Dear Editors,

IT is a tradition for me to submit my reflections on Guyana at the end of each of my frequent visits to this fascinating country. Those readers who may have noticed my previous contributions may recall that I am a History professor in the Faculty of Education, York University, in Toronto.

My wife is of Guyanese descent, and we are currently engaged in major renovations of our house in Georgetown with the goal of making it a winter retirement home to escape the cold Canadian winters. I will be returning to a particularly nasty one shortly after New Year’s after having spent a month here, which has been more than sufficient time for me to gather my thoughts about the current state of this country, as Cromwell might say, “warts and all.”

My wife is a highly educated woman who openly admits to one “guilty pleasure” — that is, soap operas. “The Young and the Restless” is her favourite and she finds that every time she returns to Canada after an extended stay in Guyana it is quite easy for her to pick up the plot, no matter how much time has elapsed since her last viewing. I find myself in much the same situation whenever I turn to one of the three daily papers, all of which I subscribe to during my sojourns here. Their front pages inevitably depict in lurid details the latest round of car crashes (usually fatal), robberies, stabbings, choppings, and other assorted forms of murder and mayhem, etc. and that’s just a foretaste to what lies in store for me once I arrive at the more “serious” news, letters to the editor, regular opinion pieces, etc. Although the specifics may differ depending on the time of my visit, the general themes are unsurprisingly and depressingly similar. Politically motivated allegations of corruption and malfeasance, skepticism over the possibility of any improvement in the country’s economy (e.g. -the much anticipated “oil boom”), and the ongoing partisan rehashing of the political history of the country from the time of independence to the present day are all staple subjects, with predictable spins and slants, depending on the allegiance of the commentator. And unfortunately, even before I actually read a particular letter or article, I can usually anticipate the viewpoint expressed merely by noting the surname of the contributor.

As a professor of history, this last topic is of particular interest to me, since I have always believed, and have often told my students, that if you don’t know where you come from, you can have no idea of where you are now, still less, where you may be headed in the future. The issue of contested historical memory is a very controversial one at the moment, and not only in Guyana, where it seems to me to be a national pastime. Just one example will suffice from the United States, where there has been heated debate and even violence arising from the removal of statues and monuments honouring Confederate generals and politicians in southern cities. My personal opinion is that while these statues should be removed from places of honour, they should not just be destroyed. Instead, they should be relocated in museums or other public places where accurate information about them can be offered, thus placing them in their correct historical context. Thus, history is not “erased” or “revised,” but instead “revisited” in a way that can lead to deeper understanding and appreciation of the wounds of the past, and just possibly more empathy regarding the suffering they have caused, in the future.

From my perspective as a relatively well-informed outsider, Guyana seems to be a particularly difficult case in this regard, since the memories and the wounds of the past are still fresh, and many of those who were involved in the tumultuous and tragic transition from colonial rule to nationhood are still with us today. This was especially evident to me during my last visit, in the run-up to the Independence Jubilee celebrations in May, 2016. What should have been a great opportunity for national unity and renewal was to my recollection spoiled by yet another round of partisan spats and slights, with both government and opposition leaders accusing each other of “playing politics” with the independence anniversary observances. Thus, what could have been a real chance to turn a page on the past and look instead to a more positive future was squandered, with predictable and ongoing results that linger on over a year after the glow of the Jubilee has faded.

It is not my intention to offer my own historical perspective on this contentious issue, still less present a judgment favouring one side or the other. I have no idea when or even if the ghosts of history will ever be laid to rest in Guyana, and how this highly desirable outcome could ever be made a reality. It would be a “consummation devoutly to be wished,” to quote Shakespeare, that the spirits of Dr. Cheddi Jagan and Linden Forbes Burnham might be finally allowed to rest in peace, secure in the knowledge that the country they both loved and in their own ways gave so much to build, might find itself on the path to development, progress, and most of all, national reconciliation. But one can live in hope, I suppose.

Unlike most of my Guyanese friends and family members who form part of the national diaspora and have no desire ever to return here, I actually look forward to my visits, despite the frustrations and annoyances I sometimes encounter, including power blackouts, suicidal motorists, and occasionally indifferent service in stores, restaurants, etc. And as far as the much-vaunted “crime wave” is concerned, up to now I have never experienced a single threat to life, limb, or wallet, despite the sometimes hysterical warnings and concerns about my personal safety expressed by expatriate Guyanese back home before I depart. Maybe I’ve just been lucky so far, but my motto has always been “when in Rome” and as much as possible, given my skin colour, I try to blend in with my surroundings, not be too conspicuous, walk without valuables or excessive amounts of cash, and most importantly, treat others with the respect and consideration I would expect to receive myself. Up to now, this has proved to be a winning formula for me here, one that I sincerely hope will prevail, especially since I plan to spend longer periods of time here during the winter months.

In closing, I would like to wish all the citizens of what may soon become my part-time “adopted country” a very happy holiday and all the best for 2018. It is my hope that someday Guyana may actually live up to and realise the words of its inspiring national motto, “One People, One Nation, One Destiny.”

Regards

Dr. Peter Flaherty
Faculty of Education
York University