‘Long walk to freedom’

ON FEBRUARY 11th, 1990, Mr. Nelson Mandela was released from prison after serving 27 years for fighting an apartheid system and government. His was a struggle to ensure all South Africans are treated as normal human beings, enjoying rights and freedoms prescribed by the United Nations, which also entail the right to vote for a party of choice to form the government.

In his autobiography, ‘Long walk to Freedom’, Mandela had this to say: “Freedom is indivisible; the chains on any one of my people were the chains on all of them, the chains on all of my people were the chains on me.” This sagacious statement transcends borders, is timeless, and serves as a motivational force. As Guyanese observe this 50th year of freedom from colonial domination, it helps to examine what freedom means to us; the path travelled; the leadership given, and the opportunities to do better.

One of the first and most important acts in ensuring the fostering of nationhood from 26th May, 1966 — given that we were a people who emerged from a divided history, where management of the nation’s business was premised on a policy of divide-and-rule — was the identification of a motto which speaks to unity and inseparableness: ‘One People, One Nation, One Destiny.’

This, conjointly with the establishment of systems and institutions through policies and laws, set in train efforts that would not only ensure the chains of domination were unshackled, but that the freedom to strengthen and deepen self-determination is realised. Some instances have been the freedom to practise one’s faith, national observation of diverse religious holidays, and respect for diverse religious unions. These have created space for enjoying one of the most basic, yet assumed rights, i.e. freedom of expression and the sharing of ideas and information.

A public education system built on the principle that each child should be afforded an education, regardless of economic ability, race or religion, opens opportunities to free the mind from viewing oneself as the subject of another, to seeing oneself as embracing the endless possibilities that come from a mind convinced in its equality, proud of its identity and determined to prove its ability.

As an independent nation, we commenced not only the intellectualising of our destiny, including revisiting/rewriting our history through our lenses, but we embarked on indigenous programmes which included research and development. Being free to think and explore in determining our destiny has seen production of our own foods, such as salted fish, salted beef, cereals and preserved local fruits.

Political freedom has also seen infrastructural development, manufacturing and assembling industries such as highways, roads, bridges, textiles, housewares, building materials, arts and craft, furniture, clothing, electrical appliances (radio, stereo, refrigerators, freezers), motor vehicles (tapir) and bicycles (Caloi). Such were the abilities displayed by innovative minds, which allowed for national and personal development.

No pretence is made that post-independence life has been all hunky-dory, without conflicts and challenges, be it in our personal lives, politics, system of governance, quality of governance, and the type of leaders. Out of this recognition, Mandela’s conviction that “the chains on any one of my people were the chains on all of them, the chains on all of my people were the chains on me,” becomes relevant.

For while political freedom has been achieved, where any citizen feels constrained or is prohibited from enjoying the freedoms and rights that come with independence and is enshrined in an indigenous constitution, there remains work to be done. It means that none must be denied the freedom Guyanese fought for, and all must ensure our efforts are redoubled to be our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers.

It means the political leadership has to take cognisance of the shortfalls, and assiduously work to remedy them. This is applicable to both government and opposition. Freedom means every Guyanese must enjoy what the laws guarantee him/her, and every government must assert its freedom to safeguard and defend the nation’s sovereignty from domestic and foreign threats, and enforce the laws in protection of its citizens.

There is a long walk to freedom. It started with the first enslaved, centuries ago. Thus, each generation is required to do its bit and bequeath to future generations a deeper and stronger freedom. Lest we forget, freedom is not free; it requires eternal vigilance and sacrifice, and is never fully attained until… (Reprinted)

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