THERE are some people who are of the view that we should not go back to the past, but focus instead on what we can do now to make this country a better place.

The argument advanced that no good can come our way by invoking the “ghosts” of our past and therefore any mention of the past should be avoided.

History, however, is a great teacher. And while I share the view that we have to be forward looking, I also believe that we cannot ignore our past as though it never happened.

This is why we have commemorative activities every year to remind us of the horrors of our past history, such as slavery and indentureship, which are considered as aberrations in our history which we should all resolve to prevent from recurring.

In like manner, we should not ignore what transpired during that dark period of dictatorial and undemocratic rule when our basic and fundamental rights were taken away from us by the PNC regime.

The pain and sufferings of our ancestors are kept alive in our collective memories through reference to our past history. We must learn from our past and use the lessons of the past to ensure that we do not repeat our past mistakes.

As Jim Jones of the notorious Jonestown People’s Temple reminds us, ‘those who forget the past are condemned to repeat it.’

HYDAR ALLY