By M Margaret Burke
“THE future for Guyana rests with the people of Guyana – we have to work as a team to make this happen and we have to avoid everything and everyone that can turn out to be destructive and divisive for Guyana; this is Guyana and it is for all Guyanese,” were the words of advice being offered by Dr. Ed Yansem, adding, that it should be a clear and consistent message that he feels the government should find a way to promote daily. Dr. Yansem was one of the celebrators in a large group of Guyanese from the Diaspora on Mashramani day.
He told the Pepperpot Magazine that he keeps coming back to Guyana for Mashramani after being abroad for many years. He said that this is one time that he has seen such social unity, “where there is no division between groups… it is probably one of those things in Guyana where you distinctly see social cohesion and we need to figure a way to build on this; not to make it a ceremony, but to use it as a way to promote the fact that we are one people and we need to look at a common future and work together to make it happen,” he stated.
Dr. Yansem said that he loves Guyana and sees the place as a paradise, but that the sad part of it is that many Guyanese do not realise it. He said that there are people who are dying to come here and enjoy what Guyana has to offer but suggested that this has to be promoted.
According to Dr. Yansem, Guyana currently possesses an opportunity of a lifetime to change the country for generations to come… “We have to seize the moment, we can’t let it go,” he offered, noting that there are many great things about Guyana – its sunshine; freshness of foods and the lack of many natural disasters.
This, he posited, is an opportunity in a lifetime to change this country to a direction that for generations will never be the same and reminded of one of his great teachers who always said: tempus fugit – time flies.
GRAND COMING TOGETHER
Guyanese living mostly in Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States of America came together for a planned time of enjoyment for the recently held Mashramani celebrations. They all met at what they termed ‘the regular place’ in Georgetown, to shake themselves, do some relaxing, eating, drinking and being merry.
Clive and Vanessa Sampson told the Pepperpot Magazine that they have felt a commitment to spend Mashramani as a family, but also with their very close friends, whom they also see as extended family. They noted that this 2019 Mashramani they have enjoyed one of the largest groups of friends – most of whom were from overseas.
Sampson said that soon after re-migrating to Guyana after living overseas for 45 years, he and his wife have been making it their duty every year to ensure that their two young sons, who are now 14 and 12 years old, truly enjoy Mashramani.
“Because we have been out here for such a long time – since our children were in pampers; now these children are inviting their friends and their friends’ family too, so it is really nice and it is making the crowd of friends and family much larger… I always want to teach our children to appreciate other people; to appreciate other people’s culture; not to shun other people but to respect them,” added Vanessa.
A WARM ATMOSPHERE
“I think that this is so warm; the only thing is that I felt that they should have much more external public toilets around so that people can access them; another thing I feel is that they should cut out a lot of the ‘side music’ because it is preventing us from enjoying a lot of the music that is coming from the parade as they pass. The music should not be allowed to be along the route as the bands are passing – it does not make sense; the band alone should be taking the parade, since many times we aren’t able to hear what the band is playing and if there is a message to it,” Clive suggested.
He noted that the Police Force should be really complemented for the “fantastic job” they did at the event this year, adding, that he had never seen it like this before and that he was really happy with the way they worked.
ATMOSPHERE OF JOLLIFICATION
Sam Carter, another member of the group said that his expectation was that a whole lot more Guyanese music – especially steelpan music, would have been played on the streets of Georgetown for the people to mash. He added that he went to some of the local Mash competitions this year, and having gone there and heard the steel orchestra and listened to the various Calypso and Soca at the other competitions, he could not understand why much more of that music was not played for the Mashramani.
He expressed disappointment to the fact that since Guyana possess such “excellent steel orchestra players and good music” yet the country would still allow so much of other music to be played at such a national event. “I have no problem with other music being played,” he said, but he felt that much more emphasis ought to be placed on “our own music of such great calibre.”
He now resides in Guyana but has lived overseas for over 50 years, and says that he has no regrets coming back to his homeland.
GRAND COMING TOGETHER
Carter went on to say that while most of the friends gathered to celebrate Mashramani 2019 are Guyanese, many of them lived overseas for many years and have now decided to return home, while some are still living abroad, but look forward to spending time together.
His wife, Gwenette Carter, said that they are comfortable being back home in Guyana. “We do our own kitchen garden and everything is self-sufficient. I plant my own greens; I hardly ever go to the market – I pick all my vegetables from my back yard and generally I am absolutely happy to be back home after spending about 50 years overseas.”
GUYANA, A PARADISE
Leon Bowlin and his wife Glennena , who are also re-migrants, similarly stated how happy they were to be celebrating Mashramani 2019 here in Guyana, also saying that Guyana is a paradise,
Leon added, “My feeling is that with all of the challenges that we have, it is still a beautiful place to live… Yes, there are some difficulties, especially after living in the US and being accustomed to doing things in a certain way, so that you are back home now and have to adjust, if not’ you can get very frustrated.” He said that tardiness was one of the major issues he has found in Guyana and that he had to learn to overcome it.(mercilinburke2017@gmail.com)
