Latest update April 25th, 2024 12:59 AM
Feb 25, 2016 Editorial, Features / Columnists
Republic Day 2016 has been described as a dress rehearsal for May 26, 2016, when Guyana will celebrate 50 years of Independence. Many things caught the attention of the nation on February 23 and on the days leading up to it.
Decorated buildings are nothing new to Guyana. As far back as one can remember buildings were decorated in honour of some event or the other. Before Guyana became independent, public buildings and homes were decorated with the Union Jack, the flag of England. Perhaps this was most prevalent when Queen Elizabeth was crowned back in 1952.
In 1966 when the country was about to become independent, again decorations were most abundant. Just about every bit of public infrastructure was decorated with the colours of what was to become known as the Golden Arrowhead. Ever since then, this was the norm.
People tried to outdo each other when Guyana was becoming a Republic on February 23, 1970. Many made clothes from the national colours; lights around buildings were flashing the national colours. Such was the case for years. But this year, in some way made what happened back then pale in comparison.
For the first time in history, Bank of Guyana sported a large Golden Arrowhead on its front walls. People have never seen such a decoration. The flag was put there by way of a hologram and it caught the eye of every Guyanese who happened to see it. But there was more. Guyana was to see hoisted into the skies, the largest flag in its history.
There have been utterings that the government is using these public events to distract the people; that such events are a deliberate ploy to take the minds of the people from the hardships they are facing. It is indeed a sad day in the life of any country when a people could be so easily duped. The truth is that people always feel a sense of pride in their country.
Not so long ago, Guyanese who left these shores were ashamed to identify themselves as Guyanese. They adopted the shadow of every possible Caribbean country. They tried to change their accent and to do everything to hide. Today, such things simply do not happen. The people of this country, regardless of where they live overseas, maintain their identity.
It is this feeling of pride that galvanizes people to do things that defy logic, for their country. Soldiers would put their lives on the line; people would get into fisticuffs in defence of their national patrimony; some have been known to kill because they felt insulted. And so it was on February 23, 2016 that people filled their breasts with that national pride, something that had not been so evident for a long time.
How else can one explain the trek by people from just about every part of the country to be a part of the February 23 activity? The National Stadium was once thought to be a large venue. This perception was quickly dashed on May 26, 2015, when President David Granger was inaugurated. There was just not enough space to accommodate people.
The National Park was once considered large; D’Urban Park is perhaps the largest public space in the country at this time, but even that was inadequate for the people who wanted to be part of their country’s history.
Overseas-based Guyanese who came home for the holidays will be leaving more impressed and more in love with the land of their birth. And why shouldn’t they be? Many are seeing a Georgetown that they never knew existed, a capital that is fast approaching its legendary status of Garden City.
There have not been too many questions, but there will be about the cost of the flag. There will be people who attach a monetary figure to even things that cannot be priced. One of them is the feeling of national pride that flourishes in the heart of every Guyanese every time they see that giant Golden Arrowhead fluttering over the city.
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