David Granger must be praised for this decision  

May 25, 2015 Features / Columnists, Freddie Kissoon

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The decision to hold the Independence anniversary ceremony at the Brickdam Arch was a wonderful correction of an ongoing insult by the previous government to many of the historical symbols of this nation.
The Independence Arch was located in two areas – one in Brickdam in close physical proximity to the Square of the Revolution, the other at Ruimveldt opposite the police station next to the well known Ross Gas Station. It was put up at the western entrance to Alexander Village.
The Ruimveldt arch is gone. The PPP Government removed it. It is up to the new Works Minster, David Patterson, to locate it and refit it where it originally was erected n 1966. The Brickdam monument was not neglected by the previous PPP regime, it was completely abandoned.
For many, many years, I haven’t walked by the Brickdam structure. I would just drive pass it. Earlier this year I was in an AFC protest against the loan by GGMC to the Government. The GGMC office is very close to the Independence arch. After the picket, a group of us went to the arch to grab a bite. I had a terrible awakening.
The smell of feces permeated the air. I looked around and saw feces everywhere at the base of the arch. It was completely taken over by garbage and old clothes. The Independence monument was a dwelling house for derelicts. Shocking would be a mild word to use to describe the neglect of this wonderful landscape. Where else in the world would an Independence monument be treated so horribly by the government of the day?
The psychological cancer the PPP suffered from in its twenty-three year old reign was to associate Guyana’s public institutions with the existence of the PNC. Everything in the public realm was PNC. The concept of nationalist symbolism was never accepted by the PPP.
The most tragic victim in this historical horror show was the University of Guyana.
The PPP leadership saw UG as an institution where “their people are in control so we shouldn’t put money into their thing.” UG was mercilessly crucified in the PPP religious crusade against the biology of the PNC.
What was stupid about this was that half of the student population was from the constituencies from which the PPP traditionally nurtures their electoral strength. If UG students had to vote at UG, the statement of poll would have revealed many East Indian youths voted against the Jagdeo/Ramotar cabal.
I like David Granger not only because he is a nationalist and a decent human, but because he is a historian. Mr. Granger is the co-editor of a large volume, “Themes in African-Guyanese History.” He understands the importance of historical landscapes and their philosophical symbolism.
If ever David Granger did something that was politically inspiring but has historical beauty, it was the decision to have the Independence ceremony at the Brickdam arch. In doing so, he removed an ongoing cultural insult by a collective philistine mind. That mind was the fulcrum on which stood an unhistorical regime that has just passed into history.
That philistine brain often used the Arthur Chung Convention Centre for escapist parties and bacchanalian revelries (even a funeral) that must have been an international embarrassment for this country. I am glad such miasmic celebrations are over because the neighbours of the Centre couldn’t sleep. In one episode, the panes of my windows reverberated from the loud music; I live very close to the Centre.
President Granger would be disappointing this nation if the historical correction direction he has embarked upon is not sustained. The Umana Yana must be rebuilt as a priority. I would like to inform President Granger that as soon as he settles into office, he will receive a letter from the group, 1823 Coalition for the Parade Ground Monument, asking for central government assistance in erecting a monument to the slaves who rebelled in 1823 and were murdered at what is now called Parade Ground or Independence Park.
As a founding member of that body, we have not accepted the current structure and its location on the seawall road off Carifesta Avenue.
The renaming of streets after some great historical figures is long overdue. It would be a travesty to just name a street after Desmond Hoyte. Hoyte stands tall in the annals of post-colonial governance. He was a phenomenon that future generations must always be educated about. Had Hoyte remained in power, the violent political orgies that devastated every corner of this nation would never have occurred. Let the historical correction, the historical recognition and the historical rejuvenation begin.

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