Are we caught in a cycle of an eternal downward spiral of despair?

Dec 31, 2012 Letters

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Dear Editor,
Will this be a chance for the working-class to break the chains or more chances for the chosen few to accumulate more gains?
Guyana with its people and abundant natural resources was poised for greatness in the English-speaking Caribbean. Yet despite its natural resources and industrious and brilliant people, Guyana spiraled into a cycle of unprecedented decline and disrespect. The land and its resources, outsiders and natural disasters are not to blame for this decimation. This means that the Guyanese people are responsible for this decline. Or more accurately, some people in leadership roles and their faithful followers have been forcing us into the ground or across the Ocean. We must ask what made us so prone to self-destructive tendencies. Is it our genetic heritage, historical environment, or both? We shall try to have a brief review of our history in an effort to understand ourselves and get some idea of how we can stop this self-destruction.
Yesteryear, the plantation owners kept their slaves under their heels, denying them among other things not only their basic human rights and dignity, but also their cultural heritage including opportunities to learn their own histories, religions, folklore, myths and traditions. The ‘Lords of the Plantation’ lawfully decided the punishment and pain (or death) inflicted on any (‘sub-human’) who violated or challenged the authority of their self-proclaimed ‘divine’ status and rights. The inflicted public executions of punishments on the rebellious slaves were delegated to other oppressed slaves. Often the choice faced was to kill or be killed. Those who killed their own remained in the gene pool. (We have never been in their shoes and cannot say what we would do under similar circumstances.) Those brave few who refused and chose death were eliminated from the gene pool. Great people are among the first to be eradicated. Yet great people keep replacing those eliminated. We therefore had a vast reservoir of great people here.
But there were a few opportunistic slaves who did such ‘evil things’ (beating, snitching etc.) willingly for personal gain (better treatment, bigger lodgings, sexual opportunities etc.) or to ingratiate themselves with the oppressors. (Likewise we cannot judge this small subset since we have never experienced the horrors of their lives.) These survived and contributed to the gene pool.
Some of our slave-forbears took flight to the bushes to escape from the plantations. (There were no foreign safe havens for escapees). Some mimicked their superiors out of necessity to survive. Some realized that education was a tool to lift themselves out of their abysmal conditions when hopefully slavery ends and tried to learn as much as possible, when the opportunities were presented. (In fact, this love of learning and respect for knowledge was in their genes – later evidenced by the superb scholarship shown by their descendants.)
A few dreamed of one day wearing white corked-hats and plumes of feathers on their heads, various medals on their chests and a baton (symbol of authority) in their hands and walking or riding on horses as the Governor –the supreme local ‘Lord-Governor’ overseeing the ‘happy workers,’  and have your own men and women bowing and kissing their hands and feet.
Children learn from what they observe. Likewise A few children too had such grandiose dreams of having the populace similarly bowing to his Lordship, as they trotted around the country in their finery.
A somewhat analogous mistreatment was meted out to those who came later to replenish the labour pool as indentured servants, after the abolition of slavery. The honorable and rebellious suffered and were punished, whereas those who ingratiated themselves to the authorities surely thrived and contributed to the gene pool.
We will now fast-track to the recent past days of our own local-born absolute dictator, Mr. L. F. S. Burnham, who similarly became the ‘Lord-Governor’ (Big Kabaka) on the horseback surveying the realm with the whip in his hand. What a story from slave ancestry to Lord-Governor of the realm! Similarly, no tolerance for any who questioned His ‘divine’ status and prerogatives, and the justice meted out was swift and brutal. As in the past, many ran seeking cover wherever they could; some stood up and fought, and paid the price for their decency and courage with their lives. Great people again suffered and were removed from the gene pool of Guyana – death, poverty, submission or flight.
Some had no problem serving this new ‘Lord of the Realm,’ and showed no mercy for those who were even suspect of ‘traitorous’ inclinations or dare to question the will of their new proclaimed deity. They too thrived and contributed to the gene pool.
As in the past, education was also seen as a hindrance to His Kabaka’s authority and therefore had to be controlled. At the highest forum of education, the control was made more absolute. The acid test of being employed there was ‘Is he with us or against us?’
Some dreamed of one day being the new Lord of the Realm and engender the same loyalty of the faithful and inspire fear in the unbelievers.
Children learn from what they observe. A few too dreamed of achieving similar god-like status.
The child emulated his idol and the boy became ‘The Man.’ Enter President B. Jagdeo newest local ‘Lord of the Realm,’ with similar trappings, the plumes on his hat are the honorary doctoral degrees conferred on his Lordship. In addition, some with overseas qualifications and human rights credentials bear the litter of their Lord as they sing his praises. There is no shortage of persons who kowtow to his Lordship for personal gain and perks. Several who served the previous dictator now find profitable employment in His Lordship service. His Lordship similarly dispenses favours to the faithful. This God and his PPP ensemble has even exceeded the excesses of their mentor and admired absolute ruler. The gene pool is apparently heavily stocked with those would who readily serve any tyrant for the right price. Their children are better fed and educated overseas.
The intimidation and punishment meted are often more sophisticated, but often with the same brutalization of local subjects. Many leaving as fast as they could, run to overseas enclaves and even from there proclaim the greatness of His Lordship. The subservience expressed is likely a reflection of their own gene pool since even when they removed from under the heels of the tyrant, these escapees expressed the greatness of their god.
As before, education remains a dangerous tool for the masses and must be controlled. At the higher level, likewise the same mantra is used (‘Is he with us or against us?’) for termination and elimination of dissidents and potential problem-makers.
Children learn from what they observe. The protégées of his Lordship are waiting for their chances to wear the crown. The Coins are in the fountains. Which one will His Lordship bless?
What has changed? The faces have changed, but it is essentially the same ugly pattern in the mind-set in some (with the help of others) seeking to dominate and subjugate others of this country. As before, the brave ones suffer, whereas those who collaborate with the self-appointed deities thrive while the masses cry for mercy.
Are we caught in a cycle of an eternal downward spiral of despair?
There were windows of hope in the early Dr. C. Jagan and the PPP years, and sun was again peeking through the dark clouds during the Mr. D. Hoyte’s years.
It takes exceptional people to break this cycle of self-destruction and brutalization of Guyana, but it can be done. It was done before here and other places.
Four Presidents under the banner of the PPP have failed the working-classes whose pinned hopes were repeatedly dashed. Where hopes diminish the people suffer and history has shown that no Govt. can last without the support of its people.
Whether this spiral cycle, under this new President Ramotar-led PPP Government would continue is yet to unfold. It all depends on what is the guiding light of President Ramotar’s and his PPP Govt., that is, is it the will of the people, or the will of the entrenched Lordship and His enriched managers of the plantation that would take precedence?  Will this be a chance for the working-class to break the chains or more chance for the few to accumulate more gains? What happens will tell us what is in the gene pool of those who govern.
Our history has shown that even during the travails of slavery, the pool of our great people was large enough so that they continuously oppose tyranny, irrespective of personal consequences and executions. It is within us to oppose injustice and thrive to improve out lot.
Hope that we get some idea of where we have been and what we are. An understanding of our strengths and weaknesses are essential to moving forward.
Seelochan Beharry

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