Government should reconsider location of the 1823 monument

Jan 03, 2013 Letters

Dear Editor,
If the PPP/C government sincerely believes that building a monument to commemorate a slave rebellion would make Guyana a better place and of course, endear itself to African Guyanese, then they should by all means go ahead.  But wouldn’t it earn more appreciation if it now reconsiders and builds the 1823 monument at the Parade Ground?
Notwithstanding Minister Anthony’s perception of inadequate land space etc., some do not consider it important or significant.
In the run-up to the 1973 elections, Information Minister Ms Shirley Field-Ridley approved 9 (or 12?) political radio broadcasts. When the decision became public, Prime Minister Forbes Burnham stepped in and slashed it to 3 (or 5?) He wisely judged that the already tense political scene could ignite out of control. President Donald Ramotar needs to act with similar, decisive astuteness, despite Minister Dr Frank Anthony’s ‘decency’ and best intentions
In Mr. Hamilton Green’s hosting at City Hall, of African organizations who are opposed to the PPP/C government’s building a monument away from the 1823 Parade Ground site, one can see what is his priority. The City Hall host still sounds like he considers himself the Mayor of all Georgetown. No one has told the Mayor that Georgetown is filthy and stinks.   Even the dead at Le Repentir cemetery cannot rest in peace.
But Mr Green is not aware of these pressing problems. Even with Cuffy leading a slave rebellion in Berbice, Mr. Forbes Burnham situated the Cuffy monument near his official residence at what is now called Castellani House, in Georgetown.  It is unkempt, surrounded by filth and drug paraphernalia; it puts to shame and disrespect all which it represents.  Did Mr. Green as a PNC minister or anyone else, object to its location or care about its unkempt state as reported in the KN of 29-12-12?
ACDA’s Mr.  Elton Mc Rae said that Culture Minister Dr Frank Anthony’s decision to erect the monument on Carifesta Avenue is “an insult to Guyanese since it is diametrically opposed to a decision made after a series of discussions involving African historians and cultural leaders in the 1970s”.
Never mind the PNC was in office in the 1970s and President Bharrat Jagdeo had turned the sod for the memorial on August 1, 2000. Some 40 years later, the PPP/C government is stumbling in its attempts to fulfill a PNC objective which it did not originally initiate or promise. With the Enmore origin and the Culture Minister blessing  the timely rebirth and growth of masquerade bands and flounce,   it should come as no surprise  when Guyana’s Culture  Ministry  likewise  speedily  finances  the nurturing  and growth of Indian musical instruments such as tabla, harmonium, tassa  and  of course, Indian dance nationwide.
“It is not an African thing”  said City Hall’s Mr. Green  who has seemingly come to us in a time machine to offer some thoughts now  filtered by the passage of time, regardless of  the  PNC’s   failed efforts to build the 1823 monument in the 1970s.  Now “born  again” in the PNC after his expulsion by President Desmond Hoyte, Mr. Green  proudly  feels that “the move to erect the monument at Carifesta Avenue is all part of a continuous crusade by a disrespectful government”.
Could all Georgetown residents be getting any similar “healthy” disrespect by its Mayor being unable to fulfill his solemn duties? Nevertheless, Mr. Green still hopes that Minister Anthony, who he believes “appears to be one of the decent ones”, would reconsider the location.  In consideration of location relevance, the PPP/C government should also offer to, respectfully, relocate Cuffy to Berbice where he rebelled, for example Port Mourant. Mayor Green’s “It’s not an African thing”, would be the guiding light.
Sultan Mohamed

Latest News

Government should reconsider location of the 1823 monument

Related

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show|| March, 17th, 2025

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

St. Lucia’s Elite Blazers takes aim at FIBA 3×3 World Tour in...

Petra/Milo U18 Football kicks off Round II action...

Track and Field clubs demand nullification of AAG...

Joint Statement from WIPA and CWI on Athlete...

RCNA launches Childhood Obesity Prevention...

FL Sport donates stumps to Meten-Meer-Zorg...

Features/Columnists

ExxonMobil dodges question on whether operations can lead to cancer, other diseases

If Guyana’s President Ali is the “Zelensky of the Caribbean”, who is the Putin?

IMF report – cup half full, or a cup of Novocain

Publisher’s Note

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]

Government should reconsider location of the 1823 monument

Share this:

Related

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show|| March, 17th, 2025

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

Features/Columnists

Publisher’s Note

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]