Pivot- A new Balance

"The sons of Adam are limbs of each other having been created of one essence.

When the calamity of time affects one limb the other limbs cannot remain at rest.

If thou hast no sympathy for the troubles of others thou are unworthy to be called by the name of a human."

Written some eight centuries ago by the Persian poet Sa'adi, now adorns the entrance of the United Nations Building in New York.

World leaders passes by those words as they confer on world matters, mainly the human rights of the peoples of the planet.

My country, Guyana is not unknown for its breaches of human values, its calamity of time is about sixty five years. Almost seven decades. Certainly, enough time to awake towards progress and prosperity.

The upcoming Congress of the Peoples National Congress is a moment in time for a new direction for Guyana.

A Paradigm Shift- An advancement in knowledge that has large scale impact.

In my country, life is not easy. Foreigners willing to usher peaceful co-existence find themselves departing with,  "Guyana is not for the faint of heart." It is a Prison House of Nations and Nationalities, because that's what we are. Freedom is not given to all citizens universally, each Nation and Nationality feels freedom must be taken. There has been fifty six years of attempts at it.

Respect and tolerance is non existent in our political systems, one is an alien to the other.  

A Change Must Come.

There must be an attempt to align the People National Congress on a trajectory of economic governance. 

Whatever is taking place today will be questioned in the future by the children of today, that are now witnesses, right across the country. Much is being said on social media also are the political commentators.  

It is like a norm among generations and ethnicities, PNC is Afro-Guyanese. Likewise the PPP is Indo-Guyanese. For those ethnics who find themselves in these organizations are considered Tokenism.

There must be integral participation, those ethnicities must be listened to.

In the creation of the Peoples National Congress, both Afroes and Indoes were involved. It was separation of  moderates of the nineteen fifty three confrontational political system. In the entire history of the PNC, Indians were members of the party. Over the years, they became only faces with no voices. 

That must change.

Many have tried to be The Third Force or The Alternative, citizens have preferred to maintain the PNC and the PPP.  As a citizen, it is expected to having a worthy and worthwhile alternative. The PPP will never bring in a government that is respectful of the Opposition.

They need to be shown the way. Their rise to power makes them unreasonable.

As it stands, the current PNC allows the government a free hand without any attempts of being the respectful Opposition, one that is capable of speaking to the citizens. There is enough swing votes to add to  the PNC secured seats. The 2015 elections has proven that. Those voters were betrayed by the visionless leadership in the People's National Congress.

The PNC needs to be the political organization that recognizes the path to governance lies with the voters. It is a competition for the citizen's basic and only right, their single vote in the hope that their inheritance will be well managed.

I cannot see how the PNC can increase their seats in parliament to the majority unless they give some serious attention to the Indian voters.

This must be a serious consideration for the new leader. A plan must be designed as guarantees to the Indian votes. 

If norm is adhered to, possibly a PNC victory may have an Indo Prime Minister. Hopefully, not one as the PNC dictated to Moses Nagamoottoo. Instead, a Prime Minister with enough responsibilities to be regarded with great respect.

The task ahead is to shed the image of the PNC years as the government-those years were terrible for the nation. Unless the PNC remakes itself as viable option, then we will inherit the PPP years, when analyzed will be terrible years as well for the lack of a credible alternative. 

I wish to make the case for the possibilty of the Indian vote. 

Both main ethnic groups do not care to know much of each other. Very few would know of Guyanese history which encompasses all nations and nationalities. I suspect, the main groups prefers their own separate accounts. For Afro-Guyanese, no nation can experience their pains during slavery and as such, no one, other than an Afro-Guyanese has the authority to speak of it. For the Indo-Guyanese, they wish to tell of their sufferings as if sufferings has different levels. There has been this competition for punishment. 

Side tracked by distrust and division, both of these groups loose out on prosperity. Their actions dominates the lives of Amerindians and the other three nations of people that came to British Guiana.

 The Emancipated African of the British Colony was involved in all aspects of the colony. They were teachers, midwives, stevedores, shopperkeepers, tradesmen, farmers and much more-they were everything to the colony. They alone sustained a country.

As the Indentureds left the Sugar Plantations, the African found himself in competition. When competition becomes noticeable, it breathes contempt. It began with the Portuguese, they took over the stalls at Stabroek Market, then the Indians took over from them. As the economy grew, indentureds rose up the ladder and every thing became very competitive.

For the decades that followed, contempt was in the land. It was fertile for men with destructive points of view.

Fortunately, today, we have wealth. Enough to grow our economy for a better life with more than enough jobs. Unless, the PNC of ths moment sustains this country we would have surrendered the dreams and aspirations of an entire nation to poverty. When men makes dicisions with no contemplations. Corruption prevails, similar to nations with wealth as ours.    

An incident took place sometime around the latter part of 1838. I have always considered it to be very significant for Guyana as a  young developing country.

As the poet wrote, " When the calamity of time affects one limb the other limbs cannot remain at rest." Emancipated Afrcans in their testmonies spoke of the sufferings of the 1838 group of Indians. The poor diet, hours work, unhealthy living conditions, leg irons for escaping and the whip. It was the Emancipated African nurses that tended to wounds of the whip lash. An African Headmaster who documented the harsh treatment to the Anti-Slavery Society. It was the actions of the Emancipated Africans who made a difference in our eastablishment in Guyana-they were responsilbe for the humane system we were indentured to. One they never had for centuries for themmselves.

Did the Emancipated African saw Indians?  I doubt it. He saw a fellow impoverished human, being treated horribly-a treatment that was repeated in their ordeals. Some six centures after the poet's words, the Emancipated African, just freed from Slavery would express his humanity as written by Sa'adi,  "When the calamity of time affects one limb the other limbs cannot remain at rest." 

They did not remain at rest.

The heart is capable of much compassion and hate. My appeal to the People's National Congress, allow compassion to prevail and choose a system that pacifies the extremists among you. May the moderate voices be thunderous. 

The salvation of this human world lies nowhere else than in the human heart, in the human power to reflect, in the human meekness and human responsibility. The Persian Poet expressed these sentiments in the thirteenth century. But, it was The Christ who would record for humanity the realationship of brothers as rightly stated by the poet-the sons of Adam.  The Scriptures tells us, "And just as you desire people to do for you, do also for them."

We must discover and claim the God-given worth as people who have great potential for good.

Among the many quotes of Vaclav Havel there is, "We must live in truth."

History records truth, it has already happened, it is the past. The future is ours to design in reflection of our past. Our past is rich in diversity and our land is abundant. We must find the tolerance not quick to judge one another in malice.  

Indentureship, gave Guyana its uniqueness among the nations of the modern world. The Free African from America, Africa and Caribbean Islands, the Portuguese, the Chinese, the East Indians of 1838 are all part of the Guyanese landscape. During indentureship these people of humble nature departed from their shores in search of a better life. 

From all those races of people, along with the Natives who were here way before, the gift of life made the Mixed Races. A country of Six Peoples we are proud to proclaim.  

The system of Indentureship is an old one among the European nations. John Gladstone would draw  from the system where Englishmen, Scotsmen, Irishmen and Welshmen provided the labor for the lands in the New World of the British West Indies. In exchange for the right to live in economic freedom. 

Soon, the landless of the British Isles became landowners in the New World. Cultivation needed a labor force, not enough indentures from the home land, enslavement assured a labor force. The West African Coast was not unfamiliar to the Spaniards, Portuguese and the Dutch. Trading of commodities quickly switched to human cargo.   

For the 1838 group of East Indians to British Guiana, they would open up the colony to a stream of East Indian indenturers until 1917. People of humble nature departed from the shores of Calcutta. Broken physically, yet urged forward for the sake of survival. Tenacity of their spirit would place their foot prints in 1838 upon the fertile lands of British Guiana, its counties of Essequibo, Demerara and Berbice. 

Forbidden in beliefs of their ancient religion to venture beyond the scared rivers of the Brahmaputra, Indus and Ganges. A civilization that marvelled Alexander the Great, one that has no slaves. A system that catogarizes people in castes, lived and died for generations past, and all the future generations yet to be born. 

They would surrender old customs and traditions. Indo-Guyanese historians have concluded, many indentureds were from the lower Castes including the Untouchables.  

In the freedom of British Guiana, they developed, owned land, property and had their children educated. In India, never the possibility of such freedoms. In British Guiana, their children educated by African teachers. On the Plantations, the oppresive ways of the planters were slightly modified due to the testimony of the Emancipated African on the 1838 immigrants. When the time came to move off the plantations, the Indians would live among the established towns and villages of the Africans.

Quamina, his son Jack, Plantation Success, Plantation Le Ressouvenir, Rev. John Smith and John Gladstone. The names and places associated with a significant change in British Guiana-the journey towards the end of slavery in the British Empire. In 1807, Wilberforce was only able to get the British House of Commons to stop African Slavery by Britain. The struggles were to continue in the British Parliament. The campaign for better working conditions and education for slaves still on the Plantations of the British Empire. 

Rev. John Smith familiar with enacted laws pertaining to slaves on Planations arrived at Plantation Ressouvernir and began his work at the Chapel. No sooner, consultations with the Governor revealed Rev. Smith's familiarity of the few rights permitted to slaves on the planations. 

And he began. Each attempt at education was curtailed with complaints to the Governor. Eventually, teaching and reading was restricted to Biblical contents. His congregation grew beyond Plantation Le Ressoouvernir with worship services attended by slaves of every plantation on the East Coast of Demerara. 

Among the worshippers was Quamina, a slave of Plantation Success owned by John Cladstone. Some men have natural understanding of the scriptures. Quamina was such a person and he became a deacon in the church. 

On every plantation on the East Coast of Demerara, there was talk of Emancipation. There was excitemant back in 1807, but emancipation never came. In 1823, there was excitement again, now delivered by Jack, son of Quamina. Favored on Plantation Success for his trade of making barrels, he was free to move around the planations plying the trade. 

From Jack, the word would travel from House Slaves to Field Slaves on the plantations. Knowledgeable in words and sentences, house slaves read the correspondences from Britain. The raging debates in the House of Commons. 

Impatient, the slave insurrection took place. The punishment was horendous. The British public appalled at the barabrism of it all mounted an assisted campaign by the anti-slavery society of a boycott of West Indian sugar and commodities.

The British Parliament was demanded to end Slavery in the British Empire.

The great debate of property came into question, investments, sugar and the existence of the colony of British Guiana after slavery.

John Gladstone for his business survival and the survival of other Planters would follow the path of Indentureds from the Azores, Maderia, Africa, America, Caribbean, China and India. 

The commodities market took away the guarantees from Britain to its Plantation Owners in the British Empire. Competition meant cheaper labor costs, the only negotiable variable in any production.

Overwhelming circumstances in India of  devious higher castes, zamindars, British Raj, pursuit of Recruiters and famine would make available a few hundred thousand East Indians to the Plantations in the British West Indies. The masses would come to Demerara , directed by "DEMERARA" a sign on the loading dock at the Port of Calcutta, Garden Reach.

timehri@golden.net

Answers

 There is a difference with being aware and being able to analyze the awareness. The implications over ones selfish or self actualizing goals. Guyana is in danger from its adversarial approaches at the ethnic and political levels .

So much is in our favor, yet we would destroy it all. 

Guyana's destruction is the real danger.  

Once the articles have been introduced there is no turning back from the mayhem. This country has killed its fellow citizens for political motives since in the nineteen fifties. It may have been a little bit here and there. But today, if it were to happen again, it would be as the Rwanda Masscres. Over seventy years of pent up frustrations being burdened upon geneartions after generations. Many faults based on false impressions carried down from decades.

Perhaps, it is time for a new gasp of air.

A long time ago, Forbes attended a Commonwealth Conference in Montreal, before returning to Guyana he stopped by in Toronto. His interactions brought much excitement among his countrymen and women. He promised to maintain an association with the audience.

A few years later, there was a social event in Toronto sponsored by the Government of Guyana. I was invited. The group from the government comprised of several Afro-Guyanese and one lone Indo-Guyanese, Cammie Ramsaroop.

As the evening progressed,  Afroes gravitated to the Afro representatives of the government. Naturally, the Indoes congregated with Cammie Ramsaroop. The Consular-General, an Afro-Guyanese, being trained in diplomacy moved from group to group making sure everyone was having an enjoyable evening. He lingered to listen in.

With Cammie Ramsaroop, the Indoes entered confrontional conversations. Cammie, in his jovial demeanor would offer his opinions with Guyanese addage at the end of each comment.

There were phtographs taken, lots of it.

Soon after that event, I would visit Guyana. Upon entering my village and gathering with friends. I was asked, "since when you joined the Peoples National Congress". The PNC had published the photograph of the Indians present at the gathering. And I was deemed a PNCite from association. This was a time when overseas voting was allowed. And PNC activists supposedly voted for Indians living in Foreign Countries.

So far, I have not been a member of any Political Party. If anything I would be tempted to join a BRAND NEW GROUP with no baggages. I have tried with the PPP, PNC and the AFC to offer ideas of possible solutions to problems associated with communities. It is not easy dealing with Indoes and Afroes who has power. So, it is not like prejudices prevails. It is more like the lack of interests to do better for the impoverished.

Because I am a Guyanese, I have the interests of both the Peoples National Congress and Peoples Progressive Party. They comprised the government in the past and will for the future.

The big question, how can these organizations be shifted to the interest of the common man.

The Peoples Progressive Party has always been overly confident of forming a government in it entire history. From this position, changes to its policies and governance is not forthcoming. Their support base is rigid and perhaps intolerant-hostile to anyone who differs that being Indians.

The Peoples National Congress, definitely is an Ethnic Political Party. But, the accomodation of an Indian participation is strong with limiations-and has always been that way.

The creation of the Peoples National Congress in 1955 saw several Indians moving from the PPP into the Burnhamite PPP. They shared common views with Forbes and perhaps were the Moderates. The Extremists would remain with the Jaganite PPP, those who seriously challenged the Americans and British with a Soviet agenda. Interestingly, many Afroes with the PPP remained with the Jaganite PPP.  

The Indians politically involved with Forbes somehow never rose to the top of the PNC. Forbes continued over the years to garner support from individual prominent Indians but never from the rural communities. Those prominent Indians provided legality to his questionable governance. 

During this period, Africa was on the rise and its Indian populations were marginalized. 

Guyana took on Pan-Africanism. Forbes in this period leaned towards the Muslim Community,  Indian looking but not as the majority of Hindus. With the muslim populations of Kenya, Tanzania, Nigeria and others in Africa, perhaps, there was the acceptance. And then, the quest of diplomatic ties with  the Arabic World.   

With all that was perbetrated, a few Indians, as it is said, crossed the floor to the PNC side of the legislature. Two comes to mind, Vincent Teekah and Ranji Chandisingh.

My point, Indians always makes the effort of having a meaningful role in the governance of Guyana.    

The elections of 1992 placed the PNC in the position of never a hope to form the government again. For they have never fairly won an election. 

After 23 years of PPP governance and complaints from a portion of the electorate. The emergence of Alliance for Change would throw their support behind the PNC.

In 2014, at a gathering in Toronto, in the audience were more Indo-Guyanese than Afro-Guyanese. The Indians who made public comments to David Granger, all stated their joy to share in his vision of a united Guyana. 

Once again, Indians were going to take a chance for respectful governance of their country.

I briefly met David Granger at that meeting. If we were not interrupted, I would have said to him that his assent was due to the decades of prayers of the faithful.

I felt confident he was THE MAN. Because, he knew the battle was not against flesh and blood. 

The People National Congress has a solid support base of possibly thirty one seats. With that, on their own they cannot win. However, in Guyana's politics, there is that slim chance that atleast three seats are Guyanese and the other sixty two seats are compromised ethnically.

The APNU+AFC won in a slim election victory. Enough Indians had barely made it happened.

The inaugurations were like a Biblical Solomon taking the oath.

Indian participation waned from the inceptions.

Afro-Guyanese emerged with dominance. Indians were bypassed.

Indians of the AFC were not trusted. The AFC had become divided with Afro and Indo. Pro PPP and Pro-PNC.

Then the Presdient began his appointments, it was obvious it was a PNC regime again.

Not one Indian to be an Advisor he could not find. I concluded, the President does not know  Indians in Guyana. He has no associations with them.

And the President continued on his style of governance. Perhaps, the part of "against principalities" he has succumbed to. The Principalities are powerful.

Letter Five

Anyone following previous elections in Guyana could have predicted the outcome of 2020 elections. I have said, it will be a sad day in Guyana, for whoever wins the looser will not take it lightly.

The outburst of two female politicians pretty well have summed up the future of Guyana. From the PPP came, "We know they doan like us." expressed by an Indo-Guyanese. On the PNC side, "Murderers, murderers, why you think these people will vote for alyuh." a passionate inquiry to the Indians confronted  by the Afro-Guyanese.

The future looks bleak.

 A compromise must come.

Honesty in Guyana annoys people, for everything is about race. So, I will say what I have to say without prejudice. Who vex can stay vex.

Race and culture comes first then nationalism. The rhetoric these days from the prominent Afro-Guyanese, it is okay to seize the country regardless that their group is approximate thirty percent of the population. This position and intent has been around for the last seventy years. Many with such wisdom have been received in the cemeteries of the land, their skulls with empty eye sockets and limbs is all that remains buried or dashed. Imagine the great amount of knowledge that exists in the graveyards, men with exceptional abilities, all dead. They failed their fellow Guyanese.

Today, individuals have presented themselves with this old idea. History has taught them nothing, even with the three and a half scores of years that have touched their lives. Mischievous old men. The massacre in Rwanda was prompted by men on the airwaves. We have all these views on the radio encouraging APNU to disregard laws and constitution and continue to govern without a mandate. Telling the few supporters on the streets their children, grand children and great grand children, future generations will thank this President for his decision . A bold move to incite a limited base to do criminal acts. We have had a Wismar, it never bothered the conscience of those involved. We have had a Son Chapman Incident as well.

It is very difficult for me to believe the majority Afro-Guyanese share the views of the street protesters and radio guests. The experiments with marginalization did not do any good for both the countries of Uganda and Fiji.

Men with such views needs to be shouted down.

It is all about the question of ownership or governance. If distrust is prevalent, then Partition would solve the problem of governance. Learned Afro-Guyanese have written of it in the past and contemporary thoughts suggests the same.

The history of the Afro-Guyanese is one of seasons of time. In a few days, it would be Emancipation Day for the year twenty twenty. Let the day be significant, those who share the idea of Partition, tell us Guyanese that you want your own country to govern. Let us talk about the divisions.

          

The country inherited six cultures. Independence-the State  provided  Flag and Anthem to rally us as Guyanese, for the land has been providing for us. The State is real but our state of mind discounts Attitudes towards fellow citizens.

A change must come. And for that to happen, both the Peoples Progressive Party and the Peoples National Congress have to surrender a great many points of view in the interests of the citizens. 

Presently.

The People National Congress has the government and  they are going to stay there indefinitely unless a compromise is reached or forced out by International Pressures. It would be better for all that a Guyanese Solution is worked out.

Once, President  Desmond Hoyte informed his opponents, the army and police are his kith and kin. Bluntly, it is the army of the People National Congress. The judiciary and GECOM are under the control of Afro-Guyanese. There is not a single system that can mount any challenge. It was the same under President Burnham. If the intent of Afro-Guyanese is to govern permanently, then they should guarantee the civil rights of the Indo-Guyanese. The cries of PNC supporters on the streets is to marginalize the Indian population.

Any Change will certainly affect the Police Force and Army and every other government agencies and the Judiciary. It will be detailed as laws. The Afro dominance of those institutions will no longer exists, as it has in previous governments.   iiiiiii

LETTER FOUR

These letter writers, all of them must know that things have changed in Guyana. Elections can be replaced with armed conflict, on both sides. And the citizens will all be defeated.

The Mingo fiasco has given the country an ideal opportunity to recognize what the future holds. 

To hand over to Jagdeo is to hand over Guyana's progress to a group of narrow minded indians representing the PPP. This party in its 23 years of governance did absolutely nothing for race relations, all their infra-structure work keeps tumbling down, never had plans for sustainable employment, power generation is a mess, judicial system is a tragedy for the poor man, no justice for those without PPP connections.

As for the Police and Army, the PPP NEVER demanded for non-Afroes to join. And put in place policies to ensure discriminations were not a hinderance to that policy. Now, they are concerned about the ethnic structure of the police and army. Any nation on the face of the earth will want intergration of the citizen defensive forces.

The PPP is not an originator of nation building ideas, dey juss flow wid what unfolds. The PNC neither is an originator of sound policies.

David A. Granger has been considered to be a God-fearing man, a  military strategist and tactician. Perhaps, with those attributes he intends to mold Guyana a new destiny. I am certain he knows the Almighty and how powerful He is, even though invisible to him. Is that his strategy?

I am hoping he has the wisdom of Solomon, for it was King Solomon who united the twelve tribes of Israel. Guyana has only six tribes to deal with, we call Six Peoples of Guyana. 

LETTER THREE

In history, some men rises to the occasion. In these times, Clairmont Mingo is THE MAN.

Clairmont Mingo is the name associated with this present fiasco, but there are others and many others behind him. These election events is equivalent to the fiasco of emanicipation. Talks and lots of talk between the abolitionists and the British Parliament and then the talks between the British Parliament and the Planters. No one was too keen on giving in to emancipation of the African Slaves in the British Colonies. Anxieties ran high in the slave communities. Rumors of freedom from the house slaves messaged down to the field slaves. For decades, only disappointments in waiting for that day to come. 

But that day did come, out of shame and shock.

In the colony of Demerara, on Planation Success, a God-fearing man was bonded to John Gladstone's Estate. He was a deacon in a church at Pln. Re-Sovenier, the neighboring plantation. His son, a skilled barrel maker was free to move around the plantations plying his trade. He took the news around the plantations concerning the progress of emancipation.

Frustrated by broken promises, the slaves became agitated.

A church meeting at Pln. Re-Sovenier, the slaves discussed the prospects of emancipation. The decision was the Demerara Slave Revolt. The planners enquired from the deacon his thoughts on the matter.

And Quamina agreed.

He was not involved in the revolt, yet his punishment was severe. The British Authorities deheaded him and displayed severed head and body at the Parade Ground.

The British Public read about the events. Apalled. Public opinion, boycott of British West Indian goods and Thomas Clarkson's endorsement of British India goods and commodities be purchased instead.

The public outcry and actions was the decision maker for the House of Commons.

Emanicipation.

The named Quamina is around several places in GT, perhaps as a reminder to Guyanese. 

Today, it is Clairmont Mingo. 

Perhaps, for a moment he is demanding that we think of the consequences, even though he is wrong in his actions.

We need an emanciption of the minds. For generations we know that this country needs an inclusive government.

This is the time for it, let there be a public outcry 

LETTER TWO

An Open Letter.

To My Brother-in-Christ, David Arthur Granger.

My formative years were in a wonderful progressive village, Rosignol. Those years molded principles of life upon a solid foundation. "Doing the right thing", stressed by village mentors.

Be principled.

Events of 1955, brought to the forefornt of daily living, race issues throughout the colony. In that wonderful place of Negroes, Indians, three Chinese families, a Frenchman, a Portuguese family, Mulatto, Dougla, Mixed People of Chinese, Indians and Negroes, people shared. And to everyone, the people of African decent were referred to as Cousins, out of respect.

Kind and wonderful villagers became suspicious of their neighbours on the issue of race.

The Distrust that followed has always be troubling to me. Words, hateful thoughts and the actions of unconscionable men and women resulted in the loss of lives and property.

We failed to treat our neighours as we would hope for them to treat us.

Time gives us unique moments and we have had a few over the decades.

When Forbes, took over the country, he failed to govern in the interest of all the people. Instead, he failed the principles of the state of one people one nation one destiny. Many departed. Those that remained faced prejudices from the ardent supporters of Forbes. The first failed opportunity

After twenty eight years, in nineteen ninty two, came Cheddie. Years in opposition, he learn't nothing and so he brought nothing to the country to ease the Distrust when he took over. He too failed-the second failed opportunity.

The Janet and Jagdeo years only further more Distrust. They both presented Sam Hinds to the Afro-Guyanese seriously as someone who will never be the President of Guyana because he had no clout in the Peoples Progressive Party. The third failed opportunity.

The organization of the PPP squandered twenty three years of time to heal the most important division in the nation. That affects stability and progress.

The emergence of David Arthur Granger.

The Peoples National Congress, an organization known for moderates and extremists in relation to Guyanese of Indian decent. Whether mystical, pre-destined or prophetical, the PNC gave you David, their Mantle to stand in arena of Guyanese politics and present your principles and vision to every Guyanese.

In your wisdom , APNU to bridge the divide.

My prayers for decades, like so many other Guyanese all over the world, "Please Lord, let my country find Your Peace."

I saw on Social Media, your prayerful position seeking the Lord on your knees. Your words were silent. And I prayed that the Lord favors you. Because He knows your heart. Men and women felt your honesty, home and abroad. I prayed, we should meet to share the zeal for the Lord and to encourage your efforts to do the right things for Guyana.

How was I to meet you.

Some weeks later, I received word that you were coming to Toronto on a Breakfast Meeting. Living seventy miles away required me to leave home early for the journey to Toronto. So, I made my plans but there were continual efforts not to sell me a ticket for the Breakfast Meeting. First, there were lots of interest from people in Toronto and I was living too far away.  I said to the Lord, "I am entrusting all of this to you O'Lord." Then, there was caution that if I were to be late I would not be allowed in. After a week, I gave up not receiving the ticket. I received a call from one of the organizers, that I am  guaranteed a ticket when I arrived at the venue.

On that day, we briefly met, shaking hands. We started to chat. Suddenly, there was a commotion in the hall. The entourage of Moses Nagamootoo had arrived. We were interrupted.

I listened to your words. There was a vision for every man, woman and child for several generations. You were the leader, the Statesman, the Builder of a Nation with Justice on your mind. A man with the Wisdom of Solomon to serve a troubled country.

After the elections, on social media I saw your attendance at worship services.

After victory, I saw the swearing in ceremonies at Parliament Buildings. The event had the tones of a Righteous Man taking the oath to do Honor and Justice in the Sight of God 

That was all on track for the groundwork to fulfilling your vision.

News of your decisions and actions were contrary to the audible words you made in public. Nothing that seems to heal a nation. You were in the counsel of the ungodly.

I asked myself, how could I have been so wrong.

You became a mole in the APNU for the PNC when you should have risen to the challenge of a Shepherd to the troubled six races of people of Guyana.

Both, you and I, knows that God never makes a mistake. He is sure to leave remnants as reminders to prayerful requests. He left Noah for a new world in Enoch's request. He saved Moses to lead the Jewish people as a promise to Abraham.

Once again, Guyana is in the throes of racial conflicts and disturbances.

I am the remnant to you, not for Guyana. Your words of righteousness and the good life to the people of Guyana came from you. And the electorate gave you the opportunity to do right by them.

The godly men that surrounds you should uphold you in righteousness.

Your words to the people of Linden, " For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."

It is said, when a God-fearing person receives the words from God, he hear the words in the voice of his mentor. In the case of Samuel, he heard Eli's voice when God called him. For me, immediately my thoughts goes back to my youthful days of the village mentors..

When you seek God, examine your immediate thoughts.   

There isn't an easy solution for the current situation Guyana. You need to ask for the wisdom of Solomon. Not the PNC, for they will not  give you the answers to please the nation.

For the Afro-Guyanese, I understand their fears and distrust of the Jagdeo cabal. Likewise the fears of Indo-Guyanese are real believing that rights and justice lies with their vote. Good leadership quells all fears, doubts and distrust. And Guyana lacks that.

These are trying times for the entire world and God in His word tells us of these time, Isaiah 26, verses 20 and 21.

God Bless you my Brother.

Sincerely.
Velutha Kuttapen
timehri@golden.net

www.timehritoday.blogspot.com

Letter One

Fellow Citizens.

It is time we take issues with the Indo thing –the Afro thing – and the Amerind thing.  Governments we’ve had, failed miserably in taking the country in the direction of Nationalism –the pride of belonging to a country. Every government fostered their relationship with the citizens as communities within a community. Be it race or religion. They played the game of quiet division – priding themselves with photo opportunities giving meager handouts – house lots, boat, gifts for cultural events, etc, etc, etc,. The citizens of this country own all the lands and all the resources on it.

Why must we grovel for what is ours?

Guyanese of every race whether at home or abroad would say, “If only the people could see beyond race, Guyana could be a paradise to live in.” One would believe that we never in our life or history ever transcend racism. But we have. Seldom, but we have for moments forgotten our racism.  Think of the times at Bourda, where together, we cheered our cricketing heroes throughout the decades when the scourge of divisional politics came upon us. Similar to the curses of Pandora’s Chest.

In this decade, think of the times when Shivnarine Chandrapaul - at the wicket with his bat. Strokes and blows to the leather chasing a century at a fast pace. The crowds roar with excitement, swept away in the magic of the moment. Everyone at the stadium, television or radio knows, that’s a Guyanese on glory’s trail. The proud moment exclaimed in chants of his name. Not, “Shivnarine Chandrapaul”, instead it is “Chanders”. A name coined by all races of Guyana for their cricketing hero.

For an on-looker, familiar with the reasons of our hatefulness, moistness must come to his or her eyes. Not so much for Chanders’ glory, but to actually see our countrymen and women, for a brief moment forget about their difference.

I want to capture that moment with you. I want to get you to listen to the promise of the future - a glorious future of a better standard of living. And a just society.

I call on all who want to voice, but are quiet. I call on all those who have religiously written in the letter columns of the newsprint – GHK Lall, Leon Suseran, Maxwell, Kissoon, Chris Ram, Golsarran and the many others who have etched their pains, sorrows and dismays with ink on paper. I have read many of my countrymen comments over decades. I call on Tacuma Ogunseye. I call on ACDA.  Mr. Norton you cannot be idle. Karen De Souza and Clarissa Reihl your previous efforts must not be discounted in a movement that seeks a unified opposition. Many of you have been there in the past. Clinton Urling and the Blue Caps movement. The women whose works are beneficial to the abused in our society. Your desires for a better country that cares.

It is time again.

Our country needs a turning back. It has been heading the wrong way since 1953.

I am extending my hand to you, I ask you to take it. When you take it, I will not walk ahead of you. I shall join your ranks. Side by side we will walk – together we will forge our future. And you will be an active part of it.  It is not impossible for such an effort.

 And the deliverer of the Israelites enquired from God and He answered, “Is there anything too hard for Me to do.”      

We cannot escape the Racism that exists in this country. And to say, it is not there, is to fool one self. In particular, we have Guyanese who write continually on the marginalization of Afro-Guyanese. At the current trend, I cannot predict when this nation will be able to embrace itself with the races of people we proudly say we have in our midst. But we must do what we must do to develop a country for all.  We have seen political parties that have trampled on the civil rights of ethnic groups in our history. And we never know when again such men would come out of the woodwork and receive approval of their constituents.

If you have no political affiliations or disillusioned with the current state of this country or you have abandoned a current political party because of indifference to its leadership. This is an invitation to you.

This is a call to every Guyanese.

At no time in our history has this country been so ready for a change. Our representatives still toy with communism, socialism and cronyism or whatever suits their fancies. Failing miserably at providing a system of government that do good for the citizens. Instead of speaking to the needs of the citizens, these Guyanese international speakers glorify the achievements of other nations-not realizing that it was men and women with vision that charted the rise of such countries. In Guyana, our government on all occasions do everything possible to drown out the voices of citizens who want to make their country a better place. Perhaps, it is only lip service they peddle at home and abroad.

Two question needs to be asked. Is there anyone coming to rescue Guyana from the sixty four years of divisional and opportunistic politics? The other question. Will you the multitude of impoverished citizens be willing to change from the inside? Setting aside physical appearance. Choosing the correct path for a country that you will leave behind for your children and the children yet to come after you have departed this life. Our lives are interwoven, yet as Guyanese we live as communities within a community. It is the culture we fashioned for ourselves and culture is in the mind.  When the mind is changed, then the culture will change.

This is your moment to stop the wholesale giving away of your inheritance. Our own takes advantage of our indifferences.

Choose well.

For we are a people given the blessed inheritance of fertile ground- rich with minerals, vast forests and water ways teeming with life. Our forefathers had arrived here by different boats from continents and cultures we can only read about. But today, we are all in this boat we proudly call Guyana - the same boat. Unknowingly, a unique culture was fashioned for us and every verse of our National Anthem reminds us of it. The colours on our national flag display our diversity.

And from time to time, we are told by those who govern us, we are One People, One Nation with One Destiny. Those who say so, have not demonstrated the true meaning of those words. As an impoverished people, you are busy trying to survive in a country that cares less about poverty and caring of the aged. Lacking the desires of offering a better standard of living to the citizens.

For five of the races - our presence on this land is fairly recent in comparison to the Native People-first to arrive out of the Old World into this New World. Living uninterrupted for thousands of years before adventurous Europeans imposed themselves among them. Later, Gold, Greed and God mingled in their midst-inflicting severe hardships for those who were brought here from West Africa, The Azores, China, Calcutta, Madras and Bombay.

As a nation, you overcame adversities by conscientious action-Slave Rebellions, Emancipation, Labour Unrest, Independence and many more trials.

Political Independence was never about the end of adversities - instead of foreign, we now have to contend with our own homebred elites.

So, my fellow countrymen.

This is just another adversity we have to overcome. Remove an old political system riddled with careless and doan care individuals.

Once, not so many years ago I boarded a flight out of Timehri. Thirty thousand feet in the air, I opened the BWIA magazine. There, I read of a man who lived in England that had travelled the Hinterlands of British Guiana. I did not read twice. For it is true for every Guyanese, no matter where we live. I would learn the meaning of the Amerindian word “Timehri”-the mark of the hand. The writer reflected on the drawings etched into the rocks, depicting the way of life of the native people of Guiana. Our history is incomplete without theirs - for they have treasured these lands for thousands of years. They are not a culture. They are a civilization.

The writer continued, “For the produce of the ground (Guyana) nourished my body and my thirst quenched by its streams.”

Reflections on that article caused me to be grateful for growing up in Guyana.

I remembered the countless individuals of my village, they were role models with encouraging words.

Many gone from this life.

I cannot drown that article out of my head. Neither can I surrender the goodness and kindness of those who have invested in me and others like me in the multitudes of village that make up Guyana. That was a time in Guyana when we had something of value.

It is time to care again.

Sincerely,

Velutha Kuttapen.

timehri@golden.net

www.timehritoday.blogspot.com