Guyana would be better off with less pigs

Mar 16, 2026 Letters

Dear Editor,

During this season of Holi, Ramadan, Lent, and Passover, we are reminded of that which is similar across all of the major religions. One such similarity is the nonuse of the flesh of the pig. Many call it unclean while others also ban its use and have stories of casting evil spirits into swine and then sending them to drown. Many Ministers have shown their devotion to these religions, and their admirers would surely commend them for faithfully following the practices of their respective religions.

When I first visited Jerry’s in town I was surprised to see curry pork on the menu. In my travels around the world, it was the first time I had ever seen such a dish. My Amerindian friend who was with me got alarmed that it was on the menu and immediately wanted us to leave. My initial thought was that the land of garlic pork had expanded its culinary taste to incorporate more flesh from the pig with ham and pork dishes being integrated into traditional cuisine. Pepperpot which was usually prepared with only flesh from the cattle had also incorporated more flesh from the pig. The taste of Guyanese cuisine appeared to be shifting more towards American tastes, which uses bacon fat and lard in many dishes such as fried chicken. I was also shocked when I had visited an American friend who told me that they do so for added flavour.

When our President Mohamed Irfan Ali had first announced that he would be importing more pigs into our country I was at first surprised that a devoted Muslim would do such a thing. After all it was the undefeatable land of Afghanistan that had only one pig in its entire country and that animal was only for display in their zoo. A gift from China in 2002. The video of visitors covering their noses in the zoo was a good reminder of the stench that those animals can bring if allowed to scavenge as they are naturally inclined to do. Many people usually think of greed, filt and evil when pigs come to mind. Attributes that have been accentuated by most religions.

There is also the use of the word pig as a verb to describe piggish behaviour and discredit those who are prone to greed and filthy surroundings. And who can forget the battle of the Bay of Pigs. The Bay of Pigs Invasion was a CIA backed covert operation to overthrow the government of Cuba. Americans fought with Cuba and lost in 1961. The Americans had hoped to create an uprising similar to what we are now witnessing in Iran, but their attempts to do so in Cuba failed.

Since then, Cuba has charted its own course and has overcome many difficulties to be where it is today as a free and independent country. They have partnered with likeminded independent countries and provided strength in health where it was needed. Today our current President Mohamed Irfan Ali has decided to go in a different direction as he increases the number of pigs upon our homeland. Maybe it is worth reflecting on what unites us across the different religions, the subtle truth of what guides us towards contentment and solidarity may also be what keeps us free and independent during a time when governments are being toppled, and countries are being forced to give up their resources. A land with less pigs may be better than one with too many.

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