May the spirit of Agricola spread like a wildfire across Guyana

Apr 06, 2009 Letters

Dear Editor,

Palm Sunday ranks as one of the most important day and holiest days in Christianity. It is the beginning of the holiest week which includes Good Friday and Easter Monday. In the simplest of terms, Palm Sunday is an occasion for reflecting on the final week of Jesus’ life. It is a time for Christians to prepare their hearts for the agony of His Passion and the joy of His Resurrection.

This Palm Sunday, the community of Agricola embarked on their own process of rebirth and renewal. While some dutifully celebrated Palm Sunday in the traditional manner, Agricola residents of all races, creeds, colour, ages and shapes…took to the streets to clean up their community.

Over 800 residents participated in this cleansing process. Apart from the residents, several community corporate entities participated. Namilco (poulorie and Wheatup), SOL (bins), Caribbean Containers Inc. (drums), Mayor & City Council (two trucks, tools), The Guyana Defence Force ( one medic, one truck and a tent), Food for the Poor (tools), Two Brothers Gas Station (cement for the bin foundations) and The African Cultural and Development Association (refreshments, bags, tools and personnel) all played a part. Some Agricola residents who could not participate provided money or so for refreshments.

Very evident in the large turn out was the simple dignity of work to a human being. Self worth, self-pride, hope and community comaradie were all on display. Every street participated and every race participated. Every religion participated. Rastas participated.

Even those who are often said to be “no good” participated. Each home was asked to clean the street in front of them while others cleaned common areas and drains.

This visible “cavalcade of hope” by the residents of Agricola resides in every community in Guyana. Leadership is the critical difference. Freeing people to do what is in their own community’s and individual interest, leads to remarkable results even when there are limited resources. Teamwork is paramount to success and the residents of Agricola exemplified this.

There were no politicians involved. No precursors of racial distrust on hand. What happened in Agricola on Palm Sunday were ordinary and extraordinary people doing for themselves in peace and harmony. Civil society was at work. Youth was at work. Kids were at work enjoying themselves, copying what their parents were doing. This inspirational day cannot be captured in words or by photographs, even on the aspirational day of Palm Sunday.

It rained and it did not matter. The sun was hot and it did not matter. Even finding a small alligator in the gutter did not matter. Even blunt cutlasses did not deter anyone. Over the next few weeks this process will continue. Bins will be put in selected public areas and cemented in place.

Environmental and Health posters from the Red Cross, NAPS and other agencies will be used in schools. An essay competition will be held in the weekly mentorship programme held every Sunday by the Young Leaders of Agricola. These actions are targeted at reinforcing everyone’s participation in a clean healthy community.

The overall programme was conceived by the Young Leaders of Albouystown as part of their community activity in the IDB ACDA Youth Leadership Programme. It was executed in partnership with the Agricola Restoration Association (ARA).

Community leaders such as Mr. Welton Clarke and Mr. Owen John worked hand-in-hand with 10 Agricola youth leaders: Allieia Benjamin, Tevin Bristol, Chad Dalgetty, Devon Jeffers, Ashley John, Rensford Niles, Milton Smith (CEO), Abidemie Rodney, Sindy Stewart (Project manager/Secretary) and Keysha Street. Members of the other two Youth groups from Albouystown and Buxton also participated. There were equal numbers of males and females in the exercise.

The power of a community to affect local change was very visible in this simple exercise in Agricola. Guyanese of all races and cultures know they hold the winds of change in their hands. Change is inevitable. Servant leadership, courage and pride bring about change.

The church and other religious groups have many inspirational days in their holy calendars. But there is nothing more holy than community unity. These religious groups need to be more active in the physical welfare of their communities. Deeds are just as important as faith and prayer.

May the spirit of Agricola spread like a wildfire across Guyana.

Eric Phillips

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May the spirit of Agricola spread like a wildfire across Guyana

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