To The People of Linden.
Once upon a time, there was British West Indian Airways. On its flights, a monthly magazine for travelers to read, during flight. Fortunate to have traveled on a specific year and month, I would read, "timehri is an Amerindian word meaning the mark of the hand." The article by a Guyanese expatriate in England. He went on to say how the Interior was such beauty and the Amerindians had made drawings on rocks of the animals and the way of life. He continued, expressing delights in the colony.
His words were so true that it need not be committed to memory, it is natural in all its form. "From the produce of the earth I've nourished my body and its streams quenched my thirst."
Reflecting on his words, I remembered how it was growing up in British Guiana. We ate healthy, fresh fruits and vegetables, fish of all kinds in abundance. Physical exercises were natural, swimming in the sidelines. And games always involved running. We developed strength, both phyiscal and mental.
Growing up in Rosignol was a unique experience, the African Proverb, "It takes a whole village to grow up a child." That was my life, I had mentors at a young age. As Psalm 139 states, I was conceived in the darkness, but it is the Lord who gave me a Soul, a Body and a Mind. My paths were planned and I will forever praise His goodness and mercy.
I was born in a wonderful place on this earth, never starved and grew up surrounded by encouraging villagers.
That era has passed some seventy odd years ago.
Now we are faced with endless calamities. The main one is our politics.
For generations, spanning close to seventy years, the people of this land have made their choices politically. With that in mind, I am still motivated to come forward, even in doubt.
I am reminded of Jonah, he had doubts as well.
God sent him to Nineveh to have a conversation with the residents of the city. Reluctant in his mind, but God knew the desires of the hearts of men in the city. It was the moment for Nineveh.
The citizens of Guyana can put on their funeral garments and continue the slow march to the burial of the country. You see, hear and read the undertakers, everyday. The newspaper, television and social media bares their testimony.
Aren't you the least bit afraid for your future.
The question begged to be asked, "Is there a solution to this dilemma." For the decades that is gone, the answer is clear as dayclean, "No, there is none and the rhetoric, the talk that is around is no different, just plain and simply empty promises."
When there are or there is no solution, perhaps even the most ridiculous of a solution is plausible.
So, let me tell you of a possible one and what is in it for you. The political system that exists from the time of the independence movement never catered to citizens having a say of the leadership of the country. The Political Party tells you the name of its Presidential Candidate. As in the past, voting goes along the ethnicity lines.
This time around, I want to encourage you to publicly choose a political movement where you have full participation. You choose your Presidential Candidate, in the public. No secret ballots, no intimidation and no fear. And hopefully this new approach will engage every citizen in the process of choosing the President for election.
I petition Linden for endorsement of this New Political Movement.
It is a leap of fate. And you can give it the wings so that our country can soar to great heights.
Together, the wind of change will be beneath the wings that you give unto this Peoples Movement.
With your endorsement, we will go to the other enclave on the Corentyne. There, we will never cease in the conversation to move hearts and souls for a better life.
Life gives us moments. This is a great moment for Guyana, but it seeks your trust for our differences is not outright prejudices, it is distrust.
I know, you are a people of great courage. The history of this country has the imprint of the emancipated African, fore-parents to the present generation of men, women and children of this town,
Linden.
Historians have documented for us.
In 1838, just a mere four years after emancipation, the East Indian was brought here, to British Guiana. On plantations in the counties of Demerara, Berbice and Essequibo they were designated, working for those who had no mercy for bonded labor, the life of an indentured.
It is said, "one can never teach an old dog new tricks."
And once again, the planters had another group of individuals to brutalized, poor diet and the whip. Remoteness of those plantations could not have concealed their brutality. There were eyes to see. No sooner the British Abolitionist were aware. It was the African who made them aware of the agonies of the Indentured East Indian. The emancipated African saw the sufferings of a fellow human being. It is doubtful he saw the race.
The life of an indentured servant is bondage. This was not a new scheme. Centuries before the Indentured East Indian came to British Guiana, impoverished English, Welsh, Irish and Scots indentured themselves to the colonies. Gladstone was very much aware of this labor force. Some to escape the law, some to escape poverty and hunger, some to escape famine. Such men and women were made to work like beasts of burden without any compassion. Death did move his master or overseer. Such was the fate of the Indentured East Indian of 1838. Upon his arrival, his master cared less about his well being. Death did not move his master nor his overseer. Whatever labor was exacted out of him, was a benefit to the planters. If death comes from abuse, that, also was a benefit to the planters, for the return passage was saved.
Historians have documented for us the atrocities burdened upon the indentured East Indian. African nurses tended their backs, the opened flesh from the whip of their task master. Lame from infections and neglect. Malnourished. And no re-course but to escape and returned back in leg-irons.
Witnessed by the African, men and women, they recounted it all to the British Abolitionist. Mentioned also, was the vindictiveness of a plantation manager upon one of the witnesses at the hearings. All of his animals were killed and forced to move away from his home. The price he paid for the compassion of another human-being.
I tell you this because it should be the corner stone for race relations in Guyana-an understanding between Indo and Afro Guyanese.
We do not know the way God moves the hearts and minds of the people of His nations. In Guyana's case, one would think we have reached the end of the road and the citizens would have the change of hearts. So said, but not easily done. In Nigerian churches, it is said,"God can make the impossible possible, ending in Jesus name, followed by Hallelujah."
With all the uproar about dual citizenship, here I am a dual citizen making a case for a better leadership of Guyana.
It takes a few dedicated people to change a nation. If you have been paying attention, you would have noticed many countries with natural resources, the people are poor. Please do not let this happen to your fellow countrymen-Buffiandah, Dougla, Mix, Amerinds, Afro, Indo or all those who hold this land dear to their hearts, home and abroad.
I ask you, the people of Linden to walk this land for peacefulness. For blessed are the peacemakers for they shall inherit the land. We know that this land of our fore-fathers is rich with timber, gold, diamond and oil.
We can change the curse of resources.
You can stamp out corruption.
This election is about who is entrusted with your wealth, the country's wealth .
Before re-naming to Linden, it was Wismar. In this place, tragedies occurred. Indians who came for a better life in Wismar, met with strife encouraged by the political elites of the bygone era. It is remembered by some as the "Wismar Massacre". Then, there was the "Sun Chapman Incident", unsuspecting passengers on a launch going about their business were blown up.
There were Disturbances in Villages but the tragedy of Wismar are not easily forgotten.
Wismar was the place to be, lucrative paying jobs attracted those willing to relocate. People were doing great and life was good. Then, hardships fell upon the town, the mines downsized due to political decisions.
Since, Linden struggles to recover to its past lucrative days. All sorts of plans devised and discussed to re-vitalized the town.
All appears to have failed.
There were riots and lives were lost.
The history is there, wealth, good standard of living, political activism, political persuasion, ethnic cleansing, death of your own and the death of strangers in your midst, then impoverishment.
No other community experienced as Linden. All of that can be turned into a progressive.
These days, if a change is sought then it must be through a political party. A much better move would be to have a whole community involved in political change. And Linden has the dynamism for such a movement for change.
In return, Linden will be a Parallel Parliament for the country and its economy revitalized with sustainable businesses and sustainable employment. Every effort will be made to develop Linden as a model of progress for all other Guyanese communities. It is the nations priority to show the way by government and private business partnership. We can be in each other dreams of the future.
I know there were efforts to revitalize the community purely from an ethnic perspective. Maybe it could work but there is assured progress if we work together.
This is the moment for Guyana.
Velutha Kuttapen
timehri@golden.net
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