Latest update September 13th, 2026 10:00 AM
Our new alphabet; A for Agricola, B for bauxite …
Dear Editor,
Permit me space to share my views on an important topic “Let’s have our own alphabet”. I attended the lunch of the historic Linden Heritage Trail Magazine held recently at the Egbert Benjamin Conference Centre. I’m a lover of history and have made some contribution towards its production. What was surprising to me was the many historic sites and many others still to be discovered. Many many years ago there was an historic book title “Children’s Storey of Guyana” but the many heritage trail magazines to date have surpass that production. I must congratulate the National Trust of Guyana for putting together those magazines.
I’m a Lindener, and Guyana and Guyanese all over are preparing to celebrate our Golden Jubilee of Independence, which will be much different from the first Independence celebration I witness and was part of at age sixteen. While Independence means freedom, it doesn’t warrant giving up everything, because some foundations are deeply rooted and are not easily rooted out.
I attended St. Aidans Anglican School and Church of Wismar during the 50s – 600 and was taught by brilliant teachers some of whom attended schools in Mackenzie, Wismar and Christianburg long before I did. It means, all of us then were taught the British way of life. Today, after so many decades, there are somethings that are changeable, that we as an Independent nation hold on to and wouldn’t let go. For example, the alphabet teaching continue to contain A – for apple, B – for bat, C – for cat and the list goes on as if Guyanese must continue in the British way. I’m convinced colonization is responsible for the way we walk, talk, the foods we eat, the clothes we wear and many other, but can’t we as a people rid ourselves of some negative practices.
As a Lindener, I wish very soon we would have an historical alphabet indicating things, places, occurrences, names of people, our heroes for example, A – for Alumina plant, B – for Bauxite, C – for Christianburg, D – for Donjou and the list goes on. In Guyana as a whole for example, A – for Agricola, B – for Buxton, C – for Craig, D – for Den Amstel, etc, etc, etc.
After we are gone, would our children, children, children remember Dr. Cheddi Jagan, Mrs. Janet Jagan, Mr. Forbes Burnham, Mr. Desmond Hoyte, Mr. Author Chung and others who have made valuable contributions to Independence in Guyana? We remember Christopher Columbus, King Henry the 8, Queen Mary and others. Let’s teach our history and forget that woman who put her cow to eat grass on top her house; the cow jump over the moon, Mister Mike goes to school on a bike and twirley and twisty were two screws.
Its right for Guyana, Guyanese must have an historical alphabet and the Minister and Ministry of Education need to look at the A – for apple, B – for bat, C – for cat teaching and bring a change. Let’s teach history. Let’s reflect on our 50 years as an Independent nation, lets measure our profit and our loses and move forward in unity. Let Guyanese make social cohesion and collaboration a motto in schools, at homes, in our work places, in our places of entertainment for a better Guyana.
B. Winslow Parris
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