Is an emphasis on Portuguese in our long term benefit?

Oct 21, 2013 Letters

Dear Editor,
The October 18th, 2013 issue of this newspaper featured an article titled ‘Portuguese launched as modem language in five secondary schools.’ The article outlined efforts by the Ministry of Education to place greater emphasis on the Portuguese language in our schools. I understand the historical importance the Portuguese made towards this land.
I am in agreement that Guyana must be a part of the ‘Global Village’ the honourable Minister speaks about as globalization takes root; but perhaps there should be greater pressure on our school systems to teach English proficiently, both the spoken and written word. Every Guyanese child deserves a sound understanding and ability in our mother tongue to facilitate equal opportunity.
The implications of the Ministry are that teaching Portuguese is the natural course of action due to our proximity to Brazil. While Brazil has shown itself to be a friend of our country, binding ourselves to the periphery of Brazil is another issue altogether. We must not lose the distinctiveness we as an English speaking, Caribbean nation have on this continent. Guyana has the potential to play a leading role in greater regional integration for CARICOM.
It is my belief that based on this potential the government should be doing more with regards to offering more to opportunities in diplomacy as well as translation and not decreasing studies in languages deemed less important.
Emphasis must also be placed on Dutch, Spanish and yes French if we are to truly benefit from our position in the region while maintaining our identity; something a Caribbean Union fosters. The argument against this will always be, where will we find people to teach such things? My answer to this is simple though it may seem arrogant; Is that not what the government is for?
The efforts by the Ministry and Minister Manickchand have good intentions but more must be done to foster a better sense of self that Guyanese have towards their nationality, through the English language we speak and culture we possess. I do not believe the current emphasis publicized is necessarily the way to approach the necessity of regional alignment/integration. However, it is possible while continuing towards a confederated Caribbean, which I believe, is where our future lies.
Brandon Cheong

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