The drive is on to expunge Burnham from the history of this country

Thursday, February 23 was Mash Day. Most of the population was not here when Guyana became a Republic. Old stagers like me were there to tramp through the streets and to celebrate.

Of course, the lead up to becoming a Republic was not without its trepidations. There were those who believe that on becoming a Republic, people would be walking around with guns. There was real fear.

Others were concerned that Guyana was leaving the protection of the Queen. It was as though the nation was not bold enough to protect itself. It still had to be mothered although it had become an independent nation.

There were no examples in the Caribbean region. Trinidad and Jamaica gained their independence four years before Guyana but none had gone the way of a republic. Barbados became independent in the same year Guyana gained its independence. It too had not ventured to become a republic.

Some people began to curse Forbes Burnham for taking the country down an untrodden path. Had he been alive today, Forbes Burnham would have been 100 years old on Monday. But more about Burnham later.

On becoming a republic Guyana decided that its appellate court would be the ultimate court. Guyana was no longer going to depend on the decision by the Privy Council. It was recognised that the Privy Council, with no knowledge of the local culture, was being asked to determine cases.

Again, there was some worry. The law would be skewed in favour of the piper. Burnham, however, a lawyer himself, firmly believed in the independence of the judiciary.

Who could forget the decision by Justice Keith Massiah against the government in the Teemal sugar case?

Justice Massiah in the matter of the Guyana Sugar Corporation v Seeram Teemal, issued a famous judgment in the case of the sugar worker Teemal on wages as property.

The case, which dates back nearly 50 years, surrounded a minimum wage agreement concluded between the Government of Guyana and the Trades Union Congress in August 1977. Pursuant to that agreement, the Sugar Corporation in December of the following year wrote Teemal offering him a salary increment from 1 January 1979 that he accepted.

During that year, however, the government issued a directive to the public sector corporations that no adjustments should be made to their employees’ remuneration in 1979. As a result, the Sugar Corporation wrote Teemal informing him that the increment would thenceforth not be paid.

He objected, but GuySuCo maintained that any increment was a matter of discretion or subject to government approval.

The trial judge at the court of first instance found for Teemal and the Sugar Corporation appealed. In the Court of Appeal Justice Massiah, who was later to become Attorney General found for Teemal. Burnham was President. There was no question of the court pleasing the government. The law was the law.

Today, the apex court is the Caribbean Court of Justice. This is a court rooted in the Caribbean and Guyana. It is au fait with the cultures, the economies and the mores of the Caribbean societies.

It was Burnham who created the position of Chancellor of the Judiciary. Prior, the highest judicial office was Chief Justice. There is a story behind this but I have to verify it.

So Guyana became a republic in 1970. Trinidad followed six years later, in August 1976. More than 50 years after Forbes Burnham’s declaration, Barbados once known as Little England, decided that it was also ditching the Monarch.

With the advent of the republic came Mashramani. I am not going into the history of Mash. Suffice it to say that it grew out of Linden. Every year people celebrated. There were numerous competitions that culminated with the street parades, the last of which was held in New Amsterdam.

There was an attempt to halt Mash. No prizes for guessing who tried. Suffice it to say that the People’s National Congress came out on the streets with a T-shirt band that year. That rescued this event. Burnham had long died.

For Mash there were agriculture competitions. The drive was for Guyana to feed itself. Today, farmers and producers are reaping the benefits of Burnham’s policies. Imported salted fish, the variety of fruits and vegetables in the marketplace—most of these were imported at one time.

For the centenary of his birth anniversary, there are numerous programmes. There is a report that schools are not allowed to attend any of these activities. The drive is on to expunge Burnham from the history of this country.

This is the man who helped initiate Caricom and Carifesta. This is the man who made children born in an out of wedlock entitled to the same rights. No more bastards. This was the man who introduced free education when money was not in the country.

Today, the region is talking about food security. That is just one of Burnham’s legacies. He was only 62 when he died but he did more than any other leader in this country.

Guyana was a powerhouse on the global stage. It became a member of the United Nations security council. When other countries shuddered he established diplomatic relations with Cuba, the then Soviet Union and China. Many are now enjoying the benefits of Burnham’s diplomatic policies, none more so than the present government.

The housing policy being pursued today is Burnham’s from his feed, house and clothe the nation.

It is worrying that Guyanese know about Columbus and George Washington but not about Burnham. Happy Mash