Dear Editor,
Kindly spare me a few lines to comment on a letter in yesterday’s edition of your newspaper regarding the sponsorship by local businesses of the national day celebrations of friendly countries with diplomatic representation in Guyana (‘Local businesses should not be asked by foreign missions to sponsor events like American Independence Day’).
I have no difficulty with companies in Guyana sponsoring events put on by diplomatic missions, especially in cases where these companies may be local subsidiaries of a parent company domiciled in the country represented by the diplomatic mission whose events are being sponsored. Further, I am sure there are businesses in Guyana which are owned by locals who are US and other citizens and sponsorship of such events is one way of supporting the efforts of both their homelands ‒ yes, both their homelands ‒ since as far as I know, and I stand corrected if I am wrong, the Guyana constitution provides for dual citizenship. And of course there are totally Guyanese owned companies for which foreign markets are key to their survival, and therefore they would see such sponsorship as cost effective marketing and promotion.
So I see nothing “unsavoury” about these sponsorships, which I am sure are made on the basis of sound business analysis, whether as ‘hard sell’ or ‘prestige’ advertising and promotion. And for anyone to believe that a foreign mission would have reprisals for those companies that don’t support it is nothing but unadulterated hogwash. In my view there are no implications or ramifications associated with such sponsorships.
Here in the US where I am based, the Guyanese American community, like other immigrant communities, relies on the sponsorship of US businesses for the celebration of our Republic and Independence anniversary celebrations which are often held under the auspices of our embassy, consulate or honorary consulates, depending on which city the celebrations are being held in. Many of these sponsored events are held either at Guyana’s diplomatic offices or at the residence of the top diplomatic representative. Without these sponsorships there may very well be no celebration of Guyana’s Republic and Independence anniversaries abroad. I know there are many who would say we don’t need to celebrate, and there are some who would say we have nothing to celebrate, but I am confident that a majority does not share such views.
Despite the imperfections of our country, despite the myriad challenges faced by Guyanese and the lack of progress compared to some other countries that were behind Guyana at the time of our independence, we still have much to celebrate, just as we have much work to do to improve the quality of life of all Guyanese.
I respect the views expressed by Mr Robin Singh in his letter and indeed am of the firm belief that issues such as these should be put on the table for discussion. I have exercised my right to join the discussion and to respectfully disagree with Mr Singh.
Yours faithfully,
Wesley Kirton
