Comments on: CARIFESTA X organizers did not recognize Burnham’s vision -McDavid

By: Samuel

Samuel — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 17:21:32 +0000

Dear editor

I left Guyana some forty-seven years ago. I frequently visit there. I attended Carifesta which I enjoyed. However, the opening was poorly organized, who every was in charge appear to have no knowledge of organization. I was not sure what the children was doing the communication system was ineffective, IN could not understand a word. I could not see, because there were no lights. The rain delayed the show that was not a problem I enjoyed the Guyanese rain.

I attended several shows and enjoyed them all, despite the many limitations, The closing was organized. I enjoyed The Guyana Dance Company performance. they always do their best under the Direction Of Vivienne Daniel I saw many of their shows over the years, and often wonder why Miss Daniel is never recognize, for her work as a choreographer .
I was disappointed that The Indian dancers did not show the history of . their ancestors. are they ashamed of their culture.

Finally to the Government of Guyana. You need to ban all plastic bottles, the Styrofoam containers they are a clogging the drains, which is and offal sight and more importantly it causes flooding, what about the grass i growing in the trenches? you need to have national services again, it will help the young people to be responsible citizens what are you leaving for the younger generation. enforce the participation of all the citizens not to throw their garbage in the gutters and trenches, our dutch founders had a reason why they made them : they should stop filling in trenches they are their for a purpose, also some of the historical building like the three markets are a disgrace, the Kitty market is a sad sight Please repair I will be back to visit and bringing some of my friends with me.

By: George

George — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 09:09:42 +0000

Yes Mr McDavid it is true that the kabaka should get credit for Carifesta 72,even though we attended with hungry bellies.Some of us were there in person but not in Spirit.You know that is true Mack.

By: Kaieteur Gold

Kaieteur Gold — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 06:22:44 +0000

Correction: To be read instead: “Besides, which sensible third world government would (as has been the case with regards to Guyana which has handed over its “bauxite resources” (strategic minerals resources; and, the birth rights of unborn Guyanese children) to the Russians and Chinese”. Additionally, this would/could never have happened under an L.F.S Burnham led Administration; and, no Surinamese gun-boats would dare bring an halt to “oil exploration and production activities” in Guyanese territorial waters.

By: Kaieteur Gold

Kaieteur Gold — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 05:56:02 +0000

So, Mr. “Ram Singh” where is the “rice” that was promised by the Burnham Administration to aid in the African Liberation Struggle? You answer that one question. At least there were no “mass starvation” and “deaths” in Guyana like there were (and still are) in certain African countries. And, to repeat what someone mentioned earlier – The current Guyana President was one who benefited from the overseas study programs administered by the L.F.S Burnham/H.D. Hoyte Administrations Administrations. Besides, which sensible third world government would hand over its “bauxite resources” (strategic minerals resources; and, the birth rights of unborn Guyanese children) to the Russians and Chinese.

By: Mohamed

Mohamed — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 05:31:55 +0000

Burnham was a dictator.
Burnham never won any election.
Under Burnham, Guyana went from the bread basket of the Caribbean to the 2nd poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. Only Haiti was below Guyana.
Under Burnham half of Guyana’s population (the best and the brighest) left Guyana.

Now, the PNC refuse to participate in Carifesta X. Obviously, very few supported their call…showing how much influence they (the PNC) have on the public. And now they complaining that nobody mention their founder’s name.
Same ol’ PNC. Nothing has changed.

I am no fan of the PPP, but I speak for many when I say that Guyanese will never vote the PNC back in power. It’s not about race, it’s about 28 years of abuse in a way ethnic cleansing – destroying the entire middle class and forcing them to leave Guyana. So get over it!

By: ONVERWAGT1

ONVERWAGT1 — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 05:27:48 +0000

bgsbny ,like it or not there are many who will support this gesture ,what have you contributed to Guyana no one wants your money and remember L.F.S.B. WAS a Guyanese just like you,however unlike you he gave distinguished service to Guyana.hence there is a place in GY for him.

By: Amarie

Amarie — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 04:58:09 +0000

Ram Singh don’t be a typical detractor. This is not about Mr. McDavid or his achievements. Only uneducated people rely on personal attacks when they have no proper response to the discussion. Stick to the issue at hand.
The point is that for whatever reason the PPP has no interest in honoring Guyana’s heroes or giving credit to anyone who does not subscribe to their brand of politics.
That is visionless!!! The good thing is that as hard as they try, Guyana’s history cannot be erased. As a matter of fact, the PPP is implementing more of Mr. Burnham’s blueprint everyday. A pity that Guyanese have such short memories that they don’t recognise the playbook they now stand to benefit from was authored by LFSB.

By: mwilson

mwilson — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 03:35:28 +0000

the amount of filth being written about political history is appalling . Can’t the young people of this beloved land be informed with less hatred? We are on a serious collision course sooner than later if we continue on this path and the same forces that got rid of the notorious gang will turn around and bite you in the hip.

By: Ram Singh

Ram Singh — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 02:07:27 +0000

Mr. Mc David,
Burnaham had no vision. He was blind to see what you as minister of information and others were diong to the Guyanese People.
Do you remember when there were no news print for other news paper other than Govt. Owned?
Or when children were going to school without books? Or teachers had no chalk.
What did you do for your country as Minister of Information? You list your achievements for us to see.
Rambo

By: Kaieteur Gold

Kaieteur Gold — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 00:36:30 +0000

Re: “For those who are saying that the PNC is an Afro Guyanese Party you need to think again -almost all the Ministers with Burnham was (were) Indians…” Your are quite right, Look who were some of his closest friends and colleagues:

“The Luckhoo Dynasty”

http://www.genealogymagazine.com/luckhoo.html

By: bgsbny

bgsbny — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 23:54:42 +0000

…. with whose money may i ask ? and which part of GY is this brite idea of ur will this thing bne erected ?????

By: ONVERWAGT1

ONVERWAGT1 — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 23:25:28 +0000

LIGHT you are still in darkness ,what about those who have left and are still leaving even though Burnham is dead ,what ,why and who are they running from?

By: ONVERWAGT1

ONVERWAGT1 — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 23:07:35 +0000

As Guyanese it would be better to lay aside personal ,political,social or ethnic differences and in a constructive patriotic way acknowledge the contribution of L.F.S, Burnham to Guyana .A brilliant son of our soil who was blessed with wisdom and a sense of nation building,encouraged ‘all Guyanese’, to strive for excellence,e,g.Free education from nursery to university to wit many today are doing well at home and abroad ,even many in the present administration benefited. It would serve Guyana proud to give all our patriots the national tribute they deserve.
Guyana’s history cannot be erased,so let us not fool ourselves,.
On a visit to Bridgetown Barbados one sees the huge monument that has been erected in honor of prime minister Errol Borrow why can’t something similar be done for L.F.S.B.

By: truegt

truegt — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 21:49:54 +0000

blame the english for taking your culture not the indians for conserving thiers.

By: Light

Light — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 21:14:00 +0000

The hundreds of thousdands, who migrated to the USA and other parts of the world to escape the Burnham dictatorship, have very little or nothing good, to credit the Burnham’s regime with; they escaped from twenty eight years of undemocratic rule, political murder and assassination, racia and political discrimination, food and fuel shortages, malnutrition, starvation etc.
The undemocratic regime of Burnham and its contribution to Carifesta, is secondary to larger issues of the economic and democratic development of Guyanese.
Burnham’s apologists despite their futile efforts, will not be able to erase the atrocities and tainted history of Burnham’s reign; it was truly one of the darkest chapters in Guyan’s history !

By: malaika06

malaika06 — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 20:36:39 +0000

Missing from (their) dictionary? No!, it’s prehistoric!, archaic? banned, perhaps.

Oh well, the word PRIDE for the current Administration NEVER EXISTED!!!

By: bgsbny

bgsbny — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 19:57:15 +0000

…..it would really be quite a day if i can find the time to reply to all the prevarications,, and conjectures that abound here ,,not even if i had the time tho,, would some of my rebuttals be allowed to sit,, wanna know why ???? just ask SN !… the table laid by some of u ,, is enough to make me puke !….

By: bgsbny

bgsbny — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 19:50:08 +0000

the Mayor of the CAPITAL city of our dear beloved GUYANA ,, GEORGETOWN,,,,,,,

should i conti….. ah din tink suh !……

By: elijah

elijah — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 19:40:20 +0000

This PPP administration goal when they came into office was to destroy all form of achivement concerning Burnham and delete him from the country’s history
Eg. they dismantle the national service and people’s militia that used to control and safeguard the borders from criminals and foreign forces. They at one time tried to close down president’s college… therefore i am not surprised that Burnham was not mentioned as carefesta founder…. what a shame for the sake of unity…..

By: supererro

supererro — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 18:30:31 +0000

What you should remember, bishnu, is that he was themost effective and I repeat MOST EFFECTIVE LEADER GUYANA HAD TO DATE! At least the Americans recognised leadership!

By: supererro

supererro — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 18:22:07 +0000

All that being said, had nothing to do with the vision and wisdom of Forbes Burnham.

By: tiger

tiger — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 18:18:37 +0000

inreply to bgsbny’sfirst comment, youknow it’s a funny thing, all of you burnham haters would still find thetime to even mention his name meaning he inspired lotsof people in one way or another even you my man, get it??

By: cochore

cochore — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 17:38:44 +0000

Look I’m no fan of Forbes Burnham, but not recognizing the founder and the Prime Minister, who launched CAREFESTA ‘72, the very first one, is beyond silly and down right stupid, because all of the other participating countries already have and will continue to recognize him.

This PPP bunch is short sighted and visionless to say the least, because at some point in time they will eventually loose governing power also, nothing lasts forever, and the next bunch of politicians in power may want to erase everything associated with them (PPP).

However, the stubborn facts put Forbes Burnham in a commanding position in Guyana’s history, which could never be erased. It was Burnham who changed the name of the country from British Guiana to Guyana. It was Burnham who approved the Golden Arrowhead and the National Anthem. These are only but a few of the many stubborn facts associated with Guyana’s nation building, which bear evidence of Burnham’s finger prints and signatures.

Additionally, I do agree that the PNC as they exist today is a rudderless bunch, who appear to have no clue about governing in the 21st century. Boycotting Carifesta X was an error grounded in the simplistic old-time style politics of the ‘50 and ‘60,

By: Karjackman

Karjackman — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 17:22:57 +0000

I’m quite sure it’s the disgrace that gave free education to you, your parents and grandparents. Do you remember any other country that had free education and health when Guyana had theirs? It’s a shame, because I left the country on the same ignorance and guise as you and the others that are against the previous administration. But the reason I’m staying away now is because I realize that I may have made a mistake then, because I had to work my behind and pay for everything that I was getting free.

The last time I visited in 2006, I was ashamed at the condition of our beautiful Guyana. Georgetown stinks. Tell you beloved President, first impression plays a great deal. We may not have had the kind of food, clothes or jobs during the previous administration, but the one thing we had was PRIDE. The word is missing from this administrations dictionary, and they have no shame about it.