I hope, I pray that the lesson of February 23rd is not lost in the revelry of the moment

Feb 25, 2023 Letters

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Dear Editor,

This letter constitutes  what I would refer to as a verbal staccato, but like a musical score the different bits and pieces that follow will constitute like music a single, pleasant and informative score to benefit this and succeeding generations.

The initial challenge in a daunting dilemma is  as the curtains come down on Mash 2023, will  our leaders be true to the sentiments expressed in the words of our National Song,  Hymn for Guyana’s Children, written by Vere T. Daly and music by Valerie Rodway

Let us be true to the second stanza of the Hymn for Guyana’s Children:-

“ Great is the task that Thou hast given:

Thy will to show, Thy truth to find:

To teach ourselves that we are one

In thy great Universal mind.”

Our leaders with humble hearts set aside the perceived pettiness and hold hands for the benefit of the country, blessed with such tremendous natural resources.  The first thing to recognize is that four decades ago, world leaders, thanks to technology and communication, determined that our world was no more than a global village. Today 24th of February, there appeared in the Editorial of Stabroek News, Friday, 24th February an erudite, thought-provoking Editorial, dealing with the exercises in Ukraine Russia and which now is absorbing billions of money in war machinery. That could have been better spent to end starvation and misery of millions in Asia, Africa and elsewhere.

The well written Editorial is an analysis that is interesting but I am very concerned that in Guyana and elsewhere we are failing to benefit from the lessons of just a few generations ago. Germany, which like a reluctant bride, has agreed to supply their modern leopard tanks to Ukraine in an effort as we hear from the West to defeat Russia. Let me make it clear from the onset, I am not a sycophant of any nation or any of the great nations. Almost to the date in 1943, Germany occupied Stalingrad, starving, freezing and out of ammunition, and surrendered to the Russians. Almost no supplies had reached the Germans  since the Russians encircled the city two months earlier.

Fighting was so intense that the Germans could not reach the few supplies that were parachuted to the ground. At the end, rations had been reduced to a few ounces of bread. More than 90,000 Germans died from starvation or the cold. Another 100,000 were killed in the last three weeks of the fighting. The battle for Stalingrad was described as the most brutal human conflict over the last few centuries, waged among and between the most civilized people on earth. This is what we were taught in school. Today those of us on this side of the Atlantic must therefore be careful not to appear to take sides in European matters which have its groundings in language, monarchies and marriages that we cannot understand easily. For me, examining Europe’s history, they represent a confused combination of Saints and Sinners.

Today our responses are still influenced by the robust ramblings of the likes of Joseph Goebells, Hitler’s propaganda Minister and Senator Joseph Mc Carthy of the United States. We are now being told that the rising cost of living is somehow related to the Ukraine-Russian situation.  Many of us, like I do, reject this, but we have in charge of the Chief of State, a group that accepts no responsibility for the woes and daily dilemma of many Guyanese, so we have for example, the powers that be blaming two credible concerned nationalist Mr. Mike Mc Cormack and Ms. Vanda Radzik, for Guyana’s suspension from the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) body.

We note people being charged for the act of terrorism but when you spit in the face of ordinary people and call an ordinary female security guard a ‘black monkey,’ this is not terrorism but more than that the powers that be have withdrawn privately instituted charges and as we battle with the scourge of illegal drugs, the majority of those convicted are the small fishes, while the big sharks go free.

The date of our Republic is to remember the heroic effort of Cuffy, Accabree and others, starting February 23, 1763 at Magdalenenberg. The rebellion did not succeed, not only because of the machinations of the Dutch but the failure of the leaders Cuffy and Accabre to recognize that they should have set aside their differences and work together to confront and say to their exploiters that we are demanding a fair share of this place where our blood and tears were shed.

I hope, I pray that the lesson of February 23rd is not lost in the revelry of the moment but that the harm done through a people, because of disunity can sometimes be beyond repair. In Georgetown, in spite of the gloom and inclement weather, the Mash Parade was good and I wish to compliment all those responsible for organizing the event. The Guyana Police Force with the largest contingent, the Policemen and women supported by their youth groups were outstanding. This is a good augury.

Regards,

Hamilton Green

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• Hamilton Green, Ms. Vanda Radzik, National Song, Valerie Rodway, Vere T. Daly

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