I LEARNT how different we in the post-colonial world are when I went to study in Canada. What colonialism did to us was to replace our history and fill it with its account of our history.
Canada, of course, was not a colonial power and never had a repressive relationship with the post-colonial world. But Canada has learnt from the ideological way the Western world does things and sees itself as an integral part of Western cultural thinking.
It was in Canada, as a newly-arrived Caribbean youth, I found out how important history is to them. At the universities throughout Canada, sections of the universities are named after famous people who once made valued contributions to the universities. The graduate library at my alma mater, the University of Toronto, was named the Jason Robarts Library.
I returned from Canada and discovered that we in Guyana were found wanting in our historical appreciation for our heroes, patriots, nationalists and icons and valued societal contributors. We don’t have the time or energy or willingness to preserve their iconic status.
I will continue to show my appreciation for what President Burnham did in changing Murray Street to Quamina Street. Murray was the hangman during slavery. Imagine the colonials named a street after a hangman.
Several persons have asked me for my reaction to the new Demerara River bridge being named after former President. My immediate reaction was that I see absolutely nothing wrong with it and that we must name things after our presidents. Forbes Burnham and Cheddi Jagan are exceptions. They are the founders of the anti-colonial struggle.
Mr. Desmond Hoyte ruled from 1985 to 1992. Mr. Jagdeo governed from 1999 to 2011. Things should be named after them. Several times in my columns in the past, I suggested that North Road be named after President Hoyte.
There is no significance in the names of North Road and South Road. They should be changed. In the past, I also suggested that South Road be named after the High Court. Name it High Court Street. Everyone in Guyana knows about the famous High Court that sits on South Road.
We have just acquired a ferry from Greece. It was not donated. Guyana paid for it. It will do the Parika-Supenaam run. The Greek name is still on the ferry. This is not a matter for the City Council that has been absolutely delinquent in renaming streets after famous Guyanese contributors.
This is the domain of the Ministry of Public Works. I am recommending that the Greek name of that ferry be changed as soon as possible.
What the Ministry of Public Works should do is ether give the ferry a Guyanese name or invite suggestions from the public. There has to be someone from Parika and Region Two who has made an outstanding contribution to those places. I cannot see how we could pay for a ferry from Greece and retain the Greek name. That makes no sense.
I have noticed that at its last graduation that UG has awarded a number of doctorates. While I have no problem with that policy, what happens when the person dies? Would the next generation remember there was a chutney star named Terry Gajraj? But they will know who he is if his identity lives on in a street name.
If we look around the corners of our history, there are iconic Guyanese that must have some things named after them. Janet Jagan automatically comes to mind. This was a giant of a woman who gave up her citizenship of the US and stood tall in Guyana and made a courageous and indelible contribution to this country. She became the first woman president of Guyana.
What is named after her? Which part of Guyana do we see her name? This is incredibly sad and wrong. Mrs. Jagan was an extraordinary woman. Guyana must show its gratitude in some way. She lived a majority of her life in New Haven just off Sherriff Street. Maybe New Haven should be renamed Janet Jagan square.
There are just too many streets and districts in this country that reside in a history that was sordid, a history that the colonial empire distorted and reshaped. We must reclaim our cultural history. I close with a wider point and again, Burnham comes to mind. He gave us Mandela Avenue, named after one of history’s most courageous humans.
We should also recognise our Caribbean and global heroes by naming things after them in Guyana. The Caribbean may never see a Bob Marley again. Patrice Lumumba was one of the post-colonial world’s early heroes. The time has come for name-changing. I do welcome the bridge in Mr. Jagdeo’s name so let’s continue from there and very quickly too.

DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Guyana National Newspapers Limited.