Reaffirming our oneness as a people

Aug 01, 2010 AFC Column, Features / Columnists

By Sixtus Edwards General Secretary

On this day, the Alliance For Change joins our brothers and sisters to commemorate the moment that symbolises the end of African bondage and the shackles of slavery.
We pay tribute to the many heroes and heroines who laid down their lives in the cause of that freedom struggle. And we shall forever be indebted to the founders and fighters whose vision and co-operation across the continent of Africa and elsewhere realized that freedom and justice.
As we commemorate this day, we are keenly aware that the survival of our young democracy requires continued vigilance and constant scrutiny by our people as to what is being done by the Government on its behalf. This is fundamental in our pursuit of a better quality of life for Guyanese people.
In this context, Guyanese people appreciate the progress that has been made to end conflict, build democracy and accelerate socio-economic programmes aimed at improving people’s lives. We shall continue to play our part in facilitating these positive developments. But lots more has to be done, especially to keep our best and brightest in this country.
Emancipation Day also brings to the fore the urgent issues that the country faces: continuing stress and strife of daily life in many communities; the social dislocation this exacts on these communities; the unequal economic relations that characterise our current economic landscape where there is evidently an oligarchic cabal eating up the fruits of the land to the exclusion of the rest.
All these and other challenges are receiving the attention of our people and the AFC leadership. The urgency of resolving them cannot be over-emphasised. In the spirit of Emancipation Day, we reaffirm our commitment to work together with the people of Guyana, the Caribbean, and the world to make Guyana a better place for its people and future generations.
We believe that there must be a greater investment in education and technology. These are the investments that will bring the best out of the next generation of Guyanese and enable us to reach our full potential as individuals, as free communities and as a flourishing nation.
There is an old saying: “Give a man a fish and he eats for a day. Teach a man to fish and he will never be hungry.” The art of fishing and self-sustenance is more valuable than having a fish on your plate. For Guyanese in particular, this parable reminds us that developing our human resources is more valuable than exploiting our natural resources.
The real leaders of this nation are ordinary people with the extraordinary determination and foresight to invest in their children’s education.
As we answer this call and march towards a greater freedom and happiness, let us also remember that our common interests – in our nation and in our children – outweigh our differences.
As we pause to celebrate Emancipation Day, please take time to remember that the Guyanese who celebrated our nation’s first Emancipation are no longer among us. We honour their memory and legacy by showing our love for our family and friends, our respect for each other, and reaffirming our oneness as a people.
You owe it to our founding fathers and mothers, and to all Guyanese, to avow that wherever flags are flying, no one is more determined than us in ensuring that Guyana’s flag flutters proudly and as high as those of the other nations.
It is sad but true that today we are faced in our national politics with certain factions who are drifting from a path of unity and patriotism. Some are motivated by egoism, vengeance, and jealousy, and they are trying to destroy the good values we must nurture. The African people, however, are a mature people who have taken their destiny in their own hands and who are determined to push their country forward. We know this to be the attribute of all other ethnicities in our land. It is not in our nature to be racist and to spread hatred and xenophobia. We, all people, must spread love, tolerance, harmony, patriotism, and unity.
It is these values that constitute the soul of African, East Indian, Amerindian and all peoples of our land.
This is our message to commemorate our Emancipation Day. Let us continue to cultivate these good values and inculcate them in our children.
Our future as a nation depends on it.
A happy Emancipation Day. May God continue to bless us all.”

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