The act of discrimination that seeks to rewrite and erase the history of our country is a serious issue that our people must understand and resist. Rewriting and erasing our history, in part or whole, is a brazen act of assault of a people.
This is nothing new coming from these political forces in Guyana, and newfound allies in other countries, who in their passion and desperation to create inequalities and a supreme group, deny and distort basic facts of our independence, republic, nation building, self-sufficiency drives, defence, reputable foreign affairs and education, the pursuit of liberation and worldwide comity, and achievements under the leadership of Guyana’s first Executive President, LFS Burnham, O.E, S.C.
The most unscholarly academic arguments are used to slay good reasoning and speak of history without context, and these are often unchallenged in a society that has been beaten by lies and ignorance.
The impact of acts to discriminate against our history has become most telling in the recent presentation made by Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley who is now enjoying the limelight as perhaps, the most visible Caribbean Head of State on the international front. Ms. Mottley, most recently known to Guyanese for her assistance during our last elections dispute, is a brilliant woman and shrewd politician whom I see as my legal counterpart and a member of parliament.
I credit the goodly lady as Senior Counsel to understand the importance, not only of history, but in the delivery of truth in its entirety. I credit Ms. Mottley as a Caribbean leader of substance, old enough to know the history of Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham who died when she was a young adult, maybe in college and even if not so, as a learned counsel and Caribbean leader. She somehow “missed” the name LFS Burnham, and the role played by Guyana. Maybe by choice, by a need to avoid controversy or uncertainty given the distortions led by those who propagate acts of distortion of our history.
These are the facts that we are being denied in our history.
I credit the following achievements of Burnham from a compilation done by Vincent Alexander:
- Burnham`s contribution to the debate in the British Guiana Legislature, in 1958, that led to the banning of exports to South Africa.
- Burnham`s arrest in London, in 1960, for protesting against the barbarous apartheid policies of South Africa.
- Burnham`s Government`s initial annual financial contribution of US$50,000 to aid the African freedom fighters and the subsequent sum of US$100,000 that was granted to the African National Congress. On the occasion of the Forum on the Liberation of Southern Africa, hosted by Guyana in 1981, that sum was increased to US$250,000.
- Guyana`s inauguration of African Solidarity Week.
- The conduct of a National Signature Campaign for the release of Nelson Mandela.
- Training opportunities and scholarships offered to South Africans.
- The naming of a major roadway in honour of Nelson Mandela
- The granting of diplomatic passports to Southern African liberation fighters.
- The refueling, in Guyana, of Cuban aircrafts which were airlifting troops and equipment to combat the South Africans, who were seeking to conquer Angola.
- Guyana`s chairmanship of the Commonwealth Sanctions Committee.
- Guyana`s co-sponsorship of five draft UN resolutions on Apartheid at the 27th session of the United Nations’ General Assembly; and
- Guyana`s ban of South African sportsmen; Caribbean sportsmen who toured South Africa; and the boycott of the Montreal Olympic Games, among many other acts of solidarity.
The truth must prevail, in its warts and glory, for truth contributes to our evolution and serves as a guide for present and future understanding, deliberation and actions.
