What “Amerindian”? What “indigenous”?
I take my personal early “Augus’ holiday” in this column today. Light–hearted and hopefully, “short-and-sweet”. (There are more than enough “serious” commentators, columnists, analysts dealing with all the contentious matters of national significance. Hence this personal day off.)
Oh those by-gone, simple but pleasurable “August holidays”. Those were the July-August long school holidays when thousands of loving Guyanese pupils and students would test the love, patience and tolerance of parents and grandparents for weeks, as teachers recreated themselves.
But just what did we of that (fifties-to-seventies) generation do during those long “Augus-holidays”? Well seven decades ago Easter and Christmas were the premier Christian (holiday) observances in good ole Guyana. But July-August school holidays belonged to all as children roamed villages, towns, all communities.
Creativity came to the fore at home then – – very local wooden toys would be made; games for both small and large groups of friends were played – saul-pass; cush; dog-and-the-bone; police-and-thief, marbles, buck-tops; miniature wooden boat-racing in trenches and canals; fishing; bird-catching; bicycle-wheel races; bush cooks aback villages with adults; rides on penny-buses and on donkey and horse-carts.
Of course there were the endless vacation visits with the young visiting rural relatives and the reverse, when “country-come-to-town”.
Some youngsters would be taken to “treats” and outings in countrysides via trains and buses and boats; and adults arranged their weekend excursions during August as well.
I’ll leave out for now the names of foods, cakes and confectionery. But I’ll ask this generation to imagine my boyhood “August holidays” – without cellphones, computers, internet or Facebook. Yet the fun was physical but clean – with fewer accidents or murders.
Society had to “progress”, but we who are now fortunate to be past seventy/eighty would still prefer our July-August to the current electronic/digital “vacations”.
****
Wishing the Kabaka and the elder real peace
Wishes are not always reflections of relatives. They can remain just that – wishes, hopes, willings, desires.
Between 1953 and 1985 – three decades – thousands followed the lead, administrations and vision of Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham – Premier, Mayor, Prime Minister and President of this land. By his passing many other negative names he did attract. “Absolute power corrupts absolutely” it is true, but consider the fact that leaders become really “bad” when there are scores of prominent executive assistants agreeing, even aiding and abetting.
I am tempted to list some twenty-to-forty educated, eminent, professional politicians and lay-persons who served LFS Burnham to the max – knowing that he stole elections, people’s will. (I was one, though relatively junior until my political epiphany around 1997.)
I’ll ignore that long list of Burnham allies and assistants. But surely, under Forbes – and since 1985 – there was enough blame to be distributed. That’s why I find it possible to wish the Kabaka/Odo/the general eternal, restful peace wherever he is.
Today’s generation, including even those new young ambitious Turks in the People’s National Congress (PNC), would hardly recognise that Forbes Burnham actually skipped over his long-time political loyalist and deputy Hamilton Green in favour of Desmond Hoyte. That’s a story for next time as now I also wish Hammie peace and honest reflection.
Hamilton now dishes out two/three letters to the print media per week, describing himself as “elder”, justifiably, chronologically. But too often his “moral revival” observations, criticisms and advice are laced with political innuendo against current governmental policies and missteps.
I suppose, with his solid, decades–long background in the heyday of political repression, he is quite qualified to comment. But I wish the true elder Hamilton Green story would be written to enlighten the current blindsided generation. (Should I attempt it?). However I still find it possible to hereby wish happily-retired comrade Hammie contrite, penitent peace.
****
Really “indigenous”, “Amerindians”?
The late minister and social anthropologist Desrey Fox actually indulged me two/three times over glasses of rum – hers were “on-the-rocks” – discussing the terms “Amerindians”, “Indigenous” and “First People”.
Please believe me and my integrity and respect when I reveal that “First People” is what we agreed upon as a much more accurate description than the misnomer “Amerindian”. The Toshaos conference has recently ended with its almost expected share of contention, so I won’t bore anyone with my usual definitions of indigenous and Amerindian. You check out both words for yourself.
Our first people in/of Guyana are no “Indians”! And they are/were indigenous to Mongolia before their trek across continents to good ole Guyana. We are merely struck with convention.
****
I wonder … ponder…
● 1) So whilst in opposition in 2019/2020 the PPP rigged the 2020 elections, then was “installed” by the Americans? They were then really good!
● 2) GAWU’s late honorary president Jankie Persaud was once a “cow-pen boy, trench cleaner and cane-cutter”. He became a union rep later in life. Fit to be recognized!
● 2b) Is it true? Some group of Philistines want to rename the Felix Austin Police Training School?
Shame! Must not happen!
● 3) Please assist me: whatever happened to GAPE – the Guyana Association of Professional Engineers? And just what does the Guyana Council of Churches do?
Til next week!
