Dear Editor,
AS Guyana continues in celebration of its Jubilee year, one particular tribute to the nation has revealed a significant anomaly in the interpretation and reference of a particular set of historical records, the past Presidents of Guyana. Early in the celebrations as schools began mounting creative exhibits and decorations of patriotism, I noticed at one particular school in Campbellville, a photographic exhibition on the exterior wall of the school, depicting the past Presidents of the Republic, supposedly in chronological order. However, one was distinctively missing.I passed there again today, and more than a month after the exhibit was mounted for public consumption, it remains the same. Shockingly, my son who was in the taxi with me, indicated that the particular past President that I identified, was also missing in his school’s exhibition. The taxi driver exclaimed disbelief that the man was indeed President of the Cooperative Republic.
Samuel Archibald Anthony Hinds, Honorary Doctor and Order of Excellence Awardee, was legally and constitutionally sworn in as Guyana’s fourth Executive President on March 6th 1997, upon the sudden death of President Cheddi Jagan. He served as President and Commander in Chief of the armed forces until December of that year, when he resigned to allow the ascension of Janet Jagan who had won the general elections.
His tenure as President was a short period (9 months), but even if it were for just one day, the records would still reflect that he was President. I do not understand therefore how teachers at that school and supposedly at other schools, can miss the omission of such an important fact in their students’ work, for public display at that.
The Ministry of Education ought to have this anomaly in the curriculum, or at the least the inadvertent promulgation of this falsehood of our country’s history corrected across the system. It is indeed an indictment on the nation for one who has given so selflessly to public service of the highest calibre, for so many years, to be treated so nonchalantly, worst yet in our year of Golden Jubilee.
I would also like to have the incomparable Vic Persaud or any other competent authority shed some light on the correct protocol in referring to Sam Hinds, in retirement. I often see reference to him as Former Prime Minister. Should the reference title used be the last one held, or the highest constitutional office held during tenure? Whichever one holds, this stalwart political national servant, whatever your thoughts on the quality of his service, ought to be given his due regard, owed to him by this nation. He passed by my house last week and offered a wave and the only thought that went through my mind was, “what an underappreciated Elder Statesman.” We need to at least display his picture.
Sincerely,
Dario Mcklmon