A TIME FOR EVERYTHING

Jun 12, 2016 Editorial, Features / Columnists

On Thursday May 26, 2016, Guyana joined ranks with two of its CARICOM sisters; Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago which have traveled the golden threshold of 50 years of independence. In the case of Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago four years ago, the event was celebrated with great fanfare.
There were some review, introspection and analysis about the state of affairs then and now. For without the past, there is no present or future. But there is a time for everything.
The same is true for Guyana. Blessed with more natural resources, greater land mass, and numerous waterways and near perfect weather than its neighbours, Guyana’s experience since independence has been extremely difficult.
It was marked by violence, ethnic and political strife, economic deprivation, mass migration, the marginalization of a certain group, corruption, greed and spiteful politics.
Indeed, Guyana’s passage into independence was very rough. For one reason, Guyana led by the late Forbes Burnham was caught in the heated Cold War politics between the East and the West, more specifically between the US and the then Soviet Union. This meant the interests of the superpowers were foremost.
For another reason, Guyana had faced a major setback when its constitution was suspended by the British in 1953, just 133 days after the Government of the late Dr. Cheddi Jagan was elected to office but was removed by the British.
The military intervention by Britain led to the installation of an interim government and a series of diplomatic initiatives which subsequently brought the Socialist government of Forbes Burnham to office in 1964.
By then, the deep wounds of racial strife and violence between Indo-and-Afro-Guyanese had inflicted serious damage to the country.
Burnham’s hold on power which lasted for 21 years until his death in 1985 was described by some as the dark period in Guyana with rigged elections, oppression, and a ban on some major foreign food items and goods. Simply put, Guyana was squeezed between the East and the West and was shut out from the world.
Following the 31 years since Burnham’s death, Guyana has been working its way out of its terrible past, and although the journey has not been easy, Guyanese can take pride in their achievements.
Regular democratic elections have been maintained with peaceful transition of power from one government to another. Also, the country has enjoyed relative social peace and a reasonable economic growth rate.
Having declared itself open for business with the world in 1986 by President Hoyte, Guyana has attracted foreign investment from many countries, including China to help develop its rich natural resources. However, its bauxite, sugar and rice industries have had some major setbacks while its underground economy of illegal drugs flourished.
Remittances from the diaspora increased fivefold. Meanwhile, its liberal policies toward its indigenous people have made their community the fastest growing segment of the population.
Today, Guyana continues to progress moderately, but its deep and painful past is still present. Its politicians continue to divide the races. Corruption, crime, illegal drugs, joblessness, an inefficient public service, poor health education systems, an archaic judiciary and the lack of visionary and transformative leadership have set the country back.
In this its 50thindependence anniversary, hard times have befallen the country, therefore sacrifices must be made to ensure its survival. However, the sacrifices cannot be made on the backs of the poor and the working class. Many are growing more desperate every day.
The most desperate are engaged in criminal activities. These, of course, are the consequences of independence. Although they are a tragedywhich the nation cannot afford, the experience of 50 years of independence shows that there is a time for everything.

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