TODAY, Guyana officially observes its 50th anniversary as a republic. When considering the life of a country, five decades is not a very long time. But given the tremendous global changes that have occurred since 1970, it seems like ages since Guyana declared its separation from the British monarchy. At the time it was a very bold step that some described in unflattering terms. Coming as it did a mere four years after attaining constitutional independence, it was bound to be seen as controversial. Guyana was in effect declaring a total institutional break with its colonial past. That only two other countries in the Anglophone Caribbean have dared to follow Guyana’s lead in this regard underscores that boldness.

In many respects, republicanism, which is defined as rule by the people or the public, was the completion of the independence project. Independence , it was reasoned, could not be a reality while the monarch of England remained the Head of State and the Privy Council continued as Guyana’s court of last resort. It was therefore a very radical political move that in the context of the Cold War marked the country for special attention by the western powers. When one takes into consideration the government’s move to nationalise the commanding heights of the economy, our republican status assumed greater significance.
Republicanism logically deepened Guyanese nationalism. After more than three centuries of bondage in the form of slavery, indentureship and colonialism, Guyanese cried out for their own indigenous identity forged in its resistance to that bondage. Rejection of monarchical rule was in effect an affirmation of the Guyanese quest for self-hood and self-determination. This was at the heart of the decision to name the new republic the Cooperative Republic of Guyana. It was a recognition of the spirit of cooperation that was central to the survival of and resistance to bondage.

What is often not always recalled is that the decision to move to a republic met with universal agreement among the political adversaries of that time. The PPP, despite its suspicion of the PNC, welcomed the republic which also found favour with the more radical groups in the country such as the African Society for Cultural Relations with Independent Africa (ASCRIA) and the Movement Against Oppression (MAO). Given what was to transpire later in the decade, this was indeed a critical development.
As Guyana observes the Golden Jubilee of republicanism, we can give thanks that the republic has survived. There were challenges from within and outside its borders. The nationalist path to economic development embarked on by the government of the first two decades of republicanism was in the context of the Cold War seen as an ideological challenge to the West. Domestically, the logic of ethnic and ideological diversity tested the republic, but in the end, we survived.

Some of the major founding fathers and mothers of the republic are no longer around, but we give thanks for their wisdom and vision. Forbes Burnham must be remembered for his bold leadership at that critical juncture and Cheddi and Janet Jagan must also be hailed for their cooperation. Others such as Shridath Ramphal, Hamilton Green, Ashton Chase and Eusi Kwayana are still around and deserve our thanks. In fact, Kwayana is credited with giving the republic its name. We also remember the brave warriors of 1763 in whose honour the republic was christened. Cuffy, Acara, Atta, Acabreh and their band of freedom fighters inspired the move to republicanism.

The republic was born in the midst of art and culture. Our major carnival Mashramani, accompanied the declaration of self-hood and still stands today as a memory of the birth of the new independence. We sing and dance today in recognition and celebration of our survival as a nation poised to rise to the top. Yes. this 50th anniversary comes at the beginning of what promises to be a defining period in Guyana’s history. The arrival of the oil and gas economy opens up new possibilities for socio-economic development. The freedom from underdevelopment envisaged in 1970 stands its best chance of being realised. Perhaps this is an opportune time to renew our republican vows. There is still a lot of ground to cover . In a week’s time we go to another election to give voice and life to governance by the people. We will elect and re-elect representatives to guide the nation for the next five years. Let us in the heat of competition remember that the republic is greater than the political party.