It’s not new. I have sounded this trumpet before—on the need for us in the Caribbean to recognise the ones in our story, past and present, who have made significant contributions to the cultural fabric. This is for two reasons: expressing gratitude to them, hopefully while they are still alive, and, perhaps more important, for the role it would play in national pride, and thereby motivation, for young people growing up in the society now and dealing with questions of confidence and self-worth. It is vital work and it has been on our social media stages here recently with commentary from musician Derry Elkins, among others, that the revamping of our education system should include such a subject.
I can be forgiven for shouting loudest for such an approach here in Guyana, but the need is there regionally. I may be mistaken, but in my travels I cannot recall seeing a reminder anywhere in Trinidad of the calypsonian Lord Kitchener, or musician Andre Tanker; or in Antigua, one to Swallow; or in Monserrat, a recall of the legendary Arrow. In other words, it is a regional lapse and this week intimations of it came again, this time from Dean Straker, son of Emil Straker from the famous Merrymen musical group, rightfully raising the question with regard to his father and to the band.
