Let us be proud of our “Guyaneseness”

TIMES INT'L

Dear Editor,

I read the rather thought-provoking piece about “Guyaneseness” by Ravi Dev. The question is “Why do we have to hear about Africans and Indians or Amerindians? Why can’t we all just be Guyanese?” This brought back memories of our experience in the UK in the 1950s/1960s, when seeking accommodation. Landlords/ladies, when they heard a non-British accent, would often enquire about one’s nationality. Guyanese would always say they were from South America, to dispel the negative image the British had of “Windrush”.

In Guyana, in the 1990s, I asked a Guyanese man why he described himself as “African”, when the accepted term was “black”. His answer was that it was a case of heritage. I smiled and made no comment, as I remembered a Nigerian in London saying that West Indians were not regarded by Africans as one of theirs, because we are descendants of slaves.

A Jamaican work colleague, married to a Nigerian, told me of her unpleasant experience, on meeting her in-laws for the first time, when they visited London. She was accompanied by a Nigerian friend, who spoke the language. Her sisters-in-law in their own language mockingly wondered aloud why their brother had to marry “a cane field girl”.

Guyanese may be proud of their African heritage and try to cling to it. The native African seems to have other ideas of superiority. Let us be proud of our Guyaneseness”.

Let us not overlook the fact that “……America, and Canada as well as Britain as all other stable democracies………..” are not on all fours with Guyana. Theirs is basically a case of black versus whites – a race/skin colour thing. So legislation could work there. In Guyana’s case it might prove ‘a problem for a solution’. Colour of skin and texture of hair matter.

I also read with sadness the lament of a letter signed by a “Concerned Pensioner”, describing them to be “now useless Pensioners, having served through the good and bad times. Now old and senile, useless”.

I would earnestly suggest that the elderly should never see themselves as ‘useless’. My husband and I are both in our mid-80s and, although we are not as agile as we were when young, we are still able to take part in community affairs and our advice is often sought out by others.

In my case, I am not 80 years old but a sweet 16 with 64 years of experience. Now that’s attitude.

Sincerely,

Geralda Dennison

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