The journey to freedom

TODAY marks the 49th Anniversary of this country as a republic. This ultimate attainment of the right to self-determination did not come without struggles that resulted in the loss of lives and the shedding of blood and tears.

The journey for freedom began on these shores centuries ago by our First Peoples who resisted subjugation by those who came from afar to conquer in the name of foreign kings and queens. That initial extending of the hands of friendship resulted in efforts to deceive with trinkets and to enslave. Though invasion resulted in decimation of some through diseases brought by others, the indigenous peoples resisted the Europeans’ efforts to deny them the right to determine their destiny. After deeming Amerindians unfit for their designs, in the obsession to conquer and prove expansionist might, sights were turned to Africa.

In justifying the enslavement of Africans, this group was considered sub-human, without civilisation, and deserving to be treated as chattel property. Africans were brought against their will across the Atlantic in the Slave Trade to give of their labour under force. They were enchained, abused from dust to dawn, and used as mules to secure the wealth of others.

An entire race was denied their right to identity, inclusive of language, family structure and other aspects of their culture. The men were used as breeding studs, the women to satisfy the enslavers’ lust, as children were wrenched from their mothers’ bosoms, their fathers’ embrace, and traded to the highest bidder. Tens of millions died during the horrors of the Atlantic Trade, and others opted to take their lives as a mark of dignity rather than be enslaved, others fought on.

The numerous rebellions and revolutions which positively stood out in the long, dark years of their history is testimony to a people, who, though physically enchained, were not mentally enslaved. The 1763 Berbice Slave Rebellion, the day that marks the achievement of republican status from Great Britain, lest we forget, predates the abolition of the Slave Trade Act by 44 years. The 1763 rebellion encouraged others to fight on and played a major role in toppling the system of slavery. This date set in train a series of events.
Seventeen-sixty-three (1763) proved that oppression and deprivation will never suppress the innate desire of man to be free. And where the abominable system of slavery was toppled in 1838, another system of oppression called indentureship was birthed. Indentureship speaks to a system whereby persons were enticed to come to Guyana and give of their labour for a bonded period and at a cost. The indentureship community spanned Africa, to China, to Portugal and India, from where the vast majority came.
Those who were part of the indentured system were subjected to poor living and working conditions and though their cultures were allowed to be practised, in the main, theirs were considered inferior to the Europeans.’ When some are seen as lesser than others, the system of inequality and injustice would continue to reign, as it justifies acceptance to deny people their fundamental rights and freedoms. And a system such as this, practised in slavery, indentureship and colonisation, rightfully drew the ire of the oppressed and fuelled their passion to topple it.

For whereas slavery treated labour as chattel, indentured as bonded, and colonised as subjects, all had one common theme pulling them together– i.e. inequality. Another thing we all have in common, which is oft overlooked, is that members of the European community played significant roles alongside the oppressed to overthrow the system of tyranny. The colonised, whose existence is hinged to the struggles and achievements of their forebears, having taken up the baton to achieve independence (26th May, 1966), strengthened the foundation and pillars for self-determination, where full political attainment came on 23rd February, 1970. And where those who have fought for the freedom we enjoy today, it need not be forgotten that it includes the freedom of our political, social, cultural and economic rights to self-determination.

As Guyanese celebrate our achievement of centuries of hard work, on this Mashramani Day, let us as citizens not forget we have more in common that unite rather than divide us. This sense of unity and purpose we must zealously guard and fortify. For the celebration of freedom never comes or is sustained freely, it requires eternal vigilance and sacrifice, and we must continue the hard work to protect and ensure everyone enjoys it. Happy 49th Guyana.

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