When debates seek to distort

Healthy debates lead to the dissemination of ideas. They also challenge views held dearly by some and they serve to correct misconceptions. Sometimes, though, people get into the debate and add extraneous issues, some designed to present views that are self-serving and often with a political twist to help certain people to maintain strong positions albeit on wrong premises.
More recently there has been the debate on the ban introduced in the late 1970s. Interesting comments and ideas surfaced. Many saw the ban in a religious perspective while some added racial connotations. A few onlookers suggested that there should have been a halt to the debate since those who applied racial reasons were helping to cement the racial divisions in the country.
There have been other political decisions that have had an impact on the society and in time these will form the basis for certain debates. Historians would add their perspective and the future generation would have to undertake thorough research and form their own opinions. Such is the nature of inspections of things historical.
In Guyana, many hold to the view that there was a Berbice rebellion on February 23, 1763. Letters seen since then clearly indicate that there was no rebellion on February 23 that year. Sadly, no one has ever sought to correct that aspect of the country’s history. Young people are still being fed the idea that there was this big blow for freedom way back then.
Suffice it to say that there was a Berbice slave rebellion; suffice it to say that the named players—Cuffy, Atta and Akara—indeed challenged the while rulers and for a brief while, managed to establish the first independent state in the western hemisphere, even before the great United States became independent of Great Britain.
Similarly, there is the observance of the Enmore riots that left five people dead. It is true, as history suggests, that the five died fighting for better working conditions. It is also true that after they died the colonial rulers examined the situation and the system that operated in the sugar industry and made the changes for which the five died.
There are those who on examination of the facts, would suggest that the five people who died physically attacked the Enmore sugar factory and attracted the hostility that visited them. Historians would be divided on the method used to achieve the outcome. Indeed, history is a dynamic thing.
Even in the life of the Christian church there has been some examination of the history. The Christian calendar states that Jesus Christ was born on December 25. However, historians say that this could not have been the date and they present their facts. The truth is that despite their findings, nothing has changed and the date remains.
In this case, the date is symbolic and will in no way affect the religion. Symbolism is the factor here and actuality is of the least importance. That is why for example, Easter and Good Friday are not celebrated on a specific date.
And so we need to examine the ban that affected the diets of many and made some rich beyond their wildest dreams. There have been many useful developments as a result of the ban. Guyanese, responding to a call to find replacements (or substitutes) did just that to the extent that food imports such as sardines, salted cod, potatoes and a lot more were removed from the list of staples.
Today, imported salted fish is no longer a prominent food item. So too are sardines and other canned foods. The ban has also seen the growth in Guyana’s agriculture so that eschallot and green vegetables, fish and even ground provisions now provide a hearty livelihood for Guyanese.
It is amazing that Guyanese now take it for granted that cakes must be made with local fruits. This was never the case. The ban served a purpose which is being ignored by a few and pilloried by some others. Whatever the case, we should look at all aspects of a political decision before we seek to adopt positions.
It is the same with governance. Many a government in this country has been condemned along ethnic lines and this is not likely to change anytime soon. We are too many who concentrate on the forest at the exclusion of the trees.