Dear Editor,
With the upcoming Independence celebration in May, it is important to speak on an issue that has been bothering many Guyanese, this being the lack of unity. A proposal for a path towards sincere reconciliation between the races should be considered.
The internal division in our country permeates our politics, our society, and the way we treat each other. Many have the view that the date of Independence is marred by the tragedy of Wismar, Christianburg and Mackenzie of the 1960s, and to celebrate Independence on that date is to celebrate such a tragedy. Each year it fosters much resentment, and is viewed as a disrespectful act that disregards the loss of life of the innocent, who were killed during that period of our pre-Independence history.
The call for “mo fyah, slow fyah” to many is the same as saying, “Don’t trouble trouble when trouble does bring more trouble.”
As a country, we must remember that the late great President Jagan wanted the date for Independence to be changed. However, this has never come to fruition. There is nothing stopping such an amendment to have this done via an act of Parliament, if the will of the elected leaders are supportive of such an act.
If and when this change does occur, and the history of that dark period of our country, which is a far greater tragedy than what occurred during the recent “troubles”, has also been included and taught to our current and future generations of Guyanese, then insult will no longer be added to injury. Only then true efforts towards ending an unofficial racial war and steps towards reconciliation would start to take hold.
First, the country must move past denial, and acknowledge on both sides of the racial divide the loss of life due to racial intolerance, deep-rooted racial hate, and racial envy. This is necessary for Guyana to begin to heal as a Nation of One People. Otherwise, Guyanese will never truly unite, but instead continue as a nation of nations, separate in culture, beliefs and customs under one flag.
Sincerely,
Jamil Changlee
