Guyana's real history is not taught

Guyana’s real history is not taught

Jun 06, 2021 Letters

DEAR EDITOR,

David Brigbhukan, Advocate for Climate Justice, wrote about the flooding and plight of the farmers of Black Bush Polder (BBP), SN 30th May, 2021.
I used to visit BBP with my dad from childhood. They were cash crop farmers and dirt poor. My dad constantly had to support people financially. BBP had poor but the humblest and kindest folks. They toiled so hard and then the huskers from the towns would come and buy their vegetables for next to nothing and then made a ton of money reselling in the big markets. We had to make sure we visited in the hot weather. One time, we were there and the rain came down, a tractor had to brace our car to get out from the street back to the main road. These people are the diehard supporters of the PPP who has never given them much for their hard work and labour all these years. Many people from BBP are now in South Ozone Park…they own/live in million-dollar (US) properties. Few if any has repatriated to Guyana when the PPP is in power and most prefer to move to Florida than return to Guyana today even though their “party” is back in power. Those in Government should ask themselves why.
Gokarran wrote the following in the comment section…
“I always repeat the story my Mamoo told me. A former police with the Special Service Unit, he was picked up at 4am at Eve Leary, along with a full truckload of police, ALL INDO-GUYANESE, all heavily armed and taken to BBP to watch over the bulldozing of houses of farmers who could not pay their rates and taxes. They arrived at 6am. The old lady and her husband had just returned from the farm for breakfast. They go to work even before dawn. When the police and bulldozer men announced their mission, the old lady begged them to wait a bit while she cooked “baigan choka” (an East Indian type of stew made from eggplant) and roti and fed all of them. And then they moved on the street and watched the bulldozer proceed to do Burnham’s bidding.”
Stories like these make my heart weep and all of those who have endured ethnic atrocities in Guyana need to tell their stories and I mean everyone, irrespective of race and/or creed. Guyana will never heal until present day leaders make perpetrators of heinous crimes accountable. Some of these very perpetrators are parading as senior statesmen/women and are demanding respect and a heroic place in our history. This is simply because Guyana’s real history is not taught. Politicians only harp on the parts that suit their agendas and purposes. Neither party; the PPP or PNC has shown any interest in revealing the true and sordid history of our past. They peddle their own distorted, myopic versions.
Who will do this job? Who will teach the present-day generation and future ones about the struggles and sacrifices of our ancestors? The newspapers are letting us down. Each is pursuing their respective agendas. For example, why none of them remembers that May 26 is the Anniversary of the Wismar Massacre? Why has none of them seen it fit to investigate as to why this specific date was chosen by the PNC government and why has the PPP not seen it fit to address the atrocity of making May 26, a day of celebration rather than a day of shame in the annals of Guyana’s history? Many are preaching about Unity yet few seem serious as then we will see them demonstrate in their actions. “Hammie” Green is a great example in this. He is seen writing and lecturing to others. He is an elder and has tons of experience in matters of politics and Government; yet this is akin to an abusive father lecturing to his now abusive son on how bad it is to abuse the wife of said son when he, the father has never ever accepted his abusive behaviour and his role in making his son abusive nor have apologise to his victims, which includes the very son he berates.
Burnham must be jeering at Cheddie wherever their souls are today. I wonder what is Dr. Jagan’s answer to the present-day plight of his die-hard supporters as they live in floodwaters and watch all their labours wash away or die. Those who bailed out and fled to other parts like South Ozone Park are counting their blessings a million times today. At least they do not have to watch their backbreaking efforts literally float away or die before their very own eyes.

Yours truly,
N. Sahadeo

Discover more from Kaieteur News

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Latest News