Eliminate psychological divisions

May 31, 2021 Letters

DEAR EDITOR,
In response to Taaj Judunauth letter (KN Friday May 28) Nationalism/Patriotism will only be achieved when we stop thinking of ourselves as Indian or African. Guyana is a nation of six races and as such a ”National Holiday” should reflect all six races of Guyana as one nation as a whole. How can all six races ever feel united as ONE PEOPLE, ONE NATION, ONE DESTINY, which is boldly emblazoned on Guyana’s Coat of Arms, when our leaders make national holidays of the culture of only one race that has nothing to do with the other five races. Emancipation Day, Indian Arrival Day, Phagwah, Deepavali, Youman-Nabi, Eid-ul-Adha should not be national holidays as these are isolated days according to race and culture and do not represent the six races of Guyana. If an individual wants to celebrate any of the above days, he/she should be free to do so not as a national holiday but rather at their pleasure and in their own time. Guyanese will only begin to see themselves as one nation when these psychological divisions between us are eliminated. If we are to come together as one nation, let us start at the root of the diversity and animosity between the descendants of Africans and Indians in Guyana.
Those of us who were fortunate to be born in the early years, before Guyana got Independence from Colonial rule by the British Government, vividly remember both Africans and Indians living peacefully side by side with each other. It wasn’t until Cheddi Jagan and moreso Forbes Burnham divided the people of this country along racial lines for their own selfish purpose with empty promises of a better Guyana that the two major races got into conflict. The fact is we are worse off since our local leaders have taken over the economic resources in this once beautiful and harmonious atmosphere that was British Guyana.
Yours truly,
Gloria Holder

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