FORMER Commonwealth Secretary General, Sir Shridath Ramphal, has called for a return of “civic education” as a subject in the primary school system, pointing out that values of social cohesion cannot be achieved spontaneously.Contending that social cohesion has to be nurtured through sound education, the distinguished diplomat said a standard textbook on the subject should be developed. This, he said, must be through consultation with teachers, religious leaders and other interested parties.

Speaking at the opening of the social cohesion round-table discussion at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, on Thursday, Sir Shridath said the aim of the project should be to provide pupils with a broad understanding of their rights and duties as citizens, with emphasis on cooperation.
Differences in race and religion, he said, should be treated as an enriching rather than a divisive part of the Guyanese culture and emphasised that all has a role to play in building national social cohesion.
“Social cohesion has to begin from each and every one of us, it has to be administered on the level of understanding, it has to become a part of our national ethos. A Guyanese cannot be an educated person unless he is educated or has educated himself in ‘civics’ in relation to our one people society,” Sir Shridath told the gathering which consisted of groups from a wide cross-section of society.
He said too that political leaders have a duty to inspire and to motivate the people in embracing Guyana as a land of “one people, one nation, with one destiny”.
Sir Shridath said the blight of racial division was first imposed by the colonisers as a system to maintain control over the people.
Some of the leaders who replaced the colonisers, he said, adopted the same policies to gain political advantage while some even advocated partition of Guyana.
NOT WORST AS BEFORE
But, he said, the Guyana today is not as worst as it was decades ago, when cultural associations and sporting clubs were identifiable by race.
Independence, he said, cleared the ground for social cohesion to grow and developed, but this has not happened as envisioned.
On this score, he urged politicians to pay attention to their action and the impact it can have on social cohesion, looking beyond the next elections.
Sir Shridath also advised that there must always be room for political difference and compromise on policy since it would reflect a more mature citizenship in the process of nation-building.
And as Guyana celebrates 50 years as an Independent nation next year, the distinguished diplomat contends that it is time the nation be presented with a birthday present, and social cohesion must not remain elusive.
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative Khadija Musa said building social cohesion requires collective participation and is a necessary tool in problem-solving.
But she pointed out that no society is totally cohesive and sound policies are required to make a difference. These, she said, are affective when implemented primarily in the areas of education, health care and social protection.
Musa said as a maturing democracy, all have to contribute to the process of building Guyana, and this would require differences be left behind, and everyone to hold hands and moved forward.
However, the envoy stressed that no effort should be spared in holding the Government accountable to what it promised to deliver.
But he said those not in Government must be fair, and help in the Government to deliver on their promises, for the good of Guyana.
British High Commissioner to Guyana Greg Quinn expressed high optimism of the round-table discussion but said it will not reap success overnight.
He also said the Government cannot be expected to do everything, stressing that all have a role to play in building social cohesion.
The diplomat told the gathering that for Guyana to develop and prosper, social cohesion is necessary, and the round-table discussion is a step in the right direction.

By Tajeram Mohabir