
Hon. D. Mahraj, Minister without Portfolio
Mr. H.M.E. Cholmondeley
Mr. Hamilton Green, General Secretary, People’s National Congress
Mr. J. Joaquin, O.B.E.
UNITED FORCE
Hon. P.S. D’Aguiar , Minister of Finance
Hon. R.E. Cheeks, Minister of Local Government
Mr. S. Campbell,, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Home Affairs
Mr. J.E. De Freitas, C.B.E.
Mr. M. Fielden Singh
Hon. M. Kassim, Minister of Public Works and Hydraulics
SECRETARIAT
Mr. T.W.Hall
Mr. N. Bevan
Mr. B. Bridges
Mr. D. R. Vardill
Mr. G. G. Young
A thoughtful and productive Anniversary.