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Can Guyanese justify the still prominent display of Queen Victoria’s statue in our Capital?
Dear Editor,
Please allow me space in your very fine daily the K News to address this most troubling matter, which I humbly believe should distress every self respecting Guyanese and that is, the still present display of a symbol of the cruelty, shame and oppression visited on us as a people represented in the statue of Queen Victoria in our Capital or any place in Guyana for that matter.
What does this symbol says about a people that were under the boot of the country represented by this monarch for approximately 200 years from early 17th century to 1834, when emancipation was granted by Britain, but allowed to exist until 1838 under the guise of “Apprenticeship”. What does it say about our self respect and sense of national pride that we can so honor our oppressor? What can we say to our hero, Jack Gladstone and his father Quamina, and those brave souls who took part in and lost their lives in the Demerara Rebellion; those 40-odd that were hanged after the uprising, what do we say to their sacrifice? How can we explain that after 53 years, 1966 to 2019, when we were so called allowed our freedom that we still cling to the boot of our oppressor? This fixation to abuse reminds me of some females who endure years of abuse at the hands of partners or spouse, but stays with them or either leaves and returns. It’s a kind of unexplained twisted need for punishment or very low self esteem.
The Jews will never allow the world to forget the holocaust, rightly so, and yet the holocaust cannot ever compare to the horrors of enslavement either in its brutality or duration. How can we be so devoid of self respect? No race on the planet has suffered as we did at the hands of the slave master, and yet we honor them with a prominent statue on the lawn of our Court no less, a place that should stand for justice.
All throughout the Southern United States, statues of old Confederate figures are being pulled down, including that of Robert E. Lee in Louisiana, one of their strongholds. This is being done not without controversy but being done anyway, it’s called pride and self respect; something that seems to be in short supply in our country. Small wonder foreign companies come to our country with their fair promises, exploit our resources, disrespect our workers and leave with a pocket-full of the profits.
Grow a backbone, Guyana, please remove that symbol of shame, suggestion- send it back to Britain!
Claudeston G.Massiah
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