Young, Targeted and living dangerously: The downward spiral of young, African males in Guyana…
By Brutal Facts – “Speak the Truth and Speak it ever” – February 29, 2012
W
hile the rich and well educated enjoy the fruits of their connections and hard work; many living in suburban enclaves protected by private security guards, electronic motion detection systems, concrete fences and iron grills, there is genocide of epic proportions going on within the community; a brutal fact that goes unreported and largely ignored by all.
The root cause lies mainly in an education system where young African boys are dropping out of school at an alarming rate. For every ten African boys who entered school in September last year (2011), four will make it to the end of the school year. Many of these drop-outs find menial work as sweepers, helpers and gofers; others head for the Gold bush to seek their fortunes ( many never returning); still others become easy recruits for a vastly growing criminal underworld, fueled by drugs and gun trafficking. The reminder resort to “living off the land”, many end up as vagrants, petty thieves and comprise a growing lumpenproletariat that inhabit the commercial districts of the major population centers.
We see them every day; we read about many of their exploits in the daily news and see the sometimes tragic end results of societal neglect as news on our Television screens. This is our national shame that is swept under the rug and hidden away at places like Lot 10 Camp Street ().
The Camp Street Prison located in the heart of the Capital is a symbol of national shame. Fyodor Dostoevsky, author of Crime and Punishment, is credited with saying; “The degree of civilization in a society can be judged by entering its prisons.” If we accept this to be true then Guyana is developing some dubious and degenerative dynamics.
Built to house 610 inmates the Georgetown Prison now houses over 1100 detainees, due in large part to a pre-trial back log, ( people awaiting their day in court) they represent 60% of the prison population. Take a walk inside the walls of the prison; the place is not fit for animals, let alone human beings. Men sleeping head-to-toe in cells, packed like sardines; most without mattresses and without proper bedding; hammocks hanging from the ceiling in rows all the way down to the floor where men lie on pieces of cardboard. The stench of human sweat and urine soaked into a hundred year old concrete floors.
In the evening they stuff their ears and their nostrils; they put bread and other treats in corners to deflect the cockroaches from crawling into their unguarded orifices….It is in the evening that men must press their backs against the walls, afraid to sleep. Their cries and protestations can be heard as they grow faint and change with time. After a night of horror, prisoners must empty their slop buckets, left to bubble over night. The stench may be unbearable to you and me, but is a part of daily life for them. You would probably see young Black men putting their hands in plastic buckets to scrub and dislodge fecal matter. You would see male and female Prison Waders with pain on their faces, because this has also become their life. Imagine grown men and women held in cells without sanitary facilities, forced to defecate and urinate in the presence of their fellow prisoners without privacy, in bottles, plastic bags, and on paper….
It is a fact and several economists and social scientists have opined that is less expensive to invest in education on the frontend than incarceration on the rear end. It is obvious that the government of Guyana does not subscribe to that theory. The crisis of the young African male in Guyana is evident everywhere. The civil service where in previous times men dominated, is now female and Indian; the Guyana Defence Force ( another source of employment for the Afro male) has been reduced to a toothless poodle and could only muster less than twenty recruits recently (for basic recruit training). Visit the Airport, and many other places where previously African men were previously employed, and you see women and Indians.
Meanwhile, Black males account for the largest percentage of the prison population, and none of the so called political leaders are addressing this crisis. The Leadership of the PNCR, AFC & APNU, parties that draw a significant percentage of support from this demographic are eerily silent on this matter. This must change; we can only be successful if all of our citizens can share in the promise that is Guyana.
Guyana is not a society with a caste system, where one race is intended to be the ruling race and the others subservient ill educated and poor. Africans must not be intimidated by the current Indian ruling class, when standing up for their rights. It is not racist to shine a light on human rights abuses; it is not racist to expose African marginalization and economic deprivation; it is not racist to point out incidents of selective economic development that result in wealth for some and misery and poverty for others. The great Mohandas Gandhi said; “Poverty is the worst form of violence.”
The PPPC government, led by Donald Ramotar is committing violence against Africans in Guyana through its policy of Indian triumphalism. Under the Jagdeo/Ramotar regime 400 Africans were murdered; Africans are considered unqualified for Ambassadorial duties; denied positions as corporation heads because of ethnicity; denied major contracts; denied adequate education; denied access; denied! denied! denied. That is a brutal fact, and we MUST end it now….
To quote Bob Marley; “Until the philosophy that holds one race superior than another, inferior, is finally and permanently abandoned; totally destroyed…..
Comments
Frightening and upsetting situation for our Guyanese people. The inspirational teachings of Mahatma Gandhi is more than ever needed to to eradicate the shame perpetrated against our own people.
I guess from this article, apart from the African prisoners, the other ethnic prison population do not experience the same squalid conditions……eh?
Anyway, this begs the question….why the majority of the prison population are people of African descent? …….This is the main question that has to be answered ahead ……of other issues to be addressed.
I said it before…..the African parents whose children end up in prison….maybe…just maybe….. did not exert sufficient parential control, guidance, and keep their children at school so that they become better citizens.
Whilst i find this article a load of hogwash and alarmist……the motive of which we all can see, why are Africans not making the grade to get into the Civil Service, the Police or Army anymore if what the writer is saying is true? Is it because there are Tests and Quality control? Inability to satisfy the educational requirements to get into these jobs?
I am not trying to criticise the African people….but I know this for sure….many African parents cannot control these kids once they link up with their street friends…..hence they turn to crime to satisfy their social needs…..nice clothes…shoes…women…..nightlife….many trade in drugs which is now habitual and commit robberies and burglaries…gun crimes..just go and check the sorts of allegations against those in prison.
The way around this is called….. sacrifice…..commitments….the will to become better citizens….go to school and remain there until you qualify in whatever field you desire……..do not give in to temptation and fall into bad habits.
Parents must exert more control….have stable family life and support their children.
Do not for one moment feel that the Indians do not have wayward kids also….this is a social problem for all families…..but only those with the will power and desire are going to make it. The crime rate amongst Indians have also increased alarmingly!!
Find jobs…any job….plan garden or go farming…..go fishing…..learn a trade….build houses…..roads….or attain the necessary academic qualifications to become doctors, lawyers, dentists, accountants…….do not feel sorry for yourselves……..do not blame others……it will not get you anywhere.
Now, the Government has a very important role to play….they have to provided schools….but they cannot chase after people to attend school…..They have to provide jobs….so also those in Private Businesses……these are crunch times for every country…..things are difficult…so we all have to buckledown and make sacrifices……do not take the easy way out by criticizing others….and expect others to provide for you!!
Taij
i agree with you all the way. this article seems to be written by a racist African Guyanese. if you want to address the plight of Guyanese, do so without mentioning race, religion or national origin. When the majority Indians were suppressed for over decades, no article of this nature was published. all of the children of Guyana are suffering, some more so than others. Harsh as the conditions may seem in prison, most deserve it. Would you prefer them in your neighbourhood?… you want to help, then help all Guyanese.
What are their parents doing about it. Children don’t learn from Governments, they learn from their parents. The whole of your society is to blame, not just the government. In almost every country in the world when young people turn to evil ways they blame the government. Why not blame the parents who are not teaching their young right from wrong. The parents also exhume fragrant behaviour, so the children learn from this. All the drinking, out of marriage affairs etc. contributes to the child being neglected. When the boys drop out of school, pull him by the shirt collar and tell him he has to stay in school or get a good caning on the butt. Look at all the successful blacks of Guyana. They are doctors, lawyers, teachers, Mayors of cities in the US and Canada. They are professors, scientists, poets, and are engaged many other professions. The reason why they succeeded was because their parents nurtured them and they were brought up to believe that hard work and studies pays off in the long run. To days youths all over the world want to have easy street. Blood, sweat and tears affords us a long and sustainable life. So the answer is call on the village to raise the child. It takes a village to raise a child, not a government. All you parents who have children that dropped out of school and did not see that they returned to the class room…shame on you. All you parents who did not discipline your children….shame on you. All you parents who encouraged their young boys to hustle a living with the drug pushing devils…shame on you. Blame the parents not the government. If the government did not provide schools for them then you could blame the government. Now that all the private schools are public schools, all have a chance at the same education. Get off your ass and work and show the young people how to become viable citizens in their communities. STOP COMPLAINING!!! Guyanese have become very complacent.
Ann Kennedy’s fitting reply will have my unconditional support as a Guyanese who seems a bit confused on the rhetoric of the writer who claims ethnic domination by a class of people is responsible for the plight of our African Youths. Every Youth is in danger in Guyana because of their choices. They have chosen that path my friend and so they must reap the results of their choices.Complaining will not do enough to help those in need and for God sake stop blaming any Government. YOu are not prejudiced I hope, but I’ll let you into my life under Forbes administration. I had 7 brothers and sisters. We rared cows in Campbellville and sold milk to others. We went to high school and paid $24.00 per term fees. We cut grass to feed the cows. we also rared sheep and planted a kitchen garden. Every weekend we went to Bourda Market to help our mother sell oranges and Pineapples etc. We were well cultured and educated in the seemingly poverty conditions. my mother built a big house with a small loan from the New Building Society and paid every month $53.00 to the NBS. I was bright by all standards and won a scholarship to study Medicine in 1969. I left Guyana then. None of my brothers and sisters were ashamed to stand up in rane and shine to earn a few cents for our education. The market gave us everything we wanted including the Education we have. All of us experienced life under Forbes. We did not lose our identity by pushing work neither did the police of the government lock us up We were in our homes by 5;00pm so no Bongo was coming for us. Life is full of choices my brother and if you want to be a husstler or a CSW so be it . Choose your path but for God’s sake do not blame the Government. Forbes gave state lands to all who supported him. What did they do with the land. Ann my dear continue the dialogue or else our big brother Cyril Byran is already threatening to shut down this great facility that allows us to dialogue for the fun of it. God Bless us all. Guyana we love you
Cyril, It is said that behind every dark cloud is a silver lining, but I see only the golden lining, my brother, things must get worse before they get better. We are with you mentally and spiritually. So keep the faith tomorrow will always be a better day. Wadsworth Longfellow said ” the woods are lovely, dark and deep, and I have promises to keep and miles to go before I sleep, and miles to go before I sleep. The most each one of us can do is to help each other along the pathway of life’s golden journey. Cheers Cyril.and keepup the great works. We love you !
I see this article as racist, hateful, and anti government (PPP government). Negroes experienced the very same conditions, or worse, during the PNC’s reign. However, they were able to get civil service jobs with or without requisite qualifications while well qualified Indians were relegated to menial jobs many fleeing the country. Guyana’s jails also have many Indian inmates.. males and females. I wonder if they are under more favourable conditions? I never heard any comments about the conditions the Indians suffered under the PNC regimes!
The article is shameless. Please listen to the advices of the previous writers. In any event, governments should strive for fairness for all citizens.
i don.t see this article as racist or hateful, but I would agree with you, after the PPP,and PNC invaded a country the coulture confused the people, the same people that loved each other we had the same mother and father race did not matter if my indian parents saw me doing anything wrong they would take corrective action, and thats how my indian friend felt about his black parents,we lived in the same neighbour hoods our teachers taught with zeal and passion not the indian or the black student as we are trying to imply about Guyana today,then it was all of us,then we had one of the best school systems in the region,in those good old days we grew up, and our parents made sure we did not skip any cycle into adulthood.We eat fresh food everyday chicken beef fruits ect we left ours doors and windows open we funed all holidays Christmas boxing day flying kite on easter monday i even burned bush for Horee and after that i played paugway red dye all over me {pardon my spelling} Thats the British Guiana i know.thats the Guyana i would like to know
Very touching! However, I fled Guyana from political persecution in the 80’s and am now living in a country that is 90% black with a similar downward, degenerative spiral of young black males. Who must the blame fall on? Wake up Black people! Until black parents throw off the victim mentality and train their children to be respectful and productive citizens the problem of young black men degenerating will continue.
I somehow agree with you, I happen to be of African decent born and grew up in Guyana in the 50s and 60s where race played no part in the way we got along. My Indian friend eat at my house, and i eat at his house, we all played cricket together; went to the same school we had Indian and African teachers, then all of this fell apart when the PNC and PPP parties invaded the social core of our culture. It is a shame, as we lived and understood each other as a people when we had a Governor. Of course i am talking about the British Guiana. Now let us take a good look as to who we are now — OH! name change Guyana?
From 1950-1961 was employed by Bookers Sugar Estates , 2 years at Port-Mourant en 9 years at Enmore Estate, as chemist and factory manager (act.) Both our children were born in Guyana and we would have never left if our son was not ill and after hospitalisation in Holland was advised not to return to the tropics, We have the fondest of memories of our stay in Guyana and still have some friends from that period. I keep informed about the way in which the country is progressing, particularly since full independence, and it makes me feel terrible as time goes on. It seems to slowly sink-away to a poor underdeveloped country in need of international aid, whilst it could be a good place to live in with all the abundant natural resources it has. During the time we were working there, the educational facilities were good, there were no beggars, very little poverty, no food shortages and little race discrimination. To read this article makes me feel terrible and I cannot understand how a large sugar industry with enormous exports of sugar and rum is not existing anymore. I am now 82 years old and often talk to friends and relatives about then British-Guiana, which was such a pleasant country, with nice inhabitants and such a sunny future. I am now greatly disappointed. Let’s hope that the future may be brighter.
Marius Okker.
Guyana is indeed a country with many problems, however in searching for solutions to our problems blaming each other feels real rewarding and KABOOM, we are now feeding the problems so we are now allowing for the mutations and growth of many more new problems. This is what we have been doing for the past 70 or so years, as a result we are now finding it difficult to compete with the more developed nations.
I think Guyana can change for the better via a political change. And change can only happen through politics. Currently politicians are going all out to gain political power in Guyana, because Guyana is one of those countries that allows for Absolute Power which happens to be the work of the late L F S Burnham.
I would advise anyone who is genuinely interested in helping Guyana to read the Constitution of Guyana twenty five times before opening ones mouth to make suggestions on how good can come to this land.
I read the constitution and i have this to say:
Before the Guyana Action Party was devoured by the PNC/R we were working on a proposal for possible change, however the now APNU shelved this wonderful proposal just before the November 2011 general elections.
The following was our proposal:
PRACTICAL POWER SHARING – the Guyana Action Party proposal
Democracy, even with all its faults, is viewed as the fairest system of government yet devised. However, in multi-ethnic societies, such as Guyana, there is the concern that the most numerous or powerful group will rule in their own favor at the expense of less numerous or weaker groups. These problems have surfaced most glaringly in Iraq, Afghanistan, the former Yugoslavia, new republics from the former Soviet Union, Rwanda, Zimbabwe and many others. Most of the named countries were held together by strong-men under communist, socialist or religious ideologies and not under democratic norms as we know it.
In order to counter these negatives the call by many to share power with a view to forming a government of national unity. The ‘Sharing of Power’ is intended to give the smaller groups a say in the running of the country and give the larger group a sense of security, in that there will no longer be a resented majority, due to the fact that the rights of the minorities are being addressed, which leads to equity, fairness and thus stability.
Some practical questions will be “How do we share power? How can a country be governed by different people with sometimes opposing views on what needs to be done?” At first glance it may seem like a recipe for chaos.
In actual fact it is done all the time. The most stable and prosperous countries in the world share power. It is also a fact that the most unstable and least prosperous countries in the world are saddled with factions fighting each other for power sometimes to the death.
How do these stable and prosperous countries share power?
They do it by means of their constitution. For a prosperous country, the constitution guarantees the basic rights of citizens and, just as important, provides checks and balances that limit the power of those in government. These checks and balances are the means by which power is shared among all parties represented, especially members of the opposition.
Various countries have different provisions in their constitution to arrive at the objective of dispersing and exercising power such that the government has the power to rule but that there are limitations to that power so as to prevent abuse.
The Guyana Action Party (GAP) proposes the following changes to the constitution to share power, thus creating the conditions for stability, security, justice, peace and prosperity.
The objective of the GAP proposal is to disperse and share the functions of government, and thus power, among different persons and entities so as to provide enough power for effective government, but at the same time to place the limits that would prevent the abuse of that power.
THE GAP PROPOSAL
SEPARATE THE HEAD OF STATE FROM THE HEAD OF GOVERNMENT.
The President would be the head of state.
The Prime Minister will be head of government
FUNCTIONS OF THE PRESIDENT
The President will be the Commander-in-Chief of the security services.
The President will appoint the services and rights commissions, including complaints authorities, with some members nominated by appropriate stakeholder bodies, after real consultation with the Leader of the Opposition.
The Office of the President will oversee the Auditor General’s office, the Central Tender Board, The Ombudsman and any other bodies that oversee government activities that affect the Rights of Citizens in a direct manner.
FUNCTIONS OF THE PRIME MINISTER
The Prime Minister will be responsible for the proper functioning of government
The Prime Minister will appoint a Cabinet of Ministers to assist in this task, who will head the appropriate arms within the Civil Service.
The Prime Minister will be accountable to Parliament.
ELECTION OF THE PRESIDENT
The President must be elected by a three quarter majority of Parliament.
This is necessary to ensure that the President has the confidence of at least some Opposition Members of Parliament, and is someone who has the respect of a vast majority of the population, as expressed through their representatives.
ELECTION OF THE PRIME MINISTER
The Prime Minister would be elected by popular vote as normal i.e. by a simple majority of the electorate. However, the ‘List System’ must be done away with and replaced by a system that has a direct as well as a proportional component to choose the Members of Parliament.
INDEPENDENCE OF THE JUDICIARY
For the above to actually work the Judiciary must be independent of political interference. Efforts will be made to strengthen The Judiciary, even if it means hiring legal professionals from outside of Guyana (Commonwealth countries, Sri Lanka, India, Nigeria, Ghana, New Zeeland etc. ) for a period of five years.
FURTHER AMMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION
There are other issues that concern effective power sharing, effective participation by all citizens and appropriate checks and balances. These would include, but would not be limited to,
The position of a central bank.
Bi-cameral or uni-cameral Parliament.
Parliamentary representation by constituency or by proportional representation or a hybrid system
A place for civil society within Parliament
Effective local Government
There is therefore the need to re-convene the Constitution Commission to allow the citizens to decide on the constitution they want.
PROPOSAL AS A BASIS FOR A COMMON POSITION
These changes to the constitution require a large parliamentary majority or a referendum. If the ruling party does not agree only a new administration will make it possible to change the constitution.
In fact, power sharing must be the most important issue raised by any opposition party or group of parties. This proposal can form a common platform for parties to commit to and to rally around. All who agree, be they political parties, non political groups/organisations or individuals can find common cause. It can be one of the basis for alliances and/or coalitions.
However, a mere promise of constitutional change is not enough. There must be a commitment to specific changes or the re-writing of the entire constitution. If this is not done then all sorts of excuses and justifications will be made to delay any change to ‘a time to be fixed’. On the other hand, if specific actions are committed to, then any refusal or delay would have consequences that cannot be escaped.
THE SPECIFIC COMMITMENT
The specific commitment that all in the alliance or coalition will honor will be as follows:
On examination of the legal implications of the proposed changes and finding solutions and or remedies to any impediments a New Government shall commit to the following:
On attaining office The President will use the powers conferred under the present
Constitution to delegate the administration of the government to the Prime Minister as outlined in the proposal.
The President will then as per proposal outlined above take on the function of “The Protector” of the Constitutional Rights of the Citizenship.
The Constitutional Commission will be re-convened within thirty days to deliberate and to seek the opinion of citizens on changes to the Constitution they seek.
The Constitutional Commission will be given all resources required to carry out the task set in the shortest possible time in order to present to the people of Guyana the proposed revised constitution.
—————————————————————————————————
For Good to come every citizen needs to think along this paradigm.
Cyril Balkaran asks me to be patient ……
His message relates to the comment I made under the Wasted Days and Wasted Nights entry below:
—————————————————————————————-
Guyana is a 46 year-old-man/woman who refuses to be a man/woman who takes responsibility for his/her actions. A serious case of “Arrested Development”.
Now I see that the US and EU Ambassadors have to show them how to pick up their own garbage and bring the city and even the country to at least the level of cleanliness that prevailed before the people became “free” to pollute and destroy and underfund the development of a beautiful and historic city
There seems to be little or no “social leadership” in the country to inspire people, “hands on” ,to be responsible citizens. The “foreigners” are showing them how it is done, but I doubt if they care. We shall see!
I am so fed up, I do not want to have more wasted days and wasted nights.
I am seriously thinking of closing this blog and newsletter down.
Regards
————————————————————————————–
This blog and newsletter takes most of my time. I do it for the Diaspora as my contribution. I was just wondering if all of this effort is worth it.
I left Guyana in 1966. I am now 72 years old. I designed and supported this project myself, and it has grown larger than I ever thought it would. I will now have to get an assistant to help with the newsletter and the databases, and that costs money.
I am requesting advertising and donations to carry on, so if my readers could help that would solve my production problems.
This project was never intended to be money making as it gives FREE advertising to associations. Now that it has grown, help is needed.
I am concerned as the the current news from Guyana is not good and it is getting worse.
The country seems rudderless, and the people need leadership that offers a positive vision – not only economic and physical but also socially, culturally, and spiritually. The focus of Guyanese in Guyana, is still looking outwards so the environment and social ills are secondary and ignored.
Also, please let us reduce talking about Burnham and Jagan and 28 years and 20 years of PPP rule propaganda pros and cons. These comments are a waste of time and effort as they do not even directly examine or offer solutions to entries on this blog. We all know that our generation screwed up the country, so now we should help to fix it.
Let us address the present and offer futuristic and concrete solutions and ideas. We want to see honest proposals and answers to the PRESENT DAY problems and issues.
Maybe the youth will have a more inclusive approach – so Guyana may have to wait another 20+ years to see positive change, if the country is still a viable entity then.. But I sometimes wonder about the youth, based on the fact that formal education is so low on their totem poll, and that most intelligent youth still emigrate. At least, I find the young people are less judgmental, more inclusive, and wedded to technology which promotes social interaction – and that may help.
We talk about race in politics. Well there is race baiting for votes, as the “Rwanda messages” in the last elections. But! In reality, most Guyanese are of “mixed ancestry” anyhow and getting more so. The youth know this so they are not as easily swayed. Remember, the colonial ships brought mostly male field labourers and very few women, so mixtures started early, and continue even more so today.
Guyana needs fair and equitable inclusive governance and leadership that fosters hope and motivates positive action to create social change. However, today it is more like ‘what can I get before the whole ship sinks”, and it will unless change comes.
God bless Guyana and its peoples – it needs blessings and lots and lots!
Cyril Bryan
My dear Cyril, at age 72 it is indeed an achievement that you have created for us. I have always respected you as a visionary and a statesman, one who wants
equity and fairness on the much disturbed state of affairs in our homeland. I absolutely agree with you when you advise that the less we comment on the past leaders of 28 and 20 years, the less we will ever focus on the true nature of the political and socioeconomic problems that need fixing at home. The problem my brother remains that 58 years of damaged National Psyche will remain with us until death! It will take a great effort and a big mind and heart for all of us to try and move away from this nasty stigma that still haunts sub consciously. We read all the articles that the bloggers respond to and no matter how constrained I feel and how much I am to restrain myself in my comments,I find it very difficult to totally move myself away from such a past. The fact is that the past is our past and cannot be retrieved. We will shape the future by our present day activities and our positive thoughts for the future, so let us make the sacrifices that are necessary become even more positive for the sake of our youths and country. I agree that to make this great effort that you have immersed yourself into at this age of 72 should become sustainable and that the financial help you so require should be given forthwith. I may suggest that you open an Online account where interested parties can contribute a minimum of $100.00 US to the account on a monthly basis or any amount that they feel comfortable with. This will be a Cyril Byran Charitable Foundation venture and will remain there to be sustained long after you and I are no longer there on this physical planet we call our home. There is nothing wrong in receiving a Charity subscription for the magazine on a monthly basis also. $10 00 or $20 will do. The earlier this Foundation is established the better for its sustainability and for your health at this great age of 72 years. I wish you 100 full years of comfortable life without health problems. Cheers, my brother Cyril and lets find some hope in seeing the Golden lining behind every dark Cloud. Welcome to the Cyril Byran Charitable Foundation or name it what you may! Good night folks. We still love you. God’s Blessings! Cyril Balkaran! Other Bloggers may wish to comment and offer their considerations for the future of this Venture.
Hello Cyril:
I do understand the trauma that you endured in the past growing up in Guyana. I did as well, and had to get “help” to overcome my baggage.. I felt the disruotions personally and witnessed the suffering of the people during the racially-based disturbances of the 1961-64 period. I fear a re-occurrence and I hope we can help in some way to prevent this.
Thank you very much for your reply and your encouragement to carry on with my projects.
Your idea, regarding a Foundation is an excellent one which I would implement immediately.
It will help in expanding what I am doing right now.
For instance, I would now be able set up websites for the marketing the products and services of small entrepreneurs, building their self reliance within the estates, villages, and the interior by marketing them to the Diaspora as the buyers of their products. I have already been approached by a number of craft industries who want more exposure and sales for their products.
The renewal of village economies was high on the list of President Ramotar in his 46th anniversary speech. we could all help in this endeavor, irrespective of party affiliation – village agriculture, cottage industries and village pride and the building of entrepreneurial capabilities will help immensely to focus young people into positive and rewarding activities.
I would be looking at setting up a foundation in Canada. I could start immediately by working with an already established foundation in the USA, able to give receipts for donations. I would like readers, who are interested in donating, to write me personally at cybryan@gmail.com
Thanks again for your help Cyril (Balkaran)
We will talk soon
Cyril (Bryan) cybryan@gmail.com
Brutal Facts has touched on some painful truths when it comes to Guyana’s “Young and Targeted Men of Color”. However, until those of us who are ignorant of these facts, are prepared to honestly examine this situation, then this conversation will be as senseless as it is right now.
I left Guyana some 30 years ago and returned each year for about twelve years to celebrate Xmas, and my country was truly a joy to visit. However, these days I randomly visit and have seen the decline in our infrastructure, education and health systems, which has led to a downward spiral in morality. Guyana’s leadership has lost its creditability and vision for any real progress. Because of this, an almost forgotten population has lost its way and has added to its decline. As a nation of people, we continue to point fingers at each other but this did not happen overnight but by a systemic hatred of each other. Sadly, for those of us who hide behind the curtain, the truth is painful. However, sometimes we have to tell the truth to educate those who refuse to hear it and those who want to hide from it. Indeed, there was a time in Guyana when education meant nothing to a sector of Guyana’s populace but today. some of these INBREDS are pointing fingers and talking with such authority about lazy Black people. HELLO! is seems like all of you are having a “senior moment” in time.
However, this has always been the ticking argument of an ill educated populace, who touted this HOGWASH belief for as long as I remember. In fact, when I left Guyana, it boasted the highest literacy rate in the hemisphere and at that time Black people attended school so these people should get their fact straight. At that time, the government made sure that schools provided the tools necessary so that children were equipped to play an intelligent role in the wider world. Those who question the premise that Blacks all over the world have the same problem, should dig a little deeper at the education system in all of these countries and perhaps they will come away with a different mindset.
As a matter of fact, every child with African roots, needs to know of its past because a people without a past do not have a future. The failure to implement this structure in our schools have created much confusion in Guyana and the rest of the world. Some of you may say then what about Africa? However, this blog will not be able to address all of those questions but for those of us who studied Africa, we do understand how the European system played a key role in those country’s educational system. In fact, we can point to the resistance in South Africa against the replacement of its language/dialect by the Europeans some years ago.
Martin Luther King said “a mind is a terrible thing to waste” and this is just what is happening in Guyana today. However, we do not need the doctrine of Gandhi or Martin Luther King to see where Guyana has gone wrong, but to look into our own hearts and souls for the answers. This blog has flushed out all the bigots and most of them cannot contain themselves with their preposterous imagination. I am reading tall tales of damaged physche under Burnham’s governance and wonder if these people are for real Indeed, some of these people need to go back in history and learn something about their past and see how damaging it was back then.
Mr. Bryan summed it up well when he said, “a fair and equitable inclusive governance fosters hope in people for positive change’. And, as a reminder, Guyana is not a Coolie/Black country as many in these blogs are advocating. This is a multicultural nation with very little PURE blood natives. So, wise up and leave Guyana to Guyanese.