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Let me state upfront most emphatically that I am not a rabblerouser, a hater of my fellow man, nor a hater of my fellow citizens. This is informed by the teaching received, my training and education which have all conditioned my outlook on life. My outlook is not to be an obstructionist in anyone’s way by word and deed but thrives to uphold the viewpoint that everyone has rights that should be respected, protected, and defended.
Coming out of the Washington Conference many allegations were made against government officials positing that they were allegedly involved in the killing of young men of African descent. These allegations will continue to create grave concern in Guyana until a properly convened commission of inquiry examine their validity.
I am also for allowing everyone space to express their views fully and freely. For freedom to work effectively, there must be freedom of expression, freedom to choose where we live, freedom to decide whom we live with, and freedom of association. Just like the God I serve who gives freedom to serve Him or not to so do.
We must come to a point and place in Guyana where we would not allow anyone to impede, interfere and restrict our constitutional freedoms. Our country must not allow discrimination to stifle its democracy and its people must stand up against all forms of discrimination and racism. We must stand for justice for all and not only for some because of party affiliation, and racial makeup.
If any qualified person sees it fit to apply to work in any governmental entity of their given profession and that position is available, they should not be sidelined because of race or any other improper or illegal reasons.
And importantly, when it comes to allegations especially against a government or governmental authority in the country, steps should be taken to investigate, prosecute and punish. And freedom must be given to all to live unencumbered from governmental interferences.
You see, I am a simple human being with an understanding that everyone must be treated fairly according to the laws and constitution of our country.
Therefore, I have decided to speak truth to power in this manner, hoping that my two cents on the situation and issues being put forward of discrimination against people of African ancestry will have some impact.
It is important for the government to address the neglect of infrastructural work in the black communities, including roads, drainage, and irrigation, and recreational facilities. It must not be forgotten that they built much of Guyana as chattel slaves, toiling in the blazing sun from dawn ‘till dusk, in unspeakable conditions, unparalleled in human history.
The recently concluded Conference in Washington on Guyana, as led by Rickford Burke must be acknowledged as moving the bar closer to accountability, inclusivity, and hopefully prosperity for all its citizens. Although, this might not be realized immediately, our search for those goals must not cease. This should be the fight of all right-thinking members of society now and forever.
Out of all the messages that emanated from the conference, two are paramount: justice for those killed under suspicious circumstances in Guyana and all Guyanese must be included in the enjoyment in the spoils of the much-celebrated fastest economy in the world.
I end by saying that I stand with Guyana and fellow Guyanese regardless of race, political persuasion, and religion to achieve these objectives. My passion for Guyana is not only born out because of my birth but out of the responsibility to see it as the birthright for all its citizens.
ODE TO GUYANA
Poem by: James C. Richmond
Long was the journey to nationhood.
Longer the misrepresentations, misunderstandings, misconceptions, selfish interpretations, and falsehood.
From the dungeons of slavery to the cruelty of indentureship, conquering to prove which country from the west is the best, conqueror in the age of conquest, as they would.
Long the struggles to form a perfect nation that is free for six peoples, whose independence, is not subject to kings and queens, paying homage on our knees; no, we stand straight up like strong greenheart wood.
For to us this land is bequeathed, for our brotherhood.
This nation, this country, sitting on the precipice of the black earth of South America, near the windswept shores of the Atlantic, in the culture of the Caribbean, stands hopeful in all likelihood.
Long the people waited, not truly supported to unity, in false and failed brotherhood.
Longer still the battered Indigenous Amerindians left twisted in knots of insidious alliances and misunderstood.
How much longer is the journey to brotherhood?
How many struggles can we withstand, how many we should?
Left with this long journey, marching with different drums, telling different stories from history, stories not all truthful and good.
Long the journey of a people of six races and different faces, where racism was taught, where our forefathers fought, to survive its wicked wounds to withstand and fight for nationhood.
Exercising the outcall of preferences, left in the throes of racism, race against race, a call of reckless politics of men, against its children and motherhood.
Long this singular journey of similitude, of little gods and shortsighted men and economic warriors of then and now; scaling the political divide; in outstretched hands and hood.
How to withstand the bad, whilst fighting for the good.
How could we not allow all stakeholders, all citizens, of government and of opposition.
To come to the table of brotherhood as a condition.
To structure in dialogue a vision of a united front, to fight for our economic worth of our oils.
We as a nation cannot continue the system to the victor goes the spoils.
Our forefathers fought against slavery and indentureship and endured to shape a prosperous nation from this soil.
After all the struggles and divisions, we encountered and overcome from their toil.
How can we fail them now, or we should?
How can we jeopardize our Statehood?
It’s long past time to secure our Nationhood.
Guyana! O, Ode to Guyana, as we should.
There she sits on the Atlantic basin, sitting in black gold, on Amazonian land, belching up oil, gold and diamond, bauxite and timber and things without numbers to fathom and understand; only national patriarchs understood.
Long this journey to secure a nation for the children of the three counties under the sun: under the gun, of war threats, a nation journeying to adulthood.
Why did Venezuela agree to the boundary with the English on October 3rd., 1899, that it was just and all well and good?
The might of the west, was it so frightening or was it in terms of agreement for services rendered and misunderstood?
Was the Bolivarian Republic; frightened by the threat of Spain, by the threat of America, courted the might of the English knighthood?
Did they bequest their soul on the dotted line, a bold statement of relinquishment or falsehood?
In a long journey of destiny, to this shared story of brotherhood.
We come not bearing arms as we could, but standing resolute as we should.
For hearts of strong men toiled, died, and buried deep in its soil, fertilizing its underbelly for good.
They will rise again then, in glory; all its children would.
Long though the journey to secure our given home; we stand in heartfelt thankfulness to all that’s good.
In our abode, kissed by Pakaraima’s mountain peaks of pearls, unto the folds of mount Roraima, to its lush underwood.
Where our muddy waters, even our white sandy beaches within, mixed with the black waters and our ancestors’ blood, still cries for freedom to be understood.
Though long the journey of our struggles from bondage and servitude; to freely roam its streets in peace, we could.
Come stand united, in the motto, of One People, One Nation, One Destiny; we must be and should!
Cash the cheque of our independence, and as a republic; it’s all well and good.
Though tenuous are the ways of love, peace, and war; journey hand in hand; you should.
Journey under the blessed banner and motto; in all blessed brotherhood.
How can a nation under the sun, pointed with a gun, can be blinded by the gun, and run; here we stand our ground; until death we should.
Until death we would.
