For those too young to remember there was a time in Guyana (British Guiana) when there was a racial war between blacks and east Indians. I clearly remember as a child accompanying my father patrolling the streets of an East Coast village at night with only a stick as a weapon against those who would dare to ‘invade’. We were defending the village against any east indian ‘suspects’. But how could we defend ourselves with a stick if it became necessary .. east Indians in the near by ‘housing scheme’ were equipped with guns. The village of Buxton gained notoriety as a place dangerous for those of east indian heritage to pass through. They were subjected to harassment, a fine thrashing or even death. As was Success for black people. Those were dangerous times. The haunting sounds of a song sung by Neville Changur (east indian folk singer) and the arrival of British troops along with the suspension of the constitution (I think) helped to bring an end to this tragic part of our long forgotten history. Some blame could be laid at the feet of the ‘hap-en-jat’ purveyors.
I have often wondered if this part of our sordid history has ever been written somewhere for the present and future generations to take note.
It is said .. ‘those who choose to forget the past are doomed to repeat it.’