Naming New Demerara Bridge Was Missed Opportunity for National Unity

Dear Editor,

The provocative and unnecessary debauchery of our history unhappily continues unabated. Behind this seem to be a program, a pernicious process to damn, dismiss, and disclaim all that happened before the PPP came to office.

I will avoid the tedium of details but refer to this recent announcement that the new bridge across the Demerara River, a commendable effort by the government and an engineering feat by the Chinese contractors, have been sullied by naming the bridge after the General Secretary of the PPP, former President of Guyana and now Vice-President.

Personally, I have no enmity for the honourable gentleman, however, one would have thought that in a functioning democracy, there would have been at least the facade of some discussion, some debate or some competition to arrive at the naming of this magnificent structure.

Beyond this, what is also troubling is that no significant mention was made that the Demerara Harbour Bridge had provided solid, safe service for two generations. I recall when Forbes Burnham conceived the idea and received proposals that he placed the responsibility from constructing the bridge in the hands Guyanese engineer, the late Joe Holder whose origins are in the town of Bartica.

Democracy is not confined to periodic elections but the way the administration governs in the interim. I recall that when the airport was upgraded, that the Forbes Burnham administration consulted our indigenous communities, and after research with the assistance of the likes of, historian and anthropologist Dennis Williams, proposed with the discovery of rock craving, it was given the Amerindian name Timehri.

There was an open competition and it was agreed that to honour our first people the Amerindians that this airport be named Timehri International Airport. Its subsequent change is an insult, and a disregard for our Amerindian brothers and sisters.

When Forbes Burnham died in August 1985, many enthusiasts suggested that the International Airport be renamed after Forbes Burnham, the man who brought us independence. I was among those who felt that we should not dishonour our Amerindian Kit and kin by renaming the airport.

The PPP hierarchy seem to have no difficulty dismantling the frame work of our history by disrespecting the Amerindians who inhabited this land before the Europeans Africans, East Indians, Chinese and the immigrants from Maderia called Portuguese.

Dear Editor, I also recall that when Independence was eminent, with the assistance of the likes of the Lynette Dolphin, and the history and arts council, competitions were held to determine what the independent country should be named, the design of its National Flag, the National Anthem, the Coat of Arms and our Motto. The Motto was agreed by all and sundry to; One People One Nation One Destiny.

However, recently we have seen, people ignoring this and inserting this One Guyana PPP creation, therefore disregarding the sanctity of our history. I write feelingly and upset as the only survivor of the final and historic Independence conference held at Lancaster House London, in November 1965, and therefore, bothered and grieved that we should have a government that ignores our past.

Let me state; When the Wismar Christianburg Makenzie community became one entity, I can attest that the name Linden to honour Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham emerged out of discussions by representatives of the people in that community. Another example: President College called School of Excellency was the brainchild of LFS Burnham, he died the month before this school was opened, here in spite of suggestions, not wanting to venerate, justified as it may be, we simply named it President’s College School of Excellence. However, the colour of the student’s uniform is the favourite colour of Forbes Burnham.

But Editor human experience has shown everywhere, that unless people develop ancestral piety and are aware of their history the glorious and the damn, they can be misled, and in a sense as seem to be happening in our case be recolonised. I interface and speak with teenagers in our schools and I’m amazed how few of them know our national and patriotic songs.  This is a sad and sorry situation and requires intervention of parents, community leaders and the ministries of culture and education.

Let us not forget the lamentation in the Tradewinds song “Where are your heroes”. And remember the words of the prophet Khalil Gibran, who said; “Pity the nation whose statesman is a fox, whose philosopher is a juggler, and whose art, is the art of patching and mimicking”.

Yours truly,
Hamilton Green
Elder