A return to first principles in a Republic is sometimes caused by the simple virtues of one man. His good example has such an influence that the good men strive to imitate him, and the wicked are ashamed to lead a life so contrary to his example. – Niccolo Machiavelli
By Anu Dev
Well, Republic Day is on Sunday and it really is an important day. I certainly wasn’t around way back in 1970, to know personally what it must have been like to live in a country still under the rule of another. Or even nominally under a governor general. But I do know that it feels better to be in control than to be controlled. And we won that right on Republic Day – to chart our own destiny. It’s like an ultimate version of becoming an adult.
My favourite hero in WI history was Toussaint L’Ouverture. To be a man – born a slave – take on the full might of one of the greatest European powers of the day, for the right to be free, was awe inspiring. He was indeed an “Opening”: the eventual independence of Haiti showed the path that every other colony had to walk.
So on Republic Day at least, we should make a point of being proud to be Guyanese. On that day we commemorate the earlier rebellion of our own Cuffy, in our own Berbice, for that same struggle to be free. Before l’Overture.
I know some people try to raise some Guyanese pride on Republic Day, but unfortunately for most, it’s just about the Mashramani parade.
Granted, everyone has different ways of celebrating, of showing joy. Some people express themselves by parading down the streets in various states of undress in honour of Republic Day. Other people have more demure gatherings to celebrate the day.
But the problematic thing about it all is that most people don’t parade because of national pride. They parade to dress up (or undress) in costumes and ride on floats. Because it’s all about Mashramani – the jump-up and wine-down.
We’ve gotten so caught up with the festivities, that we’ve completely forgotten why we’re celebrating in the first place. Who thinks of the meaning of Cuffy or Toussaint in the definition of what ‘freedom’ means?
One of the aspects of being free means that we’re a democracy – we can elect our own government. I know I’m thrilled that I’m finally 18, so I can vote in the next election. Even though I just get one vote out of the thousands that are cast on Election’s Day, it still makes me feel like I have a say in who’ll be in charge of running our country.
And I’ll be thinking long and hard about which party has the best interests of the country at the top of their agenda before I cast my vote. Who’ll ensure most UG graduates don’t emigrate? A healthy nation is a productive nation – which party will implement the best health-care programme for the country?
Our kids are the future of our country and they need to have a sound education to ensure that they can have successful careers to continue the development of Guyana. We still have so few scholarships that kids have to write over 20 subjects at CXC to try to grab either the regional prize or the two scholarships that Guyana gives out.
Why aren’t we giving out scholarships to children for the different streams, example, science, arts and business? That’ll encourage children to be the best in their chosen field, instead of having to spread themselves too thin to write subjects from all of the streams.
So don’t just wait until it’s close to election’s time to think about whom you’ll vote for: start this Republic Day. Look at their actions during the year – what bills are they pushing (or holding up) in Parliament? Are they the type of people you’d want representing you?
We’re a republic now. We have the right (and obligation) to vote for who governs our country. So let’s think long and hard and make the decision that’ll be best for Guyana. That’s us.
Happy Republic Day!