You’re Guyanese to the core. You might even consider yourself Patriot, Nationalist; what’s more you shunned the lure of migration and opted to spend all the years of your life in the actual land of your birth – this big, beautiful, blighted country named Guyana.
All you’ll ever be is Guyanese, naturalized, documented, legal paper citizen of no other country. You survived the few natural disasters Guyana experienced – and the man-made economic and political poverty-line distresses self-appointed (or “elected”) leaders caused you. Like Doctor Leslie Ramsammy, himself accomplished and comfortable, you strive to be proud of your Guyanese-ness, your status and your country.
But oh my Lord! You awaken every morning to the radio, television, print media, press conference, government spokesman and paranoid columnist expounding their disparate views and “positions” – most times, of conflict, opposing, impregnable, non-negotiable views and disagreements. Some adroitly avoid or boycott the news, but it doesn’t go away. Editors write and read headlines that sell their media products but which signal national distress.
Now I know that debate, even occasional strongly–held disagreements, can be good; healthy for society and community after divergent views are aired, analysed and the best compromises emerge to benefit the greater good.
But in this land from the polished floors and lacquered tables of Parliament, to the National Convention Centre, Police Headquarters, and Bourda and Skeldon Markets, national daily disagreements and volatile, acrimonious rows are the national norm. Amongst our “Leaders” and representative groups. (Don’t you tell me it happens elsewhere. I’m concerned about here – my own challenged country!)
At the risk of being quite negative and of playing into the hands of the same nay-sayers and protagonists of daily discord, let me enumerate some current conflicts, in the hope that the more brilliant and/or artfully diplomatic amongst you, can offer solutions.
“We don’t agree, can’t support”
Among the disagreements that assail your senses right now: PPP and PNC seem never to agree on electoral lists and the conduct of Local Government Elections. Georgetown municipality and Government can’t agree on autonomy for the City Council. There is conflict between Administration and Opposition over the approaches to crime-fighting at the national level. FITUG and the weakened TUC superintend a fragmented, demoralized labour movement. GUYSUCO rebuts charges of managerial incompetence levelled by GAWU and one political party. Disputes are brewing between government and other groups over expenditure for Carifesta Ten.
Opposition parties decry government’s alleged manipulation of the Parliamentary process. The main political Opposition wants to see the names of contractor and funds allocated with respect to government/national projects. (Let me declare myself on the PNC side on this one. I’ve continually wondered about those millions and the quality of work. Was the East Bank Highway ever actually, really completed, Mr. Willis?)
Finally, the most current dispute and disagreement surrounds PNC support for the President’s much vaunted stand on the EU/Cariforum Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA). First the PNC offered agreement in principle, but has now modified that position over the government’s alleged lack of international/diplomatic procedural initiatives. As well as seemingly meaningless consultations.
Get the drift now, my countryman? I’ve outlined just ten areas of national conflict. But they are ten too many! So much energy is dissipated in national public charges and counter-charges. So little time is spent on compromise – the burying of individual or collective egos before differing parties sit down to bargain or negotiate. What is to be done?
Whither Mashramani 2009?
I hear the planners will officially launch Mashramani 2009 in a matter of days. “Mashramani now? Already?” You might be asking.
Well yes. It remains our premier national festival. It celebrates our Republican status which was to make us so extremely Independent in an inter-dependent and global world. Alas, we know better now. But we need the identity, the catalyst of national milestones. We have to announce and celebrate our existence if not development.
My self-imposed mandate is to monitor and, hopefully, stimulate the impetus left in many quarters after Carifesta Ten. First September 2008 to February 28, 2009 is six months, a half-year period. Within those six months (to come) what will Carifesta leave us?
I say it should leave us with a Mashramani replete with renewed interest in our arts and culture, with a verve to widen the February Festival’s scope and reach. I suspect, I hope, the organizers feel so too.
First of all, the Culture Ministry – and every interested citizen – must monitor the state and status of the new infrastructure and equipment that manifests one aspect of Carifesta’s legacy. Like the refurbished stands, lights and toilets and Georgetown’s National Park. The brand new stages for Regions 2,3 and 5; the LEAP–assisted improvements at Linden’s LICHAS; like the Providence Stadium lights and new lighting at the Georgetown gymnasium and Sports Hall. What is to become of the Amerindian Village at Sophia? Let’s check these facilities five months from now! Especially the new steel pans the national and community steel bands!!
I invite the Mashramani Management Committee too, to consider Mashramani 2009, Poetry/Dramatic Readings, Ritual Ceremonies, Art Exhibitions, Folk Song competitions and Analyses of the 1763 Berbice Rebellion. Yes, let’s mix into the soca and gyrating, the costumes and glitter, other artistic and intellectual content. On to Mash 2009!
Consider…
● I am as guilty as “the authorities” when I see a smelly unkempt, diseased pavement lady outside the High Court in Georgetown, under Queen Victoria’s feet, (for years!).
● An uncaring society bound by vagrancy laws and human rights and freedoms? Could we not construct shelters and medical facilities on one of our islands? Care the hundreds of junkies, street people even as they farm, live and earn? Like Cuba? What? Human Rights?
‘Til next week.
Comments?
Allanafenty@yahoo.com
You’re Guyanese to the core. You might even consider yourself Patriot, Nationalist; what’s more you shunned the lure of migration and opted to spend all the years of your life in the actual land of your birth – this big, beautiful, blighted country named Guyana.
All you’ll ever be is Guyanese, naturalized, documented, legal paper citizen of no other country. You survived the few natural disasters Guyana experienced – and the man-made economic and political poverty-line distresses self-appointed (or “elected”) leaders caused you. Like Doctor Leslie Ramsammy, himself accomplished and comfortable, you strive to be proud of your Guyanese-ness, your status and your country.
But oh my Lord! You awaken every morning to the radio, television, print media, press conference, government spokesman and paranoid columnist expounding their disparate views and “positions” – most times, of conflict, opposing, impregnable, non-negotiable views and disagreements. Some adroitly avoid or boycott the news, but it doesn’t go away. Editors write and read headlines that sell their media products but which signal national distress.
Now I know that debate, even occasional strongly–held disagreements, can be good; healthy for society and community after divergent views are aired, analysed and the best compromises emerge to benefit the greater good.
But in this land from the polished floors and lacquered tables of Parliament, to the National Convention Centre, Police Headquarters, and Bourda and Skeldon Markets, national daily disagreements and volatile, acrimonious rows are the national norm. Amongst our “Leaders” and representative groups. (Don’t you tell me it happens elsewhere. I’m concerned about here – my own challenged country!)
At the risk of being quite negative and of playing into the hands of the same nay-sayers and protagonists of daily discord, let me enumerate some current conflicts, in the hope that the more brilliant and/or artfully diplomatic amongst you, can offer solutions.
“We don’t agree, can’t support”
Among the disagreements that assail your senses right now: PPP and PNC seem never to agree on electoral lists and the conduct of Local Government Elections. Georgetown municipality and Government can’t agree on autonomy for the City Council. There is conflict between Administration and Opposition over the approaches to crime-fighting at the national level. FITUG and the weakened TUC superintend a fragmented, demoralized labour movement. GUYSUCO rebuts charges of managerial incompetence levelled by GAWU and one political party. Disputes are brewing between government and other groups over expenditure for Carifesta Ten.
Opposition parties decry government’s alleged manipulation of the Parliamentary process. The main political Opposition wants to see the names of contractor and funds allocated with respect to government/national projects. (Let me declare myself on the PNC side on this one. I’ve continually wondered about those millions and the quality of work. Was the East Bank Highway ever actually, really completed, Mr. Willis?)
Finally, the most current dispute and disagreement surrounds PNC support for the President’s much vaunted stand on the EU/Cariforum Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA). First the PNC offered agreement in principle, but has now modified that position over the government’s alleged lack of international/diplomatic procedural initiatives. As well as seemingly meaningless consultations.
Get the drift now, my countryman? I’ve outlined just ten areas of national conflict. But they are ten too many! So much energy is dissipated in national public charges and counter-charges. So little time is spent on compromise – the burying of individual or collective egos before differing parties sit down to bargain or negotiate. What is to be done?
Whither Mashramani 2009?
I hear the planners will officially launch Mashramani 2009 in a matter of days. “Mashramani now? Already?” You might be asking.
Well yes. It remains our premier national festival. It celebrates our Republican status which was to make us so extremely Independent in an inter-dependent and global world. Alas, we know better now. But we need the identity, the catalyst of national milestones. We have to announce and celebrate our existence if not development.
My self-imposed mandate is to monitor and, hopefully, stimulate the impetus left in many quarters after Carifesta Ten. First September 2008 to February 28, 2009 is six months, a half-year period. Within those six months (to come) what will Carifesta leave us?
I say it should leave us with a Mashramani replete with renewed interest in our arts and culture, with a verve to widen the February Festival’s scope and reach. I suspect, I hope, the organizers feel so too.
First of all, the Culture Ministry – and every interested citizen – must monitor the state and status of the new infrastructure and equipment that manifests one aspect of Carifesta’s legacy. Like the refurbished stands, lights and toilets and Georgetown’s National Park. The brand new stages for Regions 2,3 and 5; the LEAP–assisted improvements at Linden’s LICHAS; like the Providence Stadium lights and new lighting at the Georgetown gymnasium and Sports Hall. What is to become of the Amerindian Village at Sophia? Let’s check these facilities five months from now! Especially the new steel pans the national and community steel bands!!
I invite the Mashramani Management Committee too, to consider Mashramani 2009, Poetry/Dramatic Readings, Ritual Ceremonies, Art Exhibitions, Folk Song competitions and Analyses of the 1763 Berbice Rebellion. Yes, let’s mix into the soca and gyrating, the costumes and glitter, other artistic and intellectual content. On to Mash 2009!
Consider…
● I am as guilty as “the authorities” when I see a smelly unkempt, diseased pavement lady outside the High Court in Georgetown, under Queen Victoria’s feet, (for years!).
● An uncaring society bound by vagrancy laws and human rights and freedoms? Could we not construct shelters and medical facilities on one of our islands? Care the hundreds of junkies, street people even as they farm, live and earn? Like Cuba? What? Human Rights?
‘Til next week.
Comments?
Allanafenty@yahoo.com
