“God guard you great mother…”
-But Mr. Molotov, Channa – and Grey Goose!
You Guyanese Citizen! When last have you taken time to read and examine the words of our National Anthem, the song of the Republic and the many other National Songs?
What lovely loyal patriotism and motivation their lyrics (and idealism) exude and promote.
Apart from all that their verses constitute pure poetry.
As both student and teacher between the sixties and seventies, I was compelled to know and study those inspiring words. After all, there were also fewer distractions in those days compared to the recreational/technological offerings on hand now. And migration’s lure was not yet the effective, foreign–oriented intrusion it has now become. So I – and my generation – loved our patriotic national songs. Somehow, Cleveland Hamilton’s rather latter-day powerful song of the Republic forged its way among my top-five favourites in terms of Guyana’s National Songs.
But wait, since this week-end attends to Monday’s forty-second Independence Anniversary, I, we should consider the “Green Dear Land of Guyana”.
Our Independence’s Anthem
The weeks leading up to Forbes Burnham’s agreed-upon/consensual break-away from Britain, for the then long-delayed Political Independence for British Guiana were filled with expectant frenzy, a national fervour to be free – mentally, psychologically, constitutionally, culturally.
