Stabroek News
May 24, 2002
I suppose many of the fans and foes of this column won't be too surprised at my cynic's views on the subject of the fake "freedom" bestowed upon us thirty-six years ago, in the name and description of Independence. What Independence?
There I was, three days ago, leafing through the newspapers of 1966 and marvelling at the plans, promises and potential programmes of the now eighteen-month-old PNC-UF coalition government led by the wily but brilliant Burnham. LFSB had outfoxed Cheddi Jagan in December of 1964 - aided, reportedly, by the British, the US Government and its CIA and all their local surrogates and saboteurs. During the four-year political marriage-of-convenience Odo Burnham was also set to outmaneouvre poor Peter D'Aguiar too, a little while after the attainment of "independence".
Of course, most Guyanese - ninety percent (?) - welcomed the country's change of status - the dramatic, legalistic, political severing of ties from Britain and its England - that ex-colonial power some oldsters called the "Mother Country". As a teacher then, I, like the hundreds of thousands of my countrymen still here and not yet migrated, was caught up in the euphoria of even the preparations for the big night and day - Wednesday May 25, 1966 and Thursday May 26, 1966, the latter being the actual (original) Independence Day. Hopes sprang eternal in all those thousands and thousands of Guyanese Breasts.
Cheddi Jagan who felt betrayed and cheated, but not defeated was cloaked in the bittersweet garments of dubious "satisfaction". The political independence he had struggled for since 1947 had finally been handed on a platter to Burnham, the lawyer-politician whom he Cheddi, had fast-forwarded into the chairmanship of the original PPP, instead of the dedicated Ashton Chase. Burnham, the lesser of two evils to the superpowers, had formed his own PPP faction, later re-naming it PNC; had benefited from the general strike of 63 and the sustained race-based riots and terror of the '62 - '64 period, and, finally, had suckered a willing D'Aguiar into a coalition government to keep out a remorseful but resilient Jagan for a virtual generation - twenty-eight years.
Those of us old enough to be conscious and objective too, would know what those 28 years brought us. We experienced the highs and the lows. Those who, for whatever reason, took Burnham into our aspirations and psyche - or - had him forced upon us, would know, intimately sometimes, of the statesmanlike vision he had at the beginning - the sense of proud patriotism and the practice of self-reliance - the true embryo of genuine independence - he sought to imbue into the former colonials during the first few years of independence. Even when he had ulterior motives, some institutions he caused to be established paved the way for some semblance of belonging and hopefully, nationhood - the Youth Corps, the National Service, the dubious People's Militia, the Ideological Institutes, the aggressive Foreign Policy, executed and prosecuted by fine minds versed in the art of diplomacy.
Alas, however, the international oil crisis of the mid-70's exposed our economic vulnerability and the science of electoral rigging to stay in power quickly brought our "independent" house crashing down around us - never to be really re-structured properly again. By 1978 and 1980, a "Referendum" and general elections, PNC-style exposed the world to Burnham's brand of "electoral engineering". Others smiled whilst cheating, stealing, corruption, discrimination and moral decay became a way of life here. Our post-Independence ideals and Burnham's real programmes were shattered as more than half of the fledgling "Nation" voted with its feet and fled to other people's countries. If we older ones want to be honest, whichever "our party", we would know that is how and when the whole decline started. No one - or one group - has had the ability, or support, to reverse it yet.
No doubt even Forbes Burnham - statesman turned autocrat - was disappointed, impatient and somewhat beaten. (Many times by his very own). In trying to force his pace on a people not yet ready, he assumed more "power" to railroad his programmes and dreams. That near absolute power - what a constitution! - corrupted absolutely.
So where are we this May? As we go through the paces of celebration? Well, half of "us" are not resident within the borders. Half of us who are actually here might not want to be, or are fearful of being here these days. We do not qualify, technically, to be defined as a nation. We don't pull together, we're not cohesive or homogeneous; our objectives are not the same. How can we be a nation?
And even if we were, which under-developed "nation" in this economically globalised world could be truly independent? Little fractured Guyana, seems destined to be forever "a land with vast potential". Even if the developed world owes us a living for their past misdeeds, exploitation and current policies, they have us depending on them and the institutions they control. What darn Independence!?
So we're at the UN? So what? Economically, the market prices and the fuel are not ours to determine. We have to beg for "international co-operation". The opposition activities influence non-investment. Culturally, even our music, speech, dress, tastes, aesthetic interest and priorities are foisted upon us. Our very souls - especially those of the under-30's - are being sold to non-Guyanese sources. Politically, the "independence" we celebrate is compromised by the demands and alliances of the powerful. We, the poor and dispossessed, can call no shots purely on our own. Our Ministry of Foreign Affairs and President's Office must run for political support when one of our neighbours acts up. "So what independence? Perhaps it has to be all in the mind.
But you know what? I'm still proud to be Guyanese. Are you?
Other people's words....
My biased choice of two quotes today is shared because you might not have read them earlier in this 'paper. But you read this column.
The WPA's David Hinds is often analytical and/or provocative. He's single-minded on particular themes. Here he shares blame evenly(?).
"There are many in the PNC leadership who scorn any mention of sharing governance because they probably want to get back in office by themselves to do exactly what the PPP is now doing - pay back the opponent. But while they wait for that opportunity their African supporters are turning their alienation and frustration on innocent Indians and in the process they are being consumed by a culture of barbarism.
"The PPP is marginalising Africans, but the PNC, by its refusal to move Africans from their marginalised status to legitimate constitutional inclusion in decision-making, is killing the African psychologically.
"The tragedy is that Africans believe that this is all the work of the PPP and its Indian supporters. And the PPP by its arrogance and dumb politics makes this lie appear to be the truth."
And the Stabroek itself, this Monday, lamented the fact that there is a segment of the society that supports criminal evil.
"First, the escapees have a lot of helpers. There is a network of collaborators and abettors that have kept, fed and even televised the criminals. It is increasingly clear that a large number of persons have become accomplices in this assault on law and order. Safe domains have been provided along with caretakers, medical assistance, food, transportation, media access, protection, weaponry that would put well-equipped guerrilla units to shame, and, of course, the ubiquitous cellular telephones.
"It boggles the minds. Who are these persons who have abased themselves by aligning with these criminals? These persons are accessories to a whole host of dangerous crimes that the escapees have been linked to including the killing of policeman Leon Fraser and they should be made to feel the full weight of the law.
"This cannot go on unchecked otherwise enclaves of criminality will flourish and threaten all of Guyana. The police must therefore have complete and unfettered access to Buxton/Friendship and other communities across the country where dens of criminals exist. The police and leaders of the affected communities must see to this."
"Independence"
1) The thing to celebrate, I suppose, is that no other nation, forcibly, militarily, has taken the political freedom from us. Celebrate in a reflective mode.
2) Gosh. My last Friday's offering on a "soft Government" earned many rave reviews. I'll revisit same next Friday.
3) "I'm a single parent" is a frequent daily declaration. What does it tell you?
4) Congrats, naturally to Carl Hooper and his new West Indians. They'll beat New Zealand too. But then, thereafter....
'Til next week!