Maybe this individual does not understand "symbolism"

Maybe this individual does not understand “symbolism”

Nov 30, 2019 Letters

DEAR EDITOR,

I use this opportunity to respond to one of your readers in relation to a letter I wrote questioning the prominent display of the Queen Victoria statue on the lawn of our High Court.
This person’s gross lack of history and historic fact is painful that one can only feel pity for his obvious ignorance as it relates to the subject matter.
First of all, Victoria had nothing whatsoever to do with the abolition of slavery. She ascended to the throne in 1837; slavery was abolished in 1834 but continued unofficially until 1838 under the guise of “Apprenticeship.”
If this person had given props to such English persons as William Wilberforce, Joseph Sturge, Thomas Clarkson, Thomas Fowler Buxton, Elizabeth Peace, Ann Knight and others, all members of the anti-slavery movement in Britain, then maybe, we could at least try to come to some meeting of the mind.
In fact, when asked to open the first Anti-Slavery Convention, Victoria politely declined, stating that as a Sovereign she could not.
It is so very sad that we cannot or would not even try to empathise or appreciate the struggles our various groups waged in order to become one people, a still distant goal in our beloved Guyana.
This person does not even seem to have an understanding of the horrors of “Indentureship” endured by his ancestors under Victoria’s rule, as if he did, he would not be as quick to jump to her defence. It was due to the concerted and persistent efforts of the aforementioned persons and others – both African and English – that my ancestors were able to throw off the physical chains of Enslavement. Now psychologically, that’s a whole new story.
There is no way that after 1834 to 2019, and particularly after 1966, we should be so honouring a symbol of our shame. Maybe this individual does not understand “symbolism.”
Respectfully,
Claudeston G. Massiah

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