1966 was an historic year. British Guiana was throwing off the shackles of British Colonialism to achieve Independence on May 26, – 900 years, after William of Normandy had invaded England. Relative calm had returned to the nation after the political upheavals of 1962 to 1964, as we now prepared to become “One People, One Nation, One Destiny”
These ‘prophetic’ words, which became our ‘nation’s motto, first appeared May 1958 during a massive Float Parade in honour of the visit of Princess Margaret. Six floats depicting the ‘Six Peoples’ produced by the Theatre Guild carried this slogan. I portrayed a Chinese ‘coolie’ shopkeeper’, complete with pigtails, while the Chinese Dragon Dancers
showcased their culture.
Later that year, in October, Minister Brindley Benn, Minister of Education and Community Development, adopted the May motto, as the slogan for ‘History and Culture Week. There’s much conjecture today in the new millennium whether this ‘Oneness’ has been achieved. February 1966, Queen Elizabeth visited, signifying the beginning of the end of 163 years of British rule. The Queen attended a Royal Race Meet at Durban Park, and I was particularly pleased when visiting the Legislature, she paused on the balcony to admire briefly my décor on the Demico House façade, which was a ‘striking tribute to the House of Windsor’.
Locally, feverish preparations for the independence celebrations were in full swing. The year before Major Clarence Price had assumed command of the Guyana Defence Force from Col Pope, and the local forces were in continuous ‘drill sessions’ preparing for the ‘pomp and circumstance’planned.
Rudy Bishop formed the renowned (Chronicle) Atlantic Symphony Orchestra off the Kitty foreshore, while 900 school children, together with performers from the Theatre Guild Dance Group – plus musical ensembles – the nation’s major choral groups – Police Male Voice Choir, – Police & other steel bands prepared for a lavish historical Pageant ‘Ours The Glory’ to be staged at the Queen Elizabeth Park (later renamed National Park). Cicely Robinson – was the pageant Director.
The Theatre Guild in conjunction with the National History and Arts Council staged ‘Guyana Legend’ written and directed by Ricardo Smith, with original musical compositions by Hugh Sam and Valerie Rodway.
Come May – the celebrations began throughout the week of May 22 to 29th with pageants, concerts, parades, folk singing and dancing; Indian musicians; Chinese dragon dancers; Queh Queh; calypsonians, and steel band tramps – all in a potpourri of frenzied celebration.
Sir Jim Campbell dedicated the Independence Arch on Brickdam near Vlissengen Road – a gift from DEMBA to the people of Guyana. Bookers gift to the nation was the land at Turkeyen where the University of Guyana was subsequently built On the evening of Wednesday May 25th a grand cultural performance at the Queen Elizabeth Park was staged before thousands, including dignitaries, with the Duke and Duchess of Kent representing the Queen. At midnight, Lt Desmond Roberts lowered the Union Jack and our Golden Arrowhead was raised to a stirring gun salute, followed by a spectacular firework display with effigies of Prime Minister Forbes Burnham and the Kaieteur Falls.
Burnham and Jagan embraced each other publicly to tumultuous applause…simultaneously a team of GDF Soldiers with Amerindian guides, led by Adrian Thompson raised the flag – our Golden Arrowhead on Mt Ayanganna. The flag was also raised at the old Fort Nassau, the ancient capital of Berbice, by a direct descendant of our former Dutch Settlers and also on Fort Island – the site of the former old capital of Essequibo. The State Banquet followed a special session of the Legislature where a painting of Sir Walter Raleigh was replaced by a portrait of PM Forbes Burnham. Aubrey
Percival Alleyne was the Speaker of the House, Sir Richard Luyt, K.C.M.G. the departing Governor General and Hon Rahaman B. Gajraj C.C.E. our Mayor. Unfortunately I missed most of the official ceremonies as I was preparing for the Float Parade – having 3 Banks/ DIH vehicles to decorate in all-night sessions. I actually witnessed the midnight fireworks from a guava tree in John Carter’s residence at Sandy Babb Street and Vlissengen Road.
The Float Parade was breathtaking – Guyanese celebrating liberation and independence, with a massive tramp east on North road – past the reviewing stand, constructed on the Lama gradient opposite the Bourda Green. My floats– “Let Freedom reign”, ICEE Delights, and Pepsi Power won first, third and fifth place respectively. Weiting & Richter’s
topical 7UP Dwarfs was second. 1966 was a pivotal year in our history.
The Bank of Guyana was established the previous year, and a National Insurance Scheme implemented. Parade Ground was renamed Independence Park. Culturally the nation had achieved much in the field of music, theatre, drama and the arts. Ramblers, Combo 7 and Rhythmaires competed for best string bands, while Kaietuckians, CASSO, Pelcans, Silvertones, and Invaders were the top steelbands.
The ‘Sound of Music’, Dr Zhivago, Agony and Ecstasy – Born Free, A Man for all Seasons, and Blue Max were the silver screen hits. Radio Stations Radio Demerara and GBS on Hadfield Street were fully operational. The hit songs on the airwaves were Born Free, “Somewhere my Love, Strangers in the Night.” Guyanese icon Dave Martins scored his first breakthrough hit with ‘Honeymooning Couple”
Four years later, the nation became The Co-Operative Republic of Guyana. (Excerpts from an article by Godfrey Chin published in the Guyana Times)
For more Nostalgias check out Godfrey’s Nostalgias – de Book – Golden Memories of Guyana 1940 to 1980 now on sale locally. (godchin1@aol.com) (Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)
