Still waiting for the excitement

May 27, 2011 News

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– Reporter Neil Marks looks back at the 45th Independence anniversary celebrations

For almost five decades, thousands of persons have flocked the National Park in Georgetown to witness the celebrations marking the country’s independent status, and if nothing else, the people were the winners last Wednesday evening.
They generated just the right spirit and energy that one would expect for this kind of celebration. Some added just the right amount of humour, laced with sarcasm, to keep awake for a programme that could have definitely offered more.
I don’t know who organises these things – like the entertainment programme before the start of the formal proceedings, but I would suggest proper schooling in what a national celebration should be about.
Isn’t this the occasion where we should be overwhelmed with all things Guyanese – such as our music and dance, even though this is ever so evolving?
Why then on this glorious Independence eve, just before the start of the formal programme, am I being made to listen to this Tonado Band carrying on about “somebody pussy cat get away?”
The formal proceedings began at 21:30 hrs, with the arrival of the Prime Minister Samuel Hinds and his ever gorgeous wife, Yvonne, who never fails to dress the part.
The sirens signalling the arrival of the Presidential party is enough to garner cheers, and President Jagdeo was greeted by the Prime Minister, the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Dr Frank Anthony, Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force Commodore Gary Best, and other heads of the Disciplined Forces, including the Acting Commissioner of Police Leroy Brumell.
It’s time for the Presidential salute, and with the sound of the national anthem, those in the stands rise, and if they weren’t yet standing, a loud scream of “If y’all want laptop stand up” from someone in the crowd was enough to get them on their feet.
The ever impressive parade of men and women from the Disciplined Forces drew constant applause.
The four-guard parade consisted of seven officers from the Army and Police and 120 officers and other ranks for the Disciplined Forces. The Guard of Honour was led ably by Major Kenloyd Roberts.
Once the Guard of Honour marched off, the ever excellent Korokwa singers took to the main stage to deliver a medley of folk songs. But guess what? The poor sound system meant we hardly heard anything, even the microphone for one of the main singers did not work.
So the Korokwa singers wrapped up their performance and hardly any bothered to notice. The cheering crowd went silent. But they were soon back to the edge of their seats for the military display by the bands of the Guyana Defence Force and the Guyana Police Force.
They seemed to have executed it well, and the crowd offered their approval, but seriously did we have to hear Caribbean soca flowing from the band? Could we not find national songs – songs by Guyanese – to be part of the display.

So we heard Adrian Dutchin’s “Impossible” about whether he could be in love with two ladies at the same time.
So, it wasn’t the most appropriate song, but at least we could identify with it somehow, but what are we doing with Destra’s “I dare you” and Biggie Irie singing about not going home till the morning. And then there was “Are you ready for the Carnival” and if I am not mistaken, the bands marched off with the Trini soca hit “Wotless.” Seriously?
I am sure we can do better than that.
Next, President Bharrat Jagdeo took to the podium to deliver his final speech as President, and when he was done, the crowd offered their cheers.
The next item on the programme was cause for some excitement – the announcement of national awards after a blackout of several years. But it was not to be. We are told that the list of awardees would be placed this Sunday’s newspapers.
One would have thought that the revival of the awards would have followed long established “protocol” and the awardees would have been named that very night.
With that lacklustre end to the “announcement” of national awards, the national school’s choir delivered a medley of national songs, paving the way for a cultural presentation by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, that consisted of dances representing the country’s Amerindian, Indian and African culture.
The Amerindian dance sequence just did not come together, and I don’t know what to make of the representation of Indian dance. Some of the dancers performed well, but the choreography left much to be desired, and simply was uninspiring.
However, the African dance sequence had just the right amount of energy and brilliance in execution that really brought out the excitement. Too bad it was short lived.
The evening ended with the traditional flag raising ceremony and a fireworks display.

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