The power of the stick has saved many. Whether the stick was waved by a parent or by a boy himself, many have been saved. The stick in the hand of the parent serves as the rod of correction. Many of us in rural Guyana walked the straight and narrow because our parents gave our neighbours permission to discipline us when we slipped.
In the hand of the boy the stick serves as protection against dogs and other aggressive animals. Guyana has no stick to wave or threaten.
For decades Guyana walked the line of non-alignment. The late President Forbes Burnham had adumbrated a policy of being a pawn to neither east nor west. And so it was that Guyana became a member of the Non-Aligned Movement.
Guyana from the time of its independence in 1966 established diplomatic relations with a number of countries. The DPL plates indicate the order in which the relationship was established. DPL 1 belongs to the British. DPL 5 belongs to the Americans; DPL 4 belongs to Trinidad.
Cuba—DPL 8– and China—DPL 13– were similarly recognized. Guyana was serious about its policy of Non Alignment. Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony has since reported that the Cubans were the people to discontinue the Cuban Medical Brigade.
There have been reports of Guyana paying money to the Cuban Government for the services of the medical practitioners in Guyana.
The reports continued that the government was also required to pay the Cubans serving in Guyana. This has never been stated. And even if that was the case, Cuba trained so many of our people that this country owes Cuba a debt of gratitude that cannot be repaid.
Dr Anthony said that the Cubans opted to withdraw the Cuba Medical brigade. There must have been discussions. Were the discussions conducted about two weeks ago about payments to the Cuban Government? Did Guyana seek to back out of that agreement? Â
That has not been stated. But whatever it was it must have been serious enough to rankle the Cubans. These were the people who were prepared to help Guyana in the sugar industry. They were the people who built an ophthalmology centre that has restored hundreds of eyesight.
These were the people who propped up Guyana when times were hard.
It is difficult to see the Cubans taking such a drastic decision over trivia. The government never announced the move by the United States to have the Cuban doctors and other medical personnel removed from Guyana and other CARICOM countries.
But this was an open secret. Many CARICOM leaders complained bitterly. Last week the world saw the Cubans explaining that Jamaica bowed to American pressure to rid itself of the Cuban medical personnel.
Andrew Holness, the Prime Minister of Jamaica, ended up being one of three CARICOM leaders to be invited by President Donald Trump for the Shield of the Americas meeting. The other two were Irfaan Ali of Guyana and Kamla Bissesar of Trinidad.
And not long after there was President Ali talking about Cuba having to modify its leadership in the country to allow for democratic practices.
Guyana is steeped in discrimination along ethnic and party lines. People seeking social assistance are being denied despite satisfying all the criteria. The reason for the denial has been found to be because the Board members, who are all sycophants of the ruling party, conclude that the applicants voted for another political party.
Promotions are being made along ethnic lines. Just a few months ago it came to light that despite the Guyana Police Force comprising almost 90 per cent people of African origin, eight of the ten divisional commanders were of East Indian origin. Many had superseded their colleagues.
This is the Guyana that is talking about democracy in Cuba. For all the bad things that are happening in Guyana, Cuba never went public with a criticism of the Guyana Government. But here we are talking about regime changes in Cuba because the United States hinted at such.
Anyone can understand that the United States has offered protection to Guyana in many areas. There was the Venezuela threat which was swiftly extinguished with the abduction of President Nicolas Maduro.
America is also waging a campaign against cocaine on the region but I am certain that there are many in Guyana who resent this. Their supplies must be drying up. Yet for all this one does not toss friends aside.
It would be interesting to see the faces of Dr Jennifer Westford, Dr Richard VanWest Charles, Dr Dalgleish Joseph, and Guyana’s first Maxillo-facial surgeon Dr Vibert Yaw. These were all Cuba trained specialists.
Not much is being said about the Chinese although Secretary of State Marco Rubio was critical of them. He accused them of building a concussion road in Guyana.
Guyana is talking about recruiting doctors from neighbouring Trinidad. Why not recruit doctors from every corner of the region? Mona, in Jamaica, offers sophisticated medical training. So too does Barbados. Why only Trinidad?
India is one of the countries that can supply doctors by the hundreds. While Dr Anthony has not said it, rest assured that offers have gone out to India. Already, there are many Indian doctors and nurses in Guyana. The government is not unhappy with this situation.
The Guyanese people are. Most do not speak the queen’s English. And given the accent there will be problems. But, as Dr Anthony has said, he is not worried. The sick people are. They need the best possible care.Â
