Recapturing things Guyanese

Sep 19, 2009 Editorial

Being born a Guyanese is something that is never ever erased. For those who travel overseas to any part of the world, be it to the Caribbean or to the metropolis, the presence of Guyanese communities and the association of these people can never really pale in comparison to what happens in their native land.
One must conclude that being in Guyana is just that —being at home, but to see people of Guyanese origin assemble to recapture what they knew is indeed amazing. Sometimes people resurrect things that are indeed Guyanese, but which have long since disappeared from the landscape.
People spoke with longing about what was. They reminisced about places and things that many have either forgotten or have never noticed. It is this that keeps them forever linked to the Motherland.
In Antigua and in Barbados, Guyanese assemble on special days, mostly on the anniversary of the country’s independence or republic, and host events that leave the residents of their adopted country spellbound.
These events highlight Guyana’s rich traditions and leave people to wonder at those who appear to be aberrations and how they became thus. These are the thieves and the prostitutes and the drug peddlers.
Just this past fortnight Guyanese resident in Seattle, Washington — that is a location close to the Canadian border and is cold almost all the time — gathered to recall their heritage. It was a most remarkable experience to the first time attendee. However, the organizers have been doing this for the past nine years. There were smiles and laughter all day.
Somehow, somebody uncovered an ice cream churn, another brought out a shaver that shaved blocks of ice for sale on hot Guyana days, and of course these things were put to use; there were folk games that are no longer part of the Guyanese repertoire, sadly lost to time through the non-participation of young people who are now caught up in things designed to either enhance their material stations — some of these things are criminal — or to help them cope in the real world.
The ethnic factor that raises its ugly head ever so often is all but non-existent in other lands because people suddenly recognize that they are seen, not as one ethnic group or the other, but as a collective. It is this that forces them to recognize their common heritage and their destiny. In unity there is strength.
In Guyana there is a Ministry of Culture that is supposed to help foster and preserve the national cultural heritage. It should be spearheading events and happenings to help people recognize who they are.
Indeed, it manages the annual Mashramani celebrations and whatever is done for the independence anniversary; it accommodates Amerindian Heritage Month as recognition of the first people who came to Guyana; it supports events hosted by private groups in recognition of their heritage, events such as Indian arrival.
The time may be ripe for this Ministry to create a museum of things Guyanese. Those things that the Guyanese community along the Canadian border managed to resurrect to create nostalgia among those who remembered what things were, but may not now be present in Guyana. They need to be preserved.
At present, the local political climate is what it is because people are forced to concentrate on things pertaining to their destiny rather than on things of a more relaxing nature — things pertaining to their culture and their heritage.
They are busy trying to help their respective parties score political points over issues that are likely to have little or no impact on their daily lives. There is hardly time for fun and traditions.
People of African ancestry don garb that are distinctly African on special occasions; people of Indian ancestry do the same as do the Amerindians. They all go little beyond that. How much will it cost to establish a museum that would recapture those things that were once Guyanese? There is the Umana Yana that was created for a special event and today it is a monument to one aspect of national life. There could be others. There could even be one building with replicas of things that were. The Ministry of Culture may wish to take a look in this direction.

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Recapturing things Guyanese

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