Dear Editor,

Permit me to draw the public’s attention to the continuing situation of rivalry and disunity to which we are constantly being drawn by the two main political parties, when it comes to national celebrations. This year we had duplicate celebrations on Republic Day, Independence Day and recently on Emancipation Day. All of these occasions are about our national heritage – all Guyanese subscribe, I hope, to the value that all men and women are created free, and therefore any form of slavery is unjust and must be resisted. Our political leaders must do their best to promote a sense of shared national values, such as respect for the elderly, good manners, public decency, a sense of solidarity with our national events, whether it is Arrival Day, Independence Day, Republic Day, Emancipation Day – all of these must be lived out in unity as they are or should be our shared values as a people. Persons abroad still speak of our value of hospitality, and how they felt a part of our life while they were here; again this value is part of our shared experience. I suggest that if the political parties are unwilling or unable to promote our shared values then we, the citizens, should organise a truly national multi-racial, multi-party, all-Guyanese celebration and raise the Golden Arrowhead. Let those who are interested in disunity raise their party flags on those occasions at their respective halls of residence. We have to rescue our patronage from those who benefit from rivalry and disunity.

Yours faithfully,
Fr Malcolm Rodrigues,
SJ