Dear Editor,
PEACEFUL protests certainly cannot include violently attacking a school bus that gives the service of transporting schoolchildren to and from their homes, and attacking officers of the law sent to maintain law and order in a rather bostile environment, as sadly bas been the case in a section of the West Coast Berbice corridor last Friday. But these are just two of the sad but significant incidents which occurred last Friday, by persons whose conduct leads one to conclude that the protesting, which is any person’s democratic right to protest, but these acts smack of political prompting. It bas resurrected the stark fears of a return to communal strife, which took place in the very early 60s. Guyana must not ever return to such a past.
The incident of attacking one of the David G buses, is reminiscent of the murder of tihe young school boy, Godfrey Teixeira, in 1964, who, along with several other schoolchildren, were being transported in a then Bookers Sugar Company bus, along a section of the East Coast, when an explosive device was lobbed into the vehicle, killing Teixeira, and injuring several other children. This incident, recorded as the “School bus bombing’, had been one of the brutal highlights of a period of this country history of racial polarization and racial conflict, long receded, but sometimes referred to, in attempts at letting current Guyanese generations, understand tl1at there should never be a return to those days, which saw colonial Guyana degenerated into communal ethnic strife. It took the nationalisttc leadership of the incoming successor Premier Forbes Burnham – later becoming prime minister, then president-to remove this count from ruins, to a position of peace and unity, ushering in a welcomed calm, without which no count can move forward.
Of course, Teixeira’s murderer paid the supreme penalty for such a brutal act – suffering death by execution.
Attacking a school bus that performs a vital service for the young of our nation, the future of this land, by ensuring their presence in school, then their safe return home, is the vel}’ last act that one will expect to take place. In fuct, it ought not to be, for it is unimaginable, unforgivable in any circwnstance, even if an act of reckless spontaneity, and could have only been done by persons who do not understand the consequences of their ill-advised actions. The same line of reason, is also extended to the unprovoked attacked on the three police officers, whose only error, seemed to have been their answer to the call of immediate duty, in a situation of high volatility, entrusted with the delicate ta5k and duty of maintaining law and order, for the protection of citizens. For any citizen, regardless of wl,at cause is being represented, lo violently attack officers performing their sworn duty, cannot in any reason, not expect unfortunate condign consequences. It was vel}’ unfortunate that a life has been lost and Guyana has lost youthful potential. One would have thought that with a history of race and ethnic tensions, which would have led to a period of bitter strife, pitting community against community and brother against brother, that lessons from such internecine conflict would have been a guide to a better understanding of resolving issues in any future situation in a country, as polarized as Guyana. Regardless as to what the issue is, Friday’s actions, cannot be found justified, as a means of a solution. It’s offshoot, can only inevitably result in a domino effect, engulfing our country in which there have been lifelong friendships among the major races, and progenies which reflect this interrelatedness, despite cultural and ethnic diversities. Which is what makes Guyana, the unique beautiful place it is, despite challenges that have arisen throughout the decades.
Indeed, ours is a deeply polarized society, a sad fact, but one of depressing reality, mentioned by one of the Observer groups visiting for the just concluded national and regional elections. II is a wellknown observation that stands as a grand indictment and a reminder of failure an1ong ourselves, to find common ground for a bridging of the gap for solutions to the long-standing problems of ethnic fear and suspicion that still haunt us as a people and nation.
Rather than resort to destructive actions that contain the potential to denude the gains of this country since Independence, we must all resist the temptation, irrespective of the political stakes, and all that it entails, step back, count ten, and think of more constructive ways to engage moments of national crises, rather than take up mob/riotous stances, which do not, and will not provide the answers for what is sought – a unified peaceful Guyana, where there is plenty for each Guyanese. As a nation, we must have the collective fortitude to condemn last Friday’s extremes, and any such attempts in the future.
Whatever differences that exist in society, be it race, religion, culture or even political preference and ideology. Guyanese must come together as one to face challenges.
Peaceful co-existence implies the ability of us as Guyanese to live in harmony. As human beings, we need to have a solid understanding that diversity and plurality of cultures, ethnicities and religions are part of the universe and of mankind.
Regards,
Mark Dacosta
Source: https://issuu.com/guyanachroniclee-paper/docs/guyana_chronicle_epaper_03_10_2020