My response to: Corbin motion seeks recognition of Burnham’s ‘outstanding career’
August 6, 2008
I was very young when Burnham passed way, well below the age of 6 years old. We lived in Berbice and my father attended his funeral since he was working as civil servant in Guyana under the Burnham regime. But when Burnham was alive and in power, Guyana if I can remember clearly evolved into a desolate state in regards to daily living conditions. I remember, standing in line at the local co-op shop for rice, wheat, and kerosene. My mother always noted during these times that it was not always like this; it was better years before. As a school teacher she made a decent salary and together with that of my fathers’ they up kept a semi middle class home for our family. Yet they found it difficult to save and enjoy some of the finer things like car or entertainment or pleasurable foods.
These reasons after they became ultimately unbearable, led them to flee the country in search of better living conditions, thus, we migrated to the United States a few years after Burnham passed away. Like my parents, many other families endured similar experiences and did the very thing that my family did. So thanks to Burnham for letting many children enjoy the pleasures of living with “white mouth” and cultivating the exhaustive “brain drain” initiative.
So Corbin, what did Burnham actually do for Guyana? He spearheaded the Carifesta initiative but the celebration hasn’t been hosted in Guyana since its’ inception. He formulated the Caricom to strengthen the ties between Caribbean nations but these other nations seems to be advancing at alarming rates and Guyana is one of the poorest nations in the Caribbean. Guyana had Tata Buses and Trains for public transportation, where did they disappear to before by 1985? I know, the busses were sitting in a grave yard and the train tracks were all covered with weed and shrubs. By 1985, the hospitals were in deplorable conditions, the physical infrastructure of the public education system was literally falling to pieces.
So what does Corbin want to do anyway? Oh! He wants Burnham to be recognized. That’s great! A little advice; why don’t you use your time constructively rather than wasting it on Burnham, focus on working with the current government to solve some of the pressing issues facing the Guyanese people. Don’t worry Corbin; this blogger is not affiliated with any party and never will. What you have here is an individual concerned that a bunch of grown men like yourself are fighting for power to run country that is loosing its’ assets everyday via migration and does not even have a million people to date. So rather than focus on initiatives that really doesn’t matter, focus on ones that do; it’s called prioritizing and there are many I could enumerate, but I am sure you are aware of them cause its all around you.
Andrew
- Celebrating the Raising of the Guyana Flag in Lower Manhattan Saturday May 31 2008
- Guyana to Host Carifesta X 2008: What are the implications of such an undertaking?
- Guyana: The current burden of increased cost of food
- Cultural misunderstandings within West Indian Families
- An ongoing discussion on the effects of Brain Drain
- Profile Guyana: A nation suffering from “brain drain”
- Profile Guyana: The Immediate Value of living on Term
- A Critical Analysis of Cultural and Intellectual Dissimilation
- Help donate Rice to Countries in need! Play this addictive vocabulary game to learn and help at the same time.
- Phagwah Celebration: Held in Richmond Hill, New York 3/22/2008
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Comments
4 Responses to “My response to: Corbin motion seeks recognition of Burnham’s ‘outstanding career’”
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Well said Andrew. To give recognition to Burnham would be the same as glorifying Hitler. Forbes Burnham was the embodiment of incompetence, greed and self interest. He deposited IMF money into his own bank account, marginalized East Indians, allowed the country’s economy to hit rock bottom, but yet still this is the man Corbin wants to have recognized ! But then again, common sense was never a trait of the PNC.
Mr 5-9-2
Thank you for the reply. Much appreciated. How do yo see guyana as a whole going foward in the next 10 year?
The next 10 years can go either way for Guyana - progressive or regressive - it all depends on leadership. Guyana is a sleeping giant with all the resources necessary to transform it’s self at it’s disposal. Though I’m a PPP supporter, I have no problem saying Jagdeo isn’t leader material. Whoever is at the helm of government would prove crucial in determining where Guyana goes in the next 10 years.
As far as resources are concerned, Guyana can out do the Caribbean any day. Our tourism product, if developed can compete with any Caribbean island. In addition Guyana can offer eco tourism on a scale unmatched by any Caribbean island. The fact that so many Guyanese live outside Guyana can actually work as a blessing in disguise for attracting air carriers into the country as it’s mostly Guyanese visiting their homeland who create a demand for air lift.
Land isn’t an issue in Guyana and the agriculture program should be expanded. Guyana’s strategic location on the northern coast of South America gives it an advantage and gives it the opportunity to become the link between not only the Caribbean and South America but also North America and South America, whether by sea or air routes. Of course to turn these ideas into reality the proper infrastructure must be in place and the human resource must be developed to it’s potential.
You have hit the nail on the head Mr 5-9-2.. Guyana first off needs a Public Relations department that is capable of making connections on a global scale but as members of the government noted many times before…it is not important and we do not have the money. Eco tourism needs a decent marketing team.The tourism dept needs a decent website because today the web reaches more people than any other form of global communication. But do those individuals incharge see such a investment as being important. They still believe in Joe tells Moe and Moe tells Curley by mouth.