We never should have celebrated the 50th in such a big way

Jun 01, 2016 Features / Columnists, Freddie Kissoon

I challenge anyone in the PPP leadership or the current government to question my commitment to this country. I never sought citizenship in another country. The same applies for my wife and daughter. All the years of my youth were given to this country, working for the public sector. I completed twenty-six consecutive years at UG before my contract was terminated in January 2012.
Two of the finest legal minds this country produced, submitted their report at the request of the Ombudsman that my contract was illegally ended. I haven’t had even a word of communication from UG about compensation. Yet the very university has agreed to increase by ten percent, the salary of four of its top officials, except the new Vice-Chancellor. All four currently receive income based on international market rates. When my contract was removed, my salary was $181,000 after twenty-six consecutive years of service. No one at UG even hinted at compensation for me. I think I am competent in assessing the dynamics and dialectics of my country.
So those in the past PPP Government and those in the APNU-AFC had better be careful how they question my sacrifice for this country. I want to tell them, each one of them, that I will not take it lightly. Dr. David Hinds told me that the Coalition Government had some public words to say about my columns. I will ignore the incident. If it happens again, then we will have to look at who makes sacrifices for whom for Guyana.
I am warning the Coalition – don’t question my commitment to Guyana. If they are doing nonsense, performing nonsense and talking nonsense, they will find their way into my columns. It is against this background that I did eight columns on different dimensions of the Coalition’s grand desire to celebrate the Golden Jubilee in a big way.
Several of those columns took the theoretical position that the country should not go out in any huge way to celebrate the 50th anniversary. I will repeat my reasons here briefly. But look what happened at the flag-raising ceremony and the jubilee dinner. The negative comments are pouring into the media. None of these opinions and observations is from people who dislike the Coalition Government.
First, I argued that given the state of our economy, infrastructure and low human resource base, we will embarrass ourselves in front of the Guyana Diaspora, because these people will see how dysfunctional Guyana is. Why would we want them to see that?
So we went in a colossal way to usher in the 50th anniversary. And do a survey of those who have returned to the US and Europe and CARICOM states and hear what they have to say. Look at the semi-civilized descent at the Banks DIH-sponsored live show. As we write, superstar Rihanna is on a world tour, and there is not even a tussle in any country as compared to the pandemonium that broke out at the Stadium. In 2016, patrons go into a show bypassing the metal detector. Fights break out and the police are nowhere in sight
Secondly, I contested the money the State will spend when our economy is not in elegant shape. Those funds could go elsewhere, where they are more needed. We were told it was private money that architectured the D’Urban Park ambience. If it was private money, then suggest to the patrons that they use it for other public purposes.
Why use that huge space on Homestretch Avenue to build another structure when we have similarities – the National Park and Providence Stadium? What happens to that erection after the party is over? Will its function help the economy?
Given all the constraints Guyana has had to endure over such a long time, it would have been best just to have a normal celebration that could easily have been memorable and ethereal. It just depends on the vision and ideas you bring to the planning table. But in the end, post-colonial Guyana and its leaders did not and do not know better. We like the pomp and splendour of spectacular celebrations. And in the morning after, we take the begging bowl to the white man. As the British Ambassador to Kenya said a few years back when the post-colonial world comes begging, that they even, “vomit on our shoes.”
I really love the music and lyrics of Bob Marley and my favourite Marley line is below. How sad that the post-colonial fool will always be thirsty.
“Don’t forget your history
Know your destiny
In the abundance of water
The fool is thirsty.”

3 thoughts on “We never should have celebrated the 50th in such a big way”

KassemB June 1, 2016 at 2:37 am

Why couldn’t you say that before the event?
1. Pam June 2, 2016 at 8:41 am
  
  what difference would it have made?
Pam June 2, 2016 at 8:40 am

Post-colonial mentality Freddie……….it is Guyana’ political and economic engine.