University of Guyana (UG) Registrar Vincent Alexander has called for a revival of values and entrepreneurship in Afro-Guyanese communities.
Alexander made the comment while addressing CUFFY 250 Second Annual Forum held at the Critchlow Labour College on Sunday. In keeping with the theme, “Guyana Approaching 50 and Beyond: Whither Independence?” Alexander told the audience that Afro-Guyanese should revitalise the values and beliefs that allowed their foreparents to survive beyond Emancipation.
Driven by the innate desire to be freed from European enslavement, Africans engaged in passive and active rebellions. The 1763 Rebellion in Berbice, the 1823 Rebellion in East Demerara and the 1834 Essequibo Rebellion were among the revolts that unfolded in Guyana in the lead up to total Emancipation on August 1, 1838.
But the acquisition of “Emancipation” was not simply enough for the Africans, in 1839, 83 ex-slaves pooled their resources and bought Plantation Northbrook, currently known as Victoria, as they signalled their Independence.
It was the beginning of the Village Movement which resulted in the establishment of key institutions and organisations.
According to Alexander, Afro-Guyanese should regain that level of independence which has been lost, charting a path for greater development. He added there is need for the revitalisation of an institution that would allow Afro-Guyanese to exercise their sovereignty as an individual and at a communal level.
Quoting former President Linden Forbes Burnham, Alexander said: “It is in your hands. Freedom belongs to us. Rise up in consciousness.”
In keeping with the theme, Alexander also alluded to the Nation State, saying that though it has the ultimate authority; it should not be in contravention of the rights of individuals or communities.
“There are things that people should be allowed to do for themselves. There are things that communities should be allowed to do by themselves unimpeded and unaffected by the State,” he posited.
The UG Registrar emphasised that both individuals and communities should be allowed to exercise their independence.
“That independence can be best recognised at the level of community in some form of local organisation best known as Local Government Elections,” he explained. “It’s not a gift of the Central Government; it is a contract with the people that we should have local Government,” he added.
The state of education in the African Guyanese communities, gender-based violence in the African Guyanese communities and Police violence and African Guyanese communities were among topics covered on Sunday.
Cuffy 250 is a body concerned about the erosion of the national compact and the effect of this erosion on the ability of the poor and their communities to advance their socio-economic and cultural development.
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