THE UNIVERSAL consumer motto is “Value for Money” which indicates that the consumer must be made to receive the full value of the goods and services for which he would have paid. This implies that the main concern of the consumer is to be treated fairly in the process of buying and selling. Such an understanding of consumerism is erroneous, since consumers are interested in maintaining a healthy environment in education and culture and in anything else which would enrich the quality of life.

Last week there was one such memorable cultural and educational event when there was the launching of Professor McGowan’s newest book “A Survey of Guyanese History”.

Dr. McGowan, a native of Georgetown, had a distinguished academic career. He attended St Rose’s Roman Catholic School and then Queen’s College. Thereafter, he went to the University of the West Indies at Mona, Jamaica, where he graduated with the Special Honours Degree in History. He then went on to the prestigious School of African and Oriental Studies of the University of London where he was awarded his Doctorate in West African History.

Unlike so many brilliant Guyanese who choose to pursue their careers in Europe, North America or other parts of the world, Dr. McGowan decided to return and serve his country. He joined the University of Guyana in 1970 and over the next 40 years did valuable research and taught generations of students. He reached the pinnacle of an academic career when he was appointed Professor and spent the last six years as the occupant of the prestigious Walter Rodney Chair in History. He was appointed Emeritus Professor in 2009.
Professor McGowan was recognised and honoured by the State with the Golden Arrow of Achievement (AA) and the Cacique Crown of Honour (CCH) for his valuable service to the Nation. He serves as a Minister of the Full Gospel Fellowship, a home-grown Pentecostal church.

“A Survey of Guyanese History” is a collection of essays and articles on subjects covering the gamut of Guyanese history. The book is arranged into 11 parts and each part deals with a number of subjects. The parts or themes are respectively titled: General Historical Description; Demography; The Slave Trade, Slavery and Abolition; Economic History; Church History; Education; Cricket; Labour and Trade Unionism; Biography; Nationalism and Movement towards Independence; and Miscellany. The topics covered under these themes are varied and always present an individual and new orientation. Some essays like those on the history of the various churches, that on the origins of the fishing industry, and those on cricket have made new knowledge and new perceptions available to the reader. The Slave Trade, Slavery and Abolition is the theme which has more essays than any of the others, and is particularly strong and valuable since this is an area of research and study which is one of Dr. McGowan’s specialities.

At the end of the book, there is a chapter on “Milestones: Significant Dates and Developments in Guyanese History, 1498 – 2016,” where the important dates and events of Guyanese History are outlined. This is a very useful precis of the Guyanese history and provides an easy reference.

Publishing a book in Guyana has never been easy and this achievement was Mr. Vic Insanally’s Guyenterprise. In Professor McGowan’s words: “My greatest human debt, however, is to my former classmate and long-standing friend, Victor Insanally, for agreeing to undertake the publication of the book, including raising funds to make it possible”.
The book is a delight to read and one could spend hours of continuous reading. It is the kind of gift which parents could well present their children at Christmas or other anniversaries.

The book-launching itself was a memorable event. It was done under the patronage of President David Granger and took place at the Baridi Benab in the grounds of State House. It was well attended with an audience which was multicultural, multiracial, appreciative and friendly to each other. It was reminiscent of such events in Old Georgetown where there was a closeness and almost familial ambience.

Dr. James Rose gave an interesting survey of the book and Mr. Tota Mangar spoke of Dr. McGowan. Dr. Rose, Mr. Mangar and Dr. McGowan were colleagues at the University of Guyana and their presentations had a professorial flavour. They all paid homage to Professor Sis. Mary Noel Menezies as being a great scholar, researcher, teacher and the mainstay of the History Department of the University of Guyana, for many years. The final remarks were made by His Excellency President David Granger who was a brilliant student of history and was responsible for several educational and historical publications. Several members of the audience who knew President Granger only as a General in the Armed Forces were pleasantly surprised to learn of his brilliant academic record. In his remarks, the President spoke spontaneously from his heart recalling his early days at Queen’s College when he studied Caribbean History which had been introduced to the school by Pat Dial and taught by him. He recollected the time when politics in Guyana had no racist undertones. He awakened a sense of Guyanese nationality in all those present and manifested his warm egalitarianism when he freely circulated among the audience.