Oh no, not my Guyana!

May 10, 2009 Letters

Dear Editor,
Guyana. My Guyana that I grew up in and remember was a country of mixed nationalities (seven altogether).
We were a friendly, fun-loving people, where neighbours and even strangers, looked out for each other.
Of course, as is customary among human race, we as children and even some adults had our disagreements, but nothing lasted forever, no weapons were used.

We were brought up to speak properly and respect our elders. We acquired so many aunties and uncles (friends of our parents) that one never knew where real family ended and the adopted ones began.
Doors were only locked at nights on retiring. Burglar bars and grids were unheard of. Those were for the prisons. You only took drugs that were prescribed by a medical doctor, if you were ill. The cutlass was only used to cut grass (which, by the way, was not ‘dope”) Weapons were a no, no. Real guns were for the armed forces, and “Race” was what we did on Sports Day — and “Sex” Well, as far as we as children knew, it differentiated between male and female.

Georgetown was known as the “Garden City”. The streets, avenues and sidewalks were clean and well maintained. Everyone took pride in their surroundings. Dumping of garbage was unheard of.
No matter how poor one was, we as children were always sure of a nourishing home-cooked meal. “Junk food” was not in our vocabulary.

If it is true that “Cleanliness is next to Godliness” then the folks of my generation should be Saints, as we were taught to keep ourselves clean and dress properly.
“Self respect” was the key word and education was a priority. We did not have computers, calculators, mobiles, etc. but hey, look at what scholars our country turned out; top Lawyers, Physicians, Presidents, Prime Ministers to name a few and all without today’s modern gadgets.

Please don’t think that our lives were boring. We had fun; good, clean fun and our parents had time for us.
Now! That was my Guyana. A country to be proud of, to boast about and love.
Sadly, over the years, things have changed. Many may disagree with me, but I’ve always maintained that I do not want to live anywhere, where I am afraid of my own people and that is how today’s Guyana makes me feel.

I lived abroad for many years and on retiring, my first thoughts were, “I am going back home”. But, alas, these dreams were soon squashed as I checked out my remaining years there.
Politics, guns, drugs and the bandits have all ruined my Country and I am sorry to say, “I have no desire to return home to live at present”. A holiday? Maybe.
I wish my children could have known the Guyana I grew up in. I bragged so much about it to them as they grew up.

Hopefully, maybe one day there will be a change and life would be as it was before… I know that won’t happen in my lifetime.
But Guyana gave me birth, education and the confidence to face the outside world. For that I am ever grateful.
She was, and always will be My Country, My Love, My Guyana.
Cora Watson