PESSIMISTIC AND OPTIMISM - DISILLUSION, REGRET AND WISHES
I can't help it. I possess a great number of regrets and wishes. Thus it is with an overwhelming sense of regret that I wish numerous members of the kinship of Sancho were available to the current generations. Thereby the process of research and documentation of our Sancho family tree would have benefitted greatly from various sources of the oral traditions of our representatives of the past. I wish my mother, her siblings, and their First-Cousins were still here in the physical realm. The vast majority of the members of the kinship of Sancho whom I came to regard as the defining meaning of the word love have migrated to the Land of Ancestors. I cherish the fact that I bonded with Sheila Sharper, Bertie Sharper, Avril Sharper, Hilda Bradshaw, Mildred Patterson, Nora Bradshaw, Imelda Sancho, Winston Cosbert, Desmond Cosbert, Oswald Sancho, Charlie Sancho, Gwen Valentine, Belle Roberts, Gustavus Sancho, Burchell Lutchman, Muriel E. B. Sancho, Elsa Sancho, Margaret Sancho, Colin Ross, Frankie Rodrigues, Eddy Sancho, Donald Sancho, Bertrand Abrams, Aubrey Abrams, Brenda Abrams and Muriel Sancho. I cannot place a value on the opportunity to bond with Alexander Sancho and the members of his generations. I would have loved to witness the daily shenanigans of Edith Sharper, Clarence Sancho, and Christopher Bentick Sancho. I was simply not fortunate to possess such experiences at all. Dissatisfaction simply because I have not been able to decipher the following;
1. Is Lambert Tuckness Bentick-Sancho the name of the father of Bentick Sancho, John Sancho, Tuckness Sancho, and George Sancho?
2.Is Lambert Tuckness Bentick-Sancho the legal name of Bentick Sancho?
3.What are the names of the ancestors who set afoot in the colony of Demerara?
4.When did they do so?
5.What are the names of seven generations of ancestors surnamed Bentick, Campbell, Friday, Sancho, Solomon, and Young, and other hereto still unknown?
6.What are the vital statistics of James Campbell, Coolie Campbell, Rachael Campbell, Bentick Sancho, Mary Sancho, Lambert Tuckness Sancho, Alexander Gustavus Sancho, Walter Young, Walter Young, and Josephine Young and others?
7.Where in Barbados did our Campbell ancestors reside?
8.Who are the members of the kinships of Campbell and Young of Barbados that are our relatives?
9.What is the legal name of Papa Downer? He is the father of at lest three sons surnamed Sancho.
10.How is Papa Downer also known as Papa Sancho connected to the people of Sancho of Nabaclis and Golden Grove?
11.Will you attempt to fill in a number of questions I need ascertain their answers?
I am sure the fact that I know not the hour of my transition and what I would be able to accomplish, the task I set myself is somewhat an uphill and perplexing daily battle. Perhaps, amongst our people someone will come forward in the immediate future to continue whence I am removed from the physical realm has occupied my thoughts ever so frequently. I wonder, whether, our people would be able to take up the mantle. Would they be able to follow the efforts myself and others? Would the task many of us are attempting be in vain? I really don't have the confidence that our legacy will be preserved for the benefit of the generations of the immediate future much less for the generations several millenniums hence. I am also not at all pleased that I do not have the means necessary to really launch an all-out blitz in the effort to unpuzzle our ancestral heritage. More over, none seemed either concerned or committed to really approach the research and documentation process as it should by trying to communicate with every known connection to our people.
I am somewhat pleased with the fact that a number have responded to enquiries I made and/or have contacted me.
Again I am disappointed that today I have failed to connect with members of the kinships of Campbell, Sancho and young of St. Vincent - and the immediate relatives of Keith Sancho of Belmont, in Trinidad - and the members of the kinships of Sancho of eighteenth and nineteenth centuries of England. Please bear in mind I am not claiming relatives - such a thought would be very simply stated asininely. Also such an expression is reckless and disparaging my intelligence and furthers more disrespectful to all the generations of my ancestry and the members of my heritage. The idea is to know and not to believe. Could it be - that wherever Bentick Sancho came from our relatives still resides there and/or migrated elsewhere? Such a thought is plausible. I examined what I recalled been told to me by my dearest ancestor, Muriel Sancho(PBUH) and my dear First Cousin once removed, Cicely Abrams. Their stories differ, slightly. Theirs have more similarities than differences. Cousin Cecily’s accounting give rise to explanation of the remains of five unknown relatives of Bentick Sancho which are resting in peace in the vault in Sancho Plot at the cemetery at Golden Grove, East coast Demerara, and the numerous souls surnamed Sancho I noticed in various publications issued by the colonial government of British Guiana. I have in my possession a certificate of death of James Henry Sancho. He made the transition in Brooklyn, New York in April 1931. It states his father was also named James Sancho. The name of his mother is given as Catherine Abrams. I have not been able to make any direct link of James Sancho to any of four possible candidates; Bentick Sancho, John Sancho, Tuckness Sancho, and George Sancho. I am aware the same scenario exists for too many persons surnamed Sancho. Also I have not accessed further data on James Sancho and his wife Blanche Sancho who also resided in Brooklyn New York City in the 1930s.
I am disappointed but hopeful several break through will be made on several fronts in the not too distant future. My thinking is the process need to expedite. Our relatives ought to simply place my email address in their circle. You never who I may be able to contact and consult and identify. Thereby, improve our chances of gaining more knowledge of our people, hereto yet unknown. However, perhaps my greatest disillusionment second only to the fact our people have not continued the actions of Bentick Sancho, Tuckness Sancho, George Sancho, Friday Campbell, Pollidore Bentick, and Caesar Solomon. They are listed amongst the shareholders of Victoria, Buxton and Golden Grove, on the East Coast of Demerara. Thus, then they were about the possession of land. It is clear the basis of freedom on this planet is owning land. Our people wherever they reside must own their own homes. They must stop the business of renting, as soon as possible. They must also own the means of production. That’s in essence freedom.
The major disenchantment remains our failure to establish a not-for-profit Kinship of Sancho organization to foster our agenda and/or our interests. Does Sancho as the people have a common agenda? If the answer is, they do - Why not establish a vehicle as a means to an end?
Long live James Campbell, Coolie Campbell, Rachael Campbell, Bentick Sancho, Mary Sancho, Lambert Tuckness Sancho, Alexander Gustavus Sancho, Walter Young, Walter Young, and Josephine Young and all of our relatives.
Everlasting blessings and guidance to all of our people - the struggle continues.
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
People Must close their ears to such dangerous nonsense
Recently, I was made aware; a teenage East Indian female died in the Canal Polder, on the West Bank of the Demerara River, following an exercise which her mother and grand mother decided was necessary to extricate evil spirits from the child. The Pastor of the Congregation is an “African - Guyanese.” In fact, the Pastor is the only “African - Guyanese” associated with that body in the district. The heritage of the victim is “Indo - Guyanese.” It appears almost every member of the church converted from Hinduism to Christianity. This is certainly nothing new in Guyana. In fact, the colonizers were since 1807 making efforts to christianize the hedons and savages they brought from Africa, India and China to the colonies of Demerara, Essequebo and Berbice and the Colony of British Guiana. The East Indians were forced fed Christianity much like the Africans before them. In fact, numerous East Indians who aspired to removed themselves and their descendants from the plantations realized that it was more suitable to pursue career choices to be a Christian under the various colonial regimes than to remain Buddhist, Hindu and Muslim. Therefore, numerous souls converted to Christianity.
Prem Misir, the mouthpiece of the PPP/C, is supposed to be an educated man by European standards. However, every time, or most occasions he opened his trap venom spewed - pure and simple racial hatred. I am not at all surprised. I am beyond being disappointed whenever I realize the pit bulls of the PNC/R and the PPP/C are barking. After all, I am privy to this sort of deceitful game they have used to entrap my people for more than 53 years and counting . . . I am of the opinion Misir is an out and out racist. He is overly anti-African. He belongs to a long list of devils who have sort to annihilate Africans off the face of the earth.
“I wonder as I wander” what Misir and similar Hindus make of Vishnu and Krishna and Hanuman? It is beyond a shadow of doubt those three icons of Hinduism are Blackmen. They are Gods in the Hindu religion. How can they pray to Vishnu and his son Krishna on Sunday and/or whenever and hate Blackman is beyond my simple understanding and/or imagination?
Perhaps, in the minds of numerous Hindus, only Black people are in contact with Hindus that they deem innately corruptly.
I doubt Misir, and his colleagues will ever acquire and/or possess the necessary acumen to honestly comprehend any given situation involving Africans and East Indians, wherever and whenever such occurs.
What happened in the Canal Polder was criminal. The adults violated the human and civil rights of the teenager. It was not - certainly not a racial incident. The best solution is to drag all of the adults involved in that sordid event before the Courts in Guyana. Also, any and all who had prior knowledge must be brought before the Courts. My opinions with respect to the public accounts are as follows; all involved are guilty of negligent homicide. Thus all should be thrown in Jail, and the keys to the cells ought to be destroyed. They should never again see the light of day beyond the cells of their imprisonment.
Misir is again in fine form. If the West Indies’ test cricketers could ever maintain, the form Misir regularly displays; they would obliterate the number of victories achieved under the captaincies of Lloyd and Richards in international cricket matches. Is Misir horning his skills in preparation for the 2011 National Elections in Guyana? Only, racists such as Misir, Pat Robertson, and Paul Shirley and others would take such a most regrettable tragedy - which could have been avoided even in a nation with such an atrocious medical system as Guyana - and transform such into an ethnic minefield. Fire upon the PPP/C’s pitbull . . . Perhaps, Misir could summon the fortitude to nescitate enlightenment respecting and copy the advocacy of such folks as Joseph Ruhomon and Bechu and others of that magnitude. As are Misir and his type are poisonous arrows directed against the people of Guyana. The present and future generations must close their ears to such dangerous nonsense.
Prem Misir, the mouthpiece of the PPP/C, is supposed to be an educated man by European standards. However, every time, or most occasions he opened his trap venom spewed - pure and simple racial hatred. I am not at all surprised. I am beyond being disappointed whenever I realize the pit bulls of the PNC/R and the PPP/C are barking. After all, I am privy to this sort of deceitful game they have used to entrap my people for more than 53 years and counting . . . I am of the opinion Misir is an out and out racist. He is overly anti-African. He belongs to a long list of devils who have sort to annihilate Africans off the face of the earth.
“I wonder as I wander” what Misir and similar Hindus make of Vishnu and Krishna and Hanuman? It is beyond a shadow of doubt those three icons of Hinduism are Blackmen. They are Gods in the Hindu religion. How can they pray to Vishnu and his son Krishna on Sunday and/or whenever and hate Blackman is beyond my simple understanding and/or imagination?
Perhaps, in the minds of numerous Hindus, only Black people are in contact with Hindus that they deem innately corruptly.
I doubt Misir, and his colleagues will ever acquire and/or possess the necessary acumen to honestly comprehend any given situation involving Africans and East Indians, wherever and whenever such occurs.
What happened in the Canal Polder was criminal. The adults violated the human and civil rights of the teenager. It was not - certainly not a racial incident. The best solution is to drag all of the adults involved in that sordid event before the Courts in Guyana. Also, any and all who had prior knowledge must be brought before the Courts. My opinions with respect to the public accounts are as follows; all involved are guilty of negligent homicide. Thus all should be thrown in Jail, and the keys to the cells ought to be destroyed. They should never again see the light of day beyond the cells of their imprisonment.
Misir is again in fine form. If the West Indies’ test cricketers could ever maintain, the form Misir regularly displays; they would obliterate the number of victories achieved under the captaincies of Lloyd and Richards in international cricket matches. Is Misir horning his skills in preparation for the 2011 National Elections in Guyana? Only, racists such as Misir, Pat Robertson, and Paul Shirley and others would take such a most regrettable tragedy - which could have been avoided even in a nation with such an atrocious medical system as Guyana - and transform such into an ethnic minefield. Fire upon the PPP/C’s pitbull . . . Perhaps, Misir could summon the fortitude to nescitate enlightenment respecting and copy the advocacy of such folks as Joseph Ruhomon and Bechu and others of that magnitude. As are Misir and his type are poisonous arrows directed against the people of Guyana. The present and future generations must close their ears to such dangerous nonsense.
CHANGE IS ON THE HORIZON
“All through the history of the race there have been white writers and speakers who have made disparaging remarks of us. One of these was a Bishop Parry who in 1906 declared that Negroes could be said to be without ancestors and that they were therefore inclined to superstition.”... Norman Eustace Cameron, 1950, Georgetown, British Guiana.
“The African whether at home or even in exile after the great hiatus of Slavery, shows practical shrewdness and aptitude for the affairs of local Government. His legal acumen is higher than that of the European.” ...Lord Oliver, Secretary of the Royal West India Commission, 1899, and governor of Jamaica, 1907-1913.
The African races generally have a subtle dialectical faculty, and are in some ways far quicker in apprehension than the average Caucasian.” ...Lord Oliver, Secretary of the Royal West India Commission, 1899, and governor of Jamaica, 1907-1913.
Most people, I have met; I heard on mass media; I read in print media and other such mediums all display racial and/or ethnic stereotypes. What is also confounding, remains most make excuses for members of their so-called ethnic groupings. People make asinine statements whether they are of sound mind, or sober and /or under the influence of man-made substances. And, thus others feel the desire to defend or to excuse or to question others. By so doing, they also expose themselves for the most part, if you are what’s termed a Blackman in Guyana, you are then expected to be a supporter of the PNC or a beneficiary of the PNC, and/or a Christian. Whenever, one such as myself states, I have no allegiance to the PNC - Blacks are often shocked. Some Blacks even questioned whether I am of sound mind. Some suggested the PNC gave my ancestors’ house and land wherever they resided. Others stated the PNC gave me free education. The PNC gave my people plumb jobs and positions . . . All the nonsense which for the most part is not truthful.
Let get into a bit of history of land tenure amongst my ancestry - shall we? Whenever, you Google the name; Bentick Sancho using Google Book-Search, you will, certainly, realize that in February 1856, between Plantations Enmore and Clonbrook on the East Coast of Demerara, Bentick Sancho was an outstanding personality. Bentick Sancho was a shareholder. He was not a member of the PNC or any political party. I see no reason to go out of my way to support any political party. Well! If and/or when there is a Shareholders Party, I would certainly consider membership, instantly.
By January 5, 1848, Bentick Sancho and Tuckness Sancho purchased five and three shares respectively of Plantation Golden Grove, on the East Sea Coast of Demerara. Thus, when the transport was passed on May 5, 1848 the two members of the kinship of Sancho owned 16 percent of Plantation Golden Grove.
Some eight years prior to that in April 1840 George Sanco (likely a miss spelling of Sancho), Friday Campbell and Walter Young and more than 125 others purchased Plantation New Orange Nassau. Also in November 1839, Pollidore Bentick, and Caesar Solomon are number amongst the 83 shareholders who purchased Plantation Northbrook. The three plantations mentioned above became known under repressive regimes of colonizers as the villages of Golden Grove, Buxton and Victoria. I would not be surprised whenever I become enlightened respecting the lists of the shareholders of the other villages on the East Coast of Demerara that my representatives are numbered amongst them. I expect them to be among those of Plantation Friendship, and Plantation Nabaclis.
LAND
The possession of land is the basis of freedom. This has been the scenario throughout the history of the human experience. How upon earth does the Government of Guyana, own land in communities, the Africans purchased in the nineteenth century? That fact as it is currently, does not sit at all well with me. Certainly, it is beyond my imagination that the people of Golden Grove had to approach the Government of Guyana for their permission to lease land in the village of Golden Grove, to construct a community centre thereon, less than 160 years after Africans purchased the plantation. I blame the traitors who conspired with the operatives of the PNC for the present condition our people, primarily Black people, find themselves in this day. They turned their backs upon their ancestral heritage. They made their bed with Forbes Burnham against the legacy of their ancestors of the seventeenth, eighteenth and nineteenth centuries in the American south. They are still paying the price for such gross negligence. Blacks who migrated overseas are continuing to sell the property their ancestors toiled to obtain. This is certainly not an African -Guyanese phenomena but it seems in almost every nation where Africans are found the descendants are selling prime real property to investors of various ethnic backgrounds. Lands along the water fronts are gobbled up instantaneously. The sad thing is in most situations there are relatives there - members of the same kinship who does not possess any real property. It is so very sad. The situation recurs all too often amongst the people of Sancho. My mother and her sister, Inez made a habit of purchasing real property wherever they resided. They were in a modus operandi of the grand father and great grand father.
East Indians express that such Blacks and Blacks in general are deceitful. What bothers me most of all is that for most of my mother’s career she was employed in districts such as Port Mourant, Blairmont, Cumberland and Rose Hall in Canje, and No. # 68 Village on the Corentyne, which were predominately populated by East Indians and it has been my experience that she and I were afforded much respect and our welfare was never in question by East Indians. Have all those and/or such folks departed from the physical realm? I simply refuse to accept such a conclusion. I can recall sitting in a hammock in front of a store at No. # 64 Village, when the announcement was made over the radio that Forbes Burnham and his PNC had trounced Cheddi Jagan and the PPP in Port Mourant and its environments. I was the only “African” in their midst. I can tell you no one uttered racial slurs. Everyone there knew the Elections were being hijacked. African - Guyanese in the district had nothing to do with the results, whatsoever, beyond casting their ballots. The politicians chose to do whatever it is they are allowed to do.
Today, most Indo - Guyanese, even here in the USA, think the vast majority of African Guyanese are out to defile their females, to violate their physical and to covet their property. They seem to have lost all regard of worth of Africans wherever they reside and whomever they are. Some openly question whether Blacks did anything good in Guyana.
Two of the most ridiculous questions, persons of East Indian heritage ever put to me are; Wha mek fine man kill dem people at Lusignan? The translation in English language is - why did fineman kill East Indians at Lusignan? Why did Burnham kill Walter Rodney?
What is really troubling is that an African is expected to answer their questions. Also he is expected to possess and/or express the answers they are looking for. More over Black must and /or is expected to answer for others who are and/or were accused of perpetrating criminal and/or immoral acts against humanity. I don’t know why that is - but it is apparent - the entire Black race is defined by acts and/or words of individuals. If an African - Guyanese is said to violate the human rights and/or civil rights or both of another person what has that to with me and other innocent person who happen to be of similar ethnicity of the perpetrator or accused.
I often recall how offended I felt when Jai birthed at No. # 65 Village, on the Corentyne Coast, British Guiana, a former secondary school teacher at Hindu College at Cove & John, and Golden Grove Government secondary school, at Golden Grove, on the East Coast of Demerara required of me to answer for the acts of Fineman Rawlins and Forbes Burnham. I thought he was insensitive at least and/or at worst absent-minded or racist at worst. I suppose such line of question innocent people is simply racial profiling and ethnic stereotyping if ever there such a thing.
I certainly, recall reading their Goddess Janet Rosenberg Jagan claiming Eusi Kwayana is trying to reinvent himself in the mode of Mahatma Gandhi. I find such a comment as absurd as it is racist. Certainly, there are numerous “Africans” in the human experience African - Guyanese are aware of whom they could emulate. They need not copy and/or covet icons from other groups of people. If I were to copy an East Indian, it won’t be Mohandas Karamchandus Gandhi that’s for sure. Why wont I not start with Vishnu and/or his son, Krishna? It is certainly a transformation of the enemy who was white (Europeans) in most of the era of colonialism to Africans in the decade prior to independence and the era of the post independence. On the other hand, I certainly, feel were Walter Rodney alive today he would be catching the same hell as most Africans -in - the Guyanese experience is currently experiencing. More over, Walter Rodney would not be considered a National Hero was he in the physical realm, today. The majority of those who, sing his praises would be acting as hypocritical as Michael Manley did in Jamaica. I firmly, believe and accept, Walter Rodney was a threat to deceitful politicians such as the majority of those between 1947 and this very day. In fact, all the Heads of State of Guyana from May 26, 1966 to this day are corrupted opportunists. They are and/or were in for personal prestige and personal gain. None were and/or are about the people.
CHANGE IS ON THE HORIZON . . .
What most doesn’t seem to understand are; a number of us, realize that our ancestry in what’s currently known as Guyana predates, by, perhaps, as many as three centuries, any political establishment which purports to defend and/or to represent the underprivileged working class people in that political boundary.
My political philosophy is similar to that of my ancestors. They were hunted, trapped, captured, sold, kidnapped and brought in chains across the Middle Passage. They were enslaved and oppressed on plantations in the Americas. It is also conspicuous of the struggles of the indentured laborers. They were brought from various regions including Africa, Afghanistan, Indian, Pakistan, China, and Portugal to replace enslaved labor on plantations in the colony of British Guiana.
Therefore, any political platform which fails to recognize the blood, sweat, and tears of my representatives does not and can never represent the interest of my people. Every platform that pits ethnic groups against each other cannot and does not represent the greatest good of my people. I would not only be a traitor but a disgrace to humanity to ever support any such platform. Not only that but also I would be disrespectful to the struggles of my ancestors. I can not ever support that which does not give birth to life and dreams of people. I stand concerned and committed to the philosophy of the greatest good of the people.
It is also, absolutely; clear to me, my ancestors were not Christians, prior to the arrival of kidnappers in what’s commonly referred to as West Africa. In fact, they had their own social systems. Theirs’ predates any found on this planet. They were deceived. They were then, Christianized. In fact, in the fifteenth century, a Pope referred to my representatives as Pagan savages. Thus, the Pope gave his blessings to “Prince Henry the Navigator of Portugal, to enslave and Christianized my ancestors and their colleagues. Again, in this day, the Age of Information, I cannot align myself with the teachings of those who practiced genocide against my representatives. Well! That would be dumb. Wont it? There is no excuse for ignorance in this age. The struggle continues.
"The time is come, and now is the time when we must stand together in one accord, as men and women of the African race; be not afraid, let us look towards one god, one aim, one destiny” Harold Paul, of the African Church, New Amsterdam, Berbice, British Guiana, at the Esplanade Bandstand, New Amsterdam, Berbice, British Guiana. Thursday, March 6, 1958. Source; Berbice Chronicle, Wednesday, March 12, 1958.
“The African whether at home or even in exile after the great hiatus of Slavery, shows practical shrewdness and aptitude for the affairs of local Government. His legal acumen is higher than that of the European.” ...Lord Oliver, Secretary of the Royal West India Commission, 1899, and governor of Jamaica, 1907-1913.
The African races generally have a subtle dialectical faculty, and are in some ways far quicker in apprehension than the average Caucasian.” ...Lord Oliver, Secretary of the Royal West India Commission, 1899, and governor of Jamaica, 1907-1913.
Most people, I have met; I heard on mass media; I read in print media and other such mediums all display racial and/or ethnic stereotypes. What is also confounding, remains most make excuses for members of their so-called ethnic groupings. People make asinine statements whether they are of sound mind, or sober and /or under the influence of man-made substances. And, thus others feel the desire to defend or to excuse or to question others. By so doing, they also expose themselves for the most part, if you are what’s termed a Blackman in Guyana, you are then expected to be a supporter of the PNC or a beneficiary of the PNC, and/or a Christian. Whenever, one such as myself states, I have no allegiance to the PNC - Blacks are often shocked. Some Blacks even questioned whether I am of sound mind. Some suggested the PNC gave my ancestors’ house and land wherever they resided. Others stated the PNC gave me free education. The PNC gave my people plumb jobs and positions . . . All the nonsense which for the most part is not truthful.
Let get into a bit of history of land tenure amongst my ancestry - shall we? Whenever, you Google the name; Bentick Sancho using Google Book-Search, you will, certainly, realize that in February 1856, between Plantations Enmore and Clonbrook on the East Coast of Demerara, Bentick Sancho was an outstanding personality. Bentick Sancho was a shareholder. He was not a member of the PNC or any political party. I see no reason to go out of my way to support any political party. Well! If and/or when there is a Shareholders Party, I would certainly consider membership, instantly.
By January 5, 1848, Bentick Sancho and Tuckness Sancho purchased five and three shares respectively of Plantation Golden Grove, on the East Sea Coast of Demerara. Thus, when the transport was passed on May 5, 1848 the two members of the kinship of Sancho owned 16 percent of Plantation Golden Grove.
Some eight years prior to that in April 1840 George Sanco (likely a miss spelling of Sancho), Friday Campbell and Walter Young and more than 125 others purchased Plantation New Orange Nassau. Also in November 1839, Pollidore Bentick, and Caesar Solomon are number amongst the 83 shareholders who purchased Plantation Northbrook. The three plantations mentioned above became known under repressive regimes of colonizers as the villages of Golden Grove, Buxton and Victoria. I would not be surprised whenever I become enlightened respecting the lists of the shareholders of the other villages on the East Coast of Demerara that my representatives are numbered amongst them. I expect them to be among those of Plantation Friendship, and Plantation Nabaclis.
LAND
The possession of land is the basis of freedom. This has been the scenario throughout the history of the human experience. How upon earth does the Government of Guyana, own land in communities, the Africans purchased in the nineteenth century? That fact as it is currently, does not sit at all well with me. Certainly, it is beyond my imagination that the people of Golden Grove had to approach the Government of Guyana for their permission to lease land in the village of Golden Grove, to construct a community centre thereon, less than 160 years after Africans purchased the plantation. I blame the traitors who conspired with the operatives of the PNC for the present condition our people, primarily Black people, find themselves in this day. They turned their backs upon their ancestral heritage. They made their bed with Forbes Burnham against the legacy of their ancestors of the seventeenth, eighteenth and nineteenth centuries in the American south. They are still paying the price for such gross negligence. Blacks who migrated overseas are continuing to sell the property their ancestors toiled to obtain. This is certainly not an African -Guyanese phenomena but it seems in almost every nation where Africans are found the descendants are selling prime real property to investors of various ethnic backgrounds. Lands along the water fronts are gobbled up instantaneously. The sad thing is in most situations there are relatives there - members of the same kinship who does not possess any real property. It is so very sad. The situation recurs all too often amongst the people of Sancho. My mother and her sister, Inez made a habit of purchasing real property wherever they resided. They were in a modus operandi of the grand father and great grand father.
East Indians express that such Blacks and Blacks in general are deceitful. What bothers me most of all is that for most of my mother’s career she was employed in districts such as Port Mourant, Blairmont, Cumberland and Rose Hall in Canje, and No. # 68 Village on the Corentyne, which were predominately populated by East Indians and it has been my experience that she and I were afforded much respect and our welfare was never in question by East Indians. Have all those and/or such folks departed from the physical realm? I simply refuse to accept such a conclusion. I can recall sitting in a hammock in front of a store at No. # 64 Village, when the announcement was made over the radio that Forbes Burnham and his PNC had trounced Cheddi Jagan and the PPP in Port Mourant and its environments. I was the only “African” in their midst. I can tell you no one uttered racial slurs. Everyone there knew the Elections were being hijacked. African - Guyanese in the district had nothing to do with the results, whatsoever, beyond casting their ballots. The politicians chose to do whatever it is they are allowed to do.
Today, most Indo - Guyanese, even here in the USA, think the vast majority of African Guyanese are out to defile their females, to violate their physical and to covet their property. They seem to have lost all regard of worth of Africans wherever they reside and whomever they are. Some openly question whether Blacks did anything good in Guyana.
Two of the most ridiculous questions, persons of East Indian heritage ever put to me are; Wha mek fine man kill dem people at Lusignan? The translation in English language is - why did fineman kill East Indians at Lusignan? Why did Burnham kill Walter Rodney?
What is really troubling is that an African is expected to answer their questions. Also he is expected to possess and/or express the answers they are looking for. More over Black must and /or is expected to answer for others who are and/or were accused of perpetrating criminal and/or immoral acts against humanity. I don’t know why that is - but it is apparent - the entire Black race is defined by acts and/or words of individuals. If an African - Guyanese is said to violate the human rights and/or civil rights or both of another person what has that to with me and other innocent person who happen to be of similar ethnicity of the perpetrator or accused.
I often recall how offended I felt when Jai birthed at No. # 65 Village, on the Corentyne Coast, British Guiana, a former secondary school teacher at Hindu College at Cove & John, and Golden Grove Government secondary school, at Golden Grove, on the East Coast of Demerara required of me to answer for the acts of Fineman Rawlins and Forbes Burnham. I thought he was insensitive at least and/or at worst absent-minded or racist at worst. I suppose such line of question innocent people is simply racial profiling and ethnic stereotyping if ever there such a thing.
I certainly, recall reading their Goddess Janet Rosenberg Jagan claiming Eusi Kwayana is trying to reinvent himself in the mode of Mahatma Gandhi. I find such a comment as absurd as it is racist. Certainly, there are numerous “Africans” in the human experience African - Guyanese are aware of whom they could emulate. They need not copy and/or covet icons from other groups of people. If I were to copy an East Indian, it won’t be Mohandas Karamchandus Gandhi that’s for sure. Why wont I not start with Vishnu and/or his son, Krishna? It is certainly a transformation of the enemy who was white (Europeans) in most of the era of colonialism to Africans in the decade prior to independence and the era of the post independence. On the other hand, I certainly, feel were Walter Rodney alive today he would be catching the same hell as most Africans -in - the Guyanese experience is currently experiencing. More over, Walter Rodney would not be considered a National Hero was he in the physical realm, today. The majority of those who, sing his praises would be acting as hypocritical as Michael Manley did in Jamaica. I firmly, believe and accept, Walter Rodney was a threat to deceitful politicians such as the majority of those between 1947 and this very day. In fact, all the Heads of State of Guyana from May 26, 1966 to this day are corrupted opportunists. They are and/or were in for personal prestige and personal gain. None were and/or are about the people.
CHANGE IS ON THE HORIZON . . .
What most doesn’t seem to understand are; a number of us, realize that our ancestry in what’s currently known as Guyana predates, by, perhaps, as many as three centuries, any political establishment which purports to defend and/or to represent the underprivileged working class people in that political boundary.
My political philosophy is similar to that of my ancestors. They were hunted, trapped, captured, sold, kidnapped and brought in chains across the Middle Passage. They were enslaved and oppressed on plantations in the Americas. It is also conspicuous of the struggles of the indentured laborers. They were brought from various regions including Africa, Afghanistan, Indian, Pakistan, China, and Portugal to replace enslaved labor on plantations in the colony of British Guiana.
Therefore, any political platform which fails to recognize the blood, sweat, and tears of my representatives does not and can never represent the interest of my people. Every platform that pits ethnic groups against each other cannot and does not represent the greatest good of my people. I would not only be a traitor but a disgrace to humanity to ever support any such platform. Not only that but also I would be disrespectful to the struggles of my ancestors. I can not ever support that which does not give birth to life and dreams of people. I stand concerned and committed to the philosophy of the greatest good of the people.
It is also, absolutely; clear to me, my ancestors were not Christians, prior to the arrival of kidnappers in what’s commonly referred to as West Africa. In fact, they had their own social systems. Theirs’ predates any found on this planet. They were deceived. They were then, Christianized. In fact, in the fifteenth century, a Pope referred to my representatives as Pagan savages. Thus, the Pope gave his blessings to “Prince Henry the Navigator of Portugal, to enslave and Christianized my ancestors and their colleagues. Again, in this day, the Age of Information, I cannot align myself with the teachings of those who practiced genocide against my representatives. Well! That would be dumb. Wont it? There is no excuse for ignorance in this age. The struggle continues.
"The time is come, and now is the time when we must stand together in one accord, as men and women of the African race; be not afraid, let us look towards one god, one aim, one destiny” Harold Paul, of the African Church, New Amsterdam, Berbice, British Guiana, at the Esplanade Bandstand, New Amsterdam, Berbice, British Guiana. Thursday, March 6, 1958. Source; Berbice Chronicle, Wednesday, March 12, 1958.
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Triggermen Are Pathetic House Niggers. They Are Not the Beneficiaries.
Triggermen Are Pathetic House Niggers. They Are Not the Beneficiaries.
The members of the death squad which assassinated Malcolm X on February 21, 1965 were only the triggermen. They were all pawns. They carried out such a despicable act. They were all brainwashed into perpetuating such an atrocious crime. It remains a criminal act against every conscientious Black person, Ever existed and/or will ever exist here upon this planet Earth.
The actual conspirators were never brought to justice. They were not definitely exposed. Even, more than 45 years later, it remains unclear, what roles, if any, did Louis Farrakhan, Elijah Muhammad, and his sons including Wallace Muhammad, and Herbert Muhammad, and other members of the Nation of Islam, including John Ali, and Raymond Sharrieff, Gene Roberts, an undercover police officer, Edgar Hoover and Counter Intelligence Program (CoIntelPro), Linden Johnson and his administration, and other agencies of Federal, State and City governments played in that assault upon Black life and culture. I believe Louis Farrakhan, and the Nation of Islam and the US Government are the chief beneficiaries of the execution of Malcolm X. It is written, that, Louis Farrakhan, is quoted as saying, “Betty Shabazz never said that Farrakhan was a plotter in the death of Malcolm, But she said that Farrakhan helped to create the atmosphere. And that I can agree with.” Black people, the immediate relatives of Malcolm X, primarily Betty Shabazz, Attallah Shabazz, Qubilah Shabazz, Llyasah Shabazz, Gamilah Shabazz, Malikah Shabazz, Malaak Shabazz, Malcolm Shabazz and Malik Shabazz were and still are the victims of that act.
Black people need to understand that the enemies of black people are often those with black skins and white hearts as described by Paul Bogle, Sam Sharpe, and Franz Fanon several others. They look like us. They claim to love us. Yet they kill us and our heroes - champions . . . The assassinations of Chaka the Zulu warrior king, Patrice Lummunbia, Malcolm X, Thomas Sankara, Maurice Bishop, and Walter Rodney and a number of others all have similar sinister personalities who perpetrated the acts. What’s also common is that Black people still love and regards their killers as heroes. That’s so absurd. But it’s the reality of the situation.
What I would really like to know from their hearts and mouths of those House -Niggers that killed my Messiah are
Would they have done so today?
Do they still consider Malcolm X a man worthy of death by their hands?
If so, why at this late date?
Why upon this earth would, they want to be identified as traitors of Black people and/or executioners of the uncontested champion of black people of the last half of the twentieth century (European age)?
What have they benefitted from their participation in such a horrendous act against Black people?
I have always wondered why the relatives of all the people killed and/or otherwise injured or victimized by CoIntelPro, Edgar Hoover, and other agencies of Federal, State and City governments have not filed suit against these agencies and individuals in a Court of Law in the USA, even at this late date?
Whosoever, killed, Malcolm X is as pathetic as those who perpetuated acts which resulted in his and mine and your representatives being enslaved here in the Americas and at home in West Africa.
Norman 3X Butler, Thomas 15X Johnson, Talmadge Hayer (a.k.a. Mujahid Halim), Philbert Little are all pawns. They are House -Niggers for they did the unpleasant task, the bidding of those who wanted Brother Malcolm dead.
“I have no compassion or mercy or forgiveness” for those who participate in acts of violence against humanity, and particularly against underprivileged working class people and more so against Black life and culture. Again most of the folks who claim to love us really by their actions hate us . . . for they kill our natural, our chosen leaders . . . the struggle continues.
“Our people must learn who our enemies are -who our friends are - and how to make the best use of both of them.”....Thomas Sankara.
The members of the death squad which assassinated Malcolm X on February 21, 1965 were only the triggermen. They were all pawns. They carried out such a despicable act. They were all brainwashed into perpetuating such an atrocious crime. It remains a criminal act against every conscientious Black person, Ever existed and/or will ever exist here upon this planet Earth.
The actual conspirators were never brought to justice. They were not definitely exposed. Even, more than 45 years later, it remains unclear, what roles, if any, did Louis Farrakhan, Elijah Muhammad, and his sons including Wallace Muhammad, and Herbert Muhammad, and other members of the Nation of Islam, including John Ali, and Raymond Sharrieff, Gene Roberts, an undercover police officer, Edgar Hoover and Counter Intelligence Program (CoIntelPro), Linden Johnson and his administration, and other agencies of Federal, State and City governments played in that assault upon Black life and culture. I believe Louis Farrakhan, and the Nation of Islam and the US Government are the chief beneficiaries of the execution of Malcolm X. It is written, that, Louis Farrakhan, is quoted as saying, “Betty Shabazz never said that Farrakhan was a plotter in the death of Malcolm, But she said that Farrakhan helped to create the atmosphere. And that I can agree with.” Black people, the immediate relatives of Malcolm X, primarily Betty Shabazz, Attallah Shabazz, Qubilah Shabazz, Llyasah Shabazz, Gamilah Shabazz, Malikah Shabazz, Malaak Shabazz, Malcolm Shabazz and Malik Shabazz were and still are the victims of that act.
Black people need to understand that the enemies of black people are often those with black skins and white hearts as described by Paul Bogle, Sam Sharpe, and Franz Fanon several others. They look like us. They claim to love us. Yet they kill us and our heroes - champions . . . The assassinations of Chaka the Zulu warrior king, Patrice Lummunbia, Malcolm X, Thomas Sankara, Maurice Bishop, and Walter Rodney and a number of others all have similar sinister personalities who perpetrated the acts. What’s also common is that Black people still love and regards their killers as heroes. That’s so absurd. But it’s the reality of the situation.
What I would really like to know from their hearts and mouths of those House -Niggers that killed my Messiah are
Would they have done so today?
Do they still consider Malcolm X a man worthy of death by their hands?
If so, why at this late date?
Why upon this earth would, they want to be identified as traitors of Black people and/or executioners of the uncontested champion of black people of the last half of the twentieth century (European age)?
What have they benefitted from their participation in such a horrendous act against Black people?
I have always wondered why the relatives of all the people killed and/or otherwise injured or victimized by CoIntelPro, Edgar Hoover, and other agencies of Federal, State and City governments have not filed suit against these agencies and individuals in a Court of Law in the USA, even at this late date?
Whosoever, killed, Malcolm X is as pathetic as those who perpetuated acts which resulted in his and mine and your representatives being enslaved here in the Americas and at home in West Africa.
Norman 3X Butler, Thomas 15X Johnson, Talmadge Hayer (a.k.a. Mujahid Halim), Philbert Little are all pawns. They are House -Niggers for they did the unpleasant task, the bidding of those who wanted Brother Malcolm dead.
“I have no compassion or mercy or forgiveness” for those who participate in acts of violence against humanity, and particularly against underprivileged working class people and more so against Black life and culture. Again most of the folks who claim to love us really by their actions hate us . . . for they kill our natural, our chosen leaders . . . the struggle continues.
“Our people must learn who our enemies are -who our friends are - and how to make the best use of both of them.”....Thomas Sankara.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
COLIN PATRICK ROSS (1954-1981)
COLIN PATRICK ROSS
COLIN PATRICK ROSS (1954-1981) - HE AIN'T HEAVY HE'S MY BROTHER BY ONE WHO KNEW HIM PERHAPS BEST – Allick Sancho.
Saturday, February 13, 2010 marks the fifty-sixth anniversary of the birthing of Colin. However, he would be alive for only twenty -seven years and seven months.
I am sure, when my eyes were opened; I recognized Mariette, Compton, Cheryl, and Colin are also my immediate relatives. I must have known, at first sight, Colin would be the one closest early companion. I recognized early in life Colin was far more balanced a person than I would ever be. I depended upon his rationale thoughts to balance my emotional processing. I simply loved bonding with Colin more than I did with every other being with exception of my mother. I am not at all sure; perhaps, I was the negative influence in his early life. He and I were as different as we were similar.
BIRTH
It’s my understanding Colin and I were birthed on the same bed, in the same room some twenty-two months apart. Colin and I shared that bed and room for the better portion of ten years. The process of the birthing of Colin Ross began in the spring of 1953. Colin Patrick Ross was birthed on February 13, 1954 at the residence of the Sancho-Ross family located at Alexander Street between Main Street and the Strand, also referred to as Water Street in Smythtown, in the town of New Amsterdam, in the county of Berbice, in the colony of British Guiana. He is the fourth son and the sixth child of the union.
BOYHOOD
The major portions of the first twelve years of his life he dwelt in New Amsterdam. Colin was special to a number of his immediate relatives of both of his parents. Thus, during this period, Colin Ross, frequented the residences of his relatives at Hopetown, West Coast Berbice, Charlotte and Regent Streets in Georgetown, and the Golden Grove-Nabaclis Village District and other communities on the East Coast of Demerara. I cannot name one relative of ours who preferred to distance themselves from Colin. As you can well imagine the older females seemed to dot upon him. There was Cousin Dove Williams, Cousin Gwendolyn Valentine, Cousin Sheila Sharper, and Cousin Olga Sancho amongst others and even the neighbours including Estelle Johdan, all seemed to go gaga over his presence.
Colin and I were pupils at a kindergarten school located a few blocks from Alexander Street. I do not remember the name of the kindergarten school. The name M's Frank comes to my memory. I am not sure that's accurate. However, he was educated at Blairmont Government School, Scarder Preparatory School, Cumberland Methodist School, Golden Grove High School, Golden Grove Government Secondary School, and New Amsterdam Technical Institute. I firmly believe Colin was also educated at Hopetown.
The brothers, Winston Sullivan and William Sullivan were our best friends. We loved their grandmother. She was known to us as Mother Hunter. The sisters, Lanna Reis and Gaynelle Reis (Reece) were our earliest girl friends. They also resided at Alexander streets. Their grandfather was a dentist. He rented my mother’s house nearest to the tenement yard. Colin looked forward to his father returning home for the weekends. I dreaded such occurrences as much as the darkness of nights. He also much to my chagrin would be only too anxious to bond with Blanche Ross and to trek with her to Hopetown. I am sure I confronted him on numerous occasions informing him such were tantamount to abandonment. I still remember complaining to Muriel and asking her to put a stop to such actions to no avail. We both looked forward to bonding with Mariette, Compton and Cheryl. I cannot speak on his thoughts concerning the first two sons of Muriel Sancho.
YOUTH
He was an excellent soccer player. He played defending positions. He possessed the ability to grasp foreign languages. He was very pleasant and easy going. He seemed to me a magnet attracting the attention of pretty females. Being in the company of Colin meant the likelihood I would encounter and be conversant with some rather attractive female. One of the most regrettable events in our relationship occurred at our family residence at Nabaclis. The fussing and fighting ended, after I inflicted a bloody wound upon him. That was the aftermath of an encounter with a female from Beterverwagting. Muriel Sancho and Cousin Phyllis Kendall were furious. We were soundly chastised. I caught the blunt of their fury and ridicule. It was basically books before, beyond and over girls.
I am positive; Colin counted Colin Trim, Fitz St. Kitts, and Stanford Solomon amongst his friends at Golden Grove High School, and Golden Grove Government Secondary School. I Know I Visited the Solomon Residence at Golden Grove with him on quite a few occasions as he chatted with Stanford Solomon. I preferred Zorro Solomon. His characteristics were much closer to the folk’s I hung out with over the line at Golden Grove Colin was also particularly fond of Michael "Backlegg" Sancho, Winston "Tallman" Matthews, Sydney Valentine and Colin Sancho. He did not care for George Hinds. I am certain that was due to the fact George Hinds’ attempt at discipline was considered abusive and unwarranted. That act never sat well with Colin and George Eleazar Ross, his father. While a pupil at Golden Grove High School victimized by a teacher surnamed Lawrence. He hailed from Victoria Village. He is likely a relative of ours.
I also recall an event which had a profound effect upon my make-up and thought process. Shortly before the Georgetown to Rosignol train service was terminated by Burnham and his illegal PNC regime, Colin boarded an early morning train on his way to Golden Grove Government Secondary School. However, he fell asleep. George Eleazar Ross, realized his son was absent from his residence located at E1/2 115 Regent Street, Lacytown, Georgetown. Thus, the very next day George Eleazar Ross made his way to my mother's residence at Nabaclis. I heard him demanding of my mother to hand over his son to him. He left in a fit of rage. It was obvious to me he expressed that my mother had kidnapped his son. I listened to the entire exchange. I heard MS repeatedly telling him I wanted to share at least a few minutes with him. Low and behold the man simply completely ignored my mother and I. It was at that moment I realized that man did not really consider me his off spring. Clearly, he had separated himself from my mother and I. I watched him walk away out of our lives. I would be dishonest if I did not state I was very disappointed and annoyed. I regretted possessing his DNA. I began to deny its presence in my physical. When I saw Colin at school, the next school day he told me he had fallen asleep and later made his way to Blanche's residence at Hopetown. He suggested I should go visit George Eleazar Ross, in Georgetown. I simply refused to listen and/or to comply with such expression.
After Colin completed the series of academic requirements at Golden Grove Government Secondary School; He enlisted in the Guyana Youth Corps. He was sent to Tumatumari, on the Potaro River, in the region of the Pakaraima Mountains, in the county of Essequebo. There he would bond with Reynolds. In March 1974, Reynolds would become my most trustworthy squaddie in the Guyana Defence Force.
MATURITY
Colin would join the Guyana Police Force in 1972. His enlisted number is 8832. It appears Muriel Sancho was so concerned and committed to the welfare of her son that she visited Carl Austin, then the Commissioner of the Guyana Police Force. I am not certain where this meeting transpired. It was likely either at the Austin residence at Paradise, on the East Coast of Demerara or at his office at Police Compound at Eve Leary, in Georgetown. I recall Muriel and I visiting Carl Austin’s residence on at least two occasions. Carl Austin reassured his teacher he would place her son in responsible hands. Carl Austin promptly turned the responsibility of training and nurturing Colin over to Joseph Patterson. It must be noted Carl Austin was cognizant Joseph Patterson and Colin were very closely related persons. They are third cousins.
Colin had a trait which suggested to him he must hold on to his relatives. It was sort of protective. I recall Colin walking between Cheryl and I and holding onto our hands as we left our mother's residence at Nabaclis. It was strange to me because I was approaching 24 years of age. I was no longer a child. I was as matured as I probably will ever be. Had I known the inevitable was just around the corner I would have held onto my brother instead of pulling away and walking either across from or behind my siblings. Life affords us no do-overs.
MARRIAGE
I cannot say what sort of a husband Colin was. I am aware at the time of his transition he and his wife was dwelling apart from each other. In 1975 Colin and Agnes Smith from Cumberland Village in the Canje River Basin were married at the General Post Office Building in Georgetown. I signed my dreaded government name as a witness to that event. The reception was held in Kitty Village on the East Coast of Demerara. The union reproduced two delightful young females, Mariette Ross and Anastasia Ross.
In 1975 before he was, married Colin was shot in the arm by another police man. The shooting was ruled accidental. However, if you understood my trend of thinking, I believed the shooting was a deliberate act. I did not think it was politically motivated. Such a sentiment was also expressed, repeatedly by our parents.
Colin like most uniformed personnel loved the taste of alcohol. He was also an excellent cook. He loved to curry the flesh of animals, such as chickens, ducks, and a number of the exotic creatures, such as turtles, tortoises, labba, iguana, anteaters, and others found in Guyana. I suppose he developed such a fancy while a member of the Guyana youth’s corps. He also loved partying. I cannot recall whether he was considered a dancer. I guess he was much better than I was at dancing in public. Guyanese folk songs, jazz, rhythm and blues, calypso and reggae were foremost amongst his musical tastes. I can assure you, during the late 1970s, the Peter Tosh composition, “Downpressor Man” was one of his favorite Tunes.
Colin seemed to be always capable of forgiving those who violated him. I simply distance myself from those whom I am confident willfully and blatantly violated me. I was not shocked when Cedric Hudson of Nabaclis village told me Colin warned him and told him to leave New Amsterdam immediately but never arrested him.
The last time I saw my brother alive in the town of our birth, I refused to accept the collaborated statements he and Colin Sancho stated as factual. I thought for some reason known to them. Colin Ross has pummeled Colin Sancho. I was flabbergasted. Colin Sancho told me the refrigerator fell upon him, thus his injuries. I became enraged at both of them. What kind of a fool did they think I am? I could not find any rationale to believe them. I simply had to accept their explanation.
Colin collected rent for the dwellings Muriel Sancho owned at Alexander Street, in New Amsterdam. However, he refused to utilize his mother’s money to finance his examinations - and other personal requirements. I simply would have sent Muriel the proof of transactions and expenses. He was learning welding at NATI. I accompanied him on several occasions to classes at the institution. He encouraged me to enroll. However, fearing damaging my sight, I refused.
DEATH
The death of Colin was one of the most numbing and bitter events. I have experienced in this sojourn. I was aware, that the deaths of my maternal relatives are much too distasteful for me to stomach. There was always the sense of regrets and the question of personal mortality in the future. That inevitable event comes readily to the surface and takes its time to submerge itself again. Thus, September 1981 remains one of the toughest periods of my life I had to endure.
He died tragically from the injuries he received following an accident involving motor vehicle driven by a drunk driver. I cannot get over the sight of Muriel Sancho aging before my very eyes weighed down by grief respecting the passing of her son. She had never appeared more mortal. It was like she surrendered. It appeared her will, her resolve was snapped. I never witnessed my mother appearing so vulnerable. She had. It seemed always a picture of strength. The passing of Colin was a turning point in the lives of a number of his loved ones. I am sure of it. No clichés gives comfort - even to this day.
The funeral services were held at Central Methodist Church, Main Street, New Amsterdam. Some twenty-seven years, prior, Colin was baptized at that institution. The preacher went on and on making statements as he attempted to eulogize my brother. I could not identify most of the eulogy with that of the life of my brother. It was clear to me. He had very little knowledge of my relative. It was phony. It was fraudulent. It was disgusting. Consequently, I concluded that travesty is not for me. No fanfare, no tears, no words are required; just simply entomb my remains with that of my mother's and that will be the end of that.
There is so much more I could say respecting Colin. However, I am with these few words simply attempting to paint a portrait of him for the benefit of his relatives who by natural circumstances were not permitted to bond with him. It is also to remind those who were blessed with his presence; that it’s up to the living to tell our story ourselves and to impress upon the present generations of our people to grasp the contributions of those who came and left before us and thereby preserve such for the benefit of future generations of our people
COLIN PATRICK ROSS (1954-1981) - HE AIN'T HEAVY HE'S MY BROTHER BY ONE WHO KNEW HIM PERHAPS BEST – Allick Sancho.
Saturday, February 13, 2010 marks the fifty-sixth anniversary of the birthing of Colin. However, he would be alive for only twenty -seven years and seven months.
I am sure, when my eyes were opened; I recognized Mariette, Compton, Cheryl, and Colin are also my immediate relatives. I must have known, at first sight, Colin would be the one closest early companion. I recognized early in life Colin was far more balanced a person than I would ever be. I depended upon his rationale thoughts to balance my emotional processing. I simply loved bonding with Colin more than I did with every other being with exception of my mother. I am not at all sure; perhaps, I was the negative influence in his early life. He and I were as different as we were similar.
BIRTH
It’s my understanding Colin and I were birthed on the same bed, in the same room some twenty-two months apart. Colin and I shared that bed and room for the better portion of ten years. The process of the birthing of Colin Ross began in the spring of 1953. Colin Patrick Ross was birthed on February 13, 1954 at the residence of the Sancho-Ross family located at Alexander Street between Main Street and the Strand, also referred to as Water Street in Smythtown, in the town of New Amsterdam, in the county of Berbice, in the colony of British Guiana. He is the fourth son and the sixth child of the union.
BOYHOOD
The major portions of the first twelve years of his life he dwelt in New Amsterdam. Colin was special to a number of his immediate relatives of both of his parents. Thus, during this period, Colin Ross, frequented the residences of his relatives at Hopetown, West Coast Berbice, Charlotte and Regent Streets in Georgetown, and the Golden Grove-Nabaclis Village District and other communities on the East Coast of Demerara. I cannot name one relative of ours who preferred to distance themselves from Colin. As you can well imagine the older females seemed to dot upon him. There was Cousin Dove Williams, Cousin Gwendolyn Valentine, Cousin Sheila Sharper, and Cousin Olga Sancho amongst others and even the neighbours including Estelle Johdan, all seemed to go gaga over his presence.
Colin and I were pupils at a kindergarten school located a few blocks from Alexander Street. I do not remember the name of the kindergarten school. The name M's Frank comes to my memory. I am not sure that's accurate. However, he was educated at Blairmont Government School, Scarder Preparatory School, Cumberland Methodist School, Golden Grove High School, Golden Grove Government Secondary School, and New Amsterdam Technical Institute. I firmly believe Colin was also educated at Hopetown.
The brothers, Winston Sullivan and William Sullivan were our best friends. We loved their grandmother. She was known to us as Mother Hunter. The sisters, Lanna Reis and Gaynelle Reis (Reece) were our earliest girl friends. They also resided at Alexander streets. Their grandfather was a dentist. He rented my mother’s house nearest to the tenement yard. Colin looked forward to his father returning home for the weekends. I dreaded such occurrences as much as the darkness of nights. He also much to my chagrin would be only too anxious to bond with Blanche Ross and to trek with her to Hopetown. I am sure I confronted him on numerous occasions informing him such were tantamount to abandonment. I still remember complaining to Muriel and asking her to put a stop to such actions to no avail. We both looked forward to bonding with Mariette, Compton and Cheryl. I cannot speak on his thoughts concerning the first two sons of Muriel Sancho.
YOUTH
He was an excellent soccer player. He played defending positions. He possessed the ability to grasp foreign languages. He was very pleasant and easy going. He seemed to me a magnet attracting the attention of pretty females. Being in the company of Colin meant the likelihood I would encounter and be conversant with some rather attractive female. One of the most regrettable events in our relationship occurred at our family residence at Nabaclis. The fussing and fighting ended, after I inflicted a bloody wound upon him. That was the aftermath of an encounter with a female from Beterverwagting. Muriel Sancho and Cousin Phyllis Kendall were furious. We were soundly chastised. I caught the blunt of their fury and ridicule. It was basically books before, beyond and over girls.
I am positive; Colin counted Colin Trim, Fitz St. Kitts, and Stanford Solomon amongst his friends at Golden Grove High School, and Golden Grove Government Secondary School. I Know I Visited the Solomon Residence at Golden Grove with him on quite a few occasions as he chatted with Stanford Solomon. I preferred Zorro Solomon. His characteristics were much closer to the folk’s I hung out with over the line at Golden Grove Colin was also particularly fond of Michael "Backlegg" Sancho, Winston "Tallman" Matthews, Sydney Valentine and Colin Sancho. He did not care for George Hinds. I am certain that was due to the fact George Hinds’ attempt at discipline was considered abusive and unwarranted. That act never sat well with Colin and George Eleazar Ross, his father. While a pupil at Golden Grove High School victimized by a teacher surnamed Lawrence. He hailed from Victoria Village. He is likely a relative of ours.
I also recall an event which had a profound effect upon my make-up and thought process. Shortly before the Georgetown to Rosignol train service was terminated by Burnham and his illegal PNC regime, Colin boarded an early morning train on his way to Golden Grove Government Secondary School. However, he fell asleep. George Eleazar Ross, realized his son was absent from his residence located at E1/2 115 Regent Street, Lacytown, Georgetown. Thus, the very next day George Eleazar Ross made his way to my mother's residence at Nabaclis. I heard him demanding of my mother to hand over his son to him. He left in a fit of rage. It was obvious to me he expressed that my mother had kidnapped his son. I listened to the entire exchange. I heard MS repeatedly telling him I wanted to share at least a few minutes with him. Low and behold the man simply completely ignored my mother and I. It was at that moment I realized that man did not really consider me his off spring. Clearly, he had separated himself from my mother and I. I watched him walk away out of our lives. I would be dishonest if I did not state I was very disappointed and annoyed. I regretted possessing his DNA. I began to deny its presence in my physical. When I saw Colin at school, the next school day he told me he had fallen asleep and later made his way to Blanche's residence at Hopetown. He suggested I should go visit George Eleazar Ross, in Georgetown. I simply refused to listen and/or to comply with such expression.
After Colin completed the series of academic requirements at Golden Grove Government Secondary School; He enlisted in the Guyana Youth Corps. He was sent to Tumatumari, on the Potaro River, in the region of the Pakaraima Mountains, in the county of Essequebo. There he would bond with Reynolds. In March 1974, Reynolds would become my most trustworthy squaddie in the Guyana Defence Force.
MATURITY
Colin would join the Guyana Police Force in 1972. His enlisted number is 8832. It appears Muriel Sancho was so concerned and committed to the welfare of her son that she visited Carl Austin, then the Commissioner of the Guyana Police Force. I am not certain where this meeting transpired. It was likely either at the Austin residence at Paradise, on the East Coast of Demerara or at his office at Police Compound at Eve Leary, in Georgetown. I recall Muriel and I visiting Carl Austin’s residence on at least two occasions. Carl Austin reassured his teacher he would place her son in responsible hands. Carl Austin promptly turned the responsibility of training and nurturing Colin over to Joseph Patterson. It must be noted Carl Austin was cognizant Joseph Patterson and Colin were very closely related persons. They are third cousins.
Colin had a trait which suggested to him he must hold on to his relatives. It was sort of protective. I recall Colin walking between Cheryl and I and holding onto our hands as we left our mother's residence at Nabaclis. It was strange to me because I was approaching 24 years of age. I was no longer a child. I was as matured as I probably will ever be. Had I known the inevitable was just around the corner I would have held onto my brother instead of pulling away and walking either across from or behind my siblings. Life affords us no do-overs.
MARRIAGE
I cannot say what sort of a husband Colin was. I am aware at the time of his transition he and his wife was dwelling apart from each other. In 1975 Colin and Agnes Smith from Cumberland Village in the Canje River Basin were married at the General Post Office Building in Georgetown. I signed my dreaded government name as a witness to that event. The reception was held in Kitty Village on the East Coast of Demerara. The union reproduced two delightful young females, Mariette Ross and Anastasia Ross.
In 1975 before he was, married Colin was shot in the arm by another police man. The shooting was ruled accidental. However, if you understood my trend of thinking, I believed the shooting was a deliberate act. I did not think it was politically motivated. Such a sentiment was also expressed, repeatedly by our parents.
Colin like most uniformed personnel loved the taste of alcohol. He was also an excellent cook. He loved to curry the flesh of animals, such as chickens, ducks, and a number of the exotic creatures, such as turtles, tortoises, labba, iguana, anteaters, and others found in Guyana. I suppose he developed such a fancy while a member of the Guyana youth’s corps. He also loved partying. I cannot recall whether he was considered a dancer. I guess he was much better than I was at dancing in public. Guyanese folk songs, jazz, rhythm and blues, calypso and reggae were foremost amongst his musical tastes. I can assure you, during the late 1970s, the Peter Tosh composition, “Downpressor Man” was one of his favorite Tunes.
Colin seemed to be always capable of forgiving those who violated him. I simply distance myself from those whom I am confident willfully and blatantly violated me. I was not shocked when Cedric Hudson of Nabaclis village told me Colin warned him and told him to leave New Amsterdam immediately but never arrested him.
The last time I saw my brother alive in the town of our birth, I refused to accept the collaborated statements he and Colin Sancho stated as factual. I thought for some reason known to them. Colin Ross has pummeled Colin Sancho. I was flabbergasted. Colin Sancho told me the refrigerator fell upon him, thus his injuries. I became enraged at both of them. What kind of a fool did they think I am? I could not find any rationale to believe them. I simply had to accept their explanation.
Colin collected rent for the dwellings Muriel Sancho owned at Alexander Street, in New Amsterdam. However, he refused to utilize his mother’s money to finance his examinations - and other personal requirements. I simply would have sent Muriel the proof of transactions and expenses. He was learning welding at NATI. I accompanied him on several occasions to classes at the institution. He encouraged me to enroll. However, fearing damaging my sight, I refused.
DEATH
The death of Colin was one of the most numbing and bitter events. I have experienced in this sojourn. I was aware, that the deaths of my maternal relatives are much too distasteful for me to stomach. There was always the sense of regrets and the question of personal mortality in the future. That inevitable event comes readily to the surface and takes its time to submerge itself again. Thus, September 1981 remains one of the toughest periods of my life I had to endure.
He died tragically from the injuries he received following an accident involving motor vehicle driven by a drunk driver. I cannot get over the sight of Muriel Sancho aging before my very eyes weighed down by grief respecting the passing of her son. She had never appeared more mortal. It was like she surrendered. It appeared her will, her resolve was snapped. I never witnessed my mother appearing so vulnerable. She had. It seemed always a picture of strength. The passing of Colin was a turning point in the lives of a number of his loved ones. I am sure of it. No clichés gives comfort - even to this day.
The funeral services were held at Central Methodist Church, Main Street, New Amsterdam. Some twenty-seven years, prior, Colin was baptized at that institution. The preacher went on and on making statements as he attempted to eulogize my brother. I could not identify most of the eulogy with that of the life of my brother. It was clear to me. He had very little knowledge of my relative. It was phony. It was fraudulent. It was disgusting. Consequently, I concluded that travesty is not for me. No fanfare, no tears, no words are required; just simply entomb my remains with that of my mother's and that will be the end of that.
There is so much more I could say respecting Colin. However, I am with these few words simply attempting to paint a portrait of him for the benefit of his relatives who by natural circumstances were not permitted to bond with him. It is also to remind those who were blessed with his presence; that it’s up to the living to tell our story ourselves and to impress upon the present generations of our people to grasp the contributions of those who came and left before us and thereby preserve such for the benefit of future generations of our people
Wish List
Complete list of Guianese teachers who successfully completed teachers’ training programs at the following institutions in British Guiana and in the Caribbean basin; Bishop’s College (1853-1882); College for the Training of Teachers (1928-1966); Naparima, and Tranquility in Trinidad and Tobago, Rawle in Barbados (about 1910?-1928?); Mico in Antigua and Jamaica (1850-1870, 1910-1928); and Shortwood College in Jamaica (about 1910?-1928?).
Complete list of the shareholders of Plaisance (88); Sparendaam, Beterverwagting (January 1841:65); Buxton (April 1840:128); Friendship (1842:170); Golden Grove (50 shares); Nabaclis (perhaps1852 or1854); Ann’s Grove (May 1849); and Two Friends.
What are the exact dates of the Centenary Celebrations of the following villages; Plaisance, Sparendaam, Beterverwagting, Buxton, Friendship, Nabaclis,, Victoria, Ann’s Grove, and Two Friends?
Who are numbered amongst the Commissioners, Board of Superintendence, and Village Councils of Plaisance, Sparendaam, Beterverwagting, Buxton, Friendship, Golden Grove, Nabaclis, Ann’s Grove, and Two Friends 1839-1892?
Maps of British Guiana showing the various dimensions of the political boundary from the beginning of the colonial experience to recent times.
Also map showing the parishes, their boundaries and their capitals.
Lists of Chemists and Druggists, Sick-Nurses and Dispensers, Pupil Teachers, Trained Teachers, and School Masters, Post Masters, Station Masters, Sugar Boilers, Police Officers as per Their Stations 1831-1966
Complete list of the shareholders of Plaisance (88); Sparendaam, Beterverwagting (January 1841:65); Buxton (April 1840:128); Friendship (1842:170); Golden Grove (50 shares); Nabaclis (perhaps1852 or1854); Ann’s Grove (May 1849); and Two Friends.
What are the exact dates of the Centenary Celebrations of the following villages; Plaisance, Sparendaam, Beterverwagting, Buxton, Friendship, Nabaclis,, Victoria, Ann’s Grove, and Two Friends?
Who are numbered amongst the Commissioners, Board of Superintendence, and Village Councils of Plaisance, Sparendaam, Beterverwagting, Buxton, Friendship, Golden Grove, Nabaclis, Ann’s Grove, and Two Friends 1839-1892?
Maps of British Guiana showing the various dimensions of the political boundary from the beginning of the colonial experience to recent times.
Also map showing the parishes, their boundaries and their capitals.
Lists of Chemists and Druggists, Sick-Nurses and Dispensers, Pupil Teachers, Trained Teachers, and School Masters, Post Masters, Station Masters, Sugar Boilers, Police Officers as per Their Stations 1831-1966
Death by Misadventure: - the Rise, Fall and Disappearance of Agricultural Industries in the Rural Communities in Guyana
Death by Misadventure: - the Rise, Fall and Disappearance of Agricultural Industries in the Rural Communities in Guyana with Special Reference to the Local Authority of Golden Grove and Nabaclis Village District.
“The people have been left with no guidance, little training, and believe in a myth that Queen takes an interest in their welfare and is their Champion” . . . VERITAS, The Watchman newspaper, November 7, 1873.
THE BIRTH:
The communities in rural districts were founded on the basis of Agriculture. In fact, Agriculture and not Prostitution, the false claim of the Eurocentric world, is indeed the oldest profession on earth. Perhaps, an Egyptologist would verify the above statement. I seriously doubt the Pharaoh Aha would put up with such a practice. Agriculture in the rural communities in Guyana dates back to the Dutch occupation. That is the era of the beginnings of the enslavement and colonization of our ancestors from the Eastern Coast of the Atlantic Ocean on the plantations in the colonies of Essequebo and Berbice in the seventeenth century and Demerary in the eighteenth century. A great number of our people were farmers. They were captured, stolen and kidnapped from the regions known as the Yam and Rice belt found between the Senegal and the Congo Rivers. Thus, our representatives were allowed to engage themselves in their allotted plots on the slave masters’ estates. Also, governors, such as Gravesande in Essequebo, and Bentinck in Demerary, with the aid of indigenous people, carried out several campaigns against maroons (Runaway slaves) which included such activities as burning the rice fields and other crops of those seeking self-emancipation. In short, contrary to the misinformation and/or miseducation, and/or both, propagated by individuals and now by national institutions in Guyana such as the Guyana Rice Board, that rice was introduced in Guyana by East Indians is part of the grand scheme of things aimed to discredit and/or omit black people all together as a group of having made no contribution whatsoever. This is identified by major Afro centric commentators as “Not out of Africa,” “Not before Columbus” and/or “anybody but Blackman” our ancestral legacy is continually stolen and denied us. This has been fostered facilitated by ignorance of our people. There is an old cliché which states and I am paraphrasing the saying; you can hide things from Black people in plain sight, just put in a book; they never read. If you know me, you will observe that for the most part I have a book and/or some reading material in my possession. It is rarely ever fiction. It is primarily humanities and social sciences. You can’t fool me again. They can’t fool me again.
Moreover, Black People were not sitting around, praying to some God in the sky to send a number of East Indians to the colony of British Guiana to feed them. Such a notion is as ridiculous as it is the ranting of a racist mind-set. It is utter rubbish. It’s absurd. Most racists are devoid of logic, and/or rational thought. Whenever you encounter a racist, you tell them the siblings of your ancestors are their ancestors. If that statement does not work; then be plain - tell them every kind of man known on this earth is a descendant of Blackman . . . if it were accurate that Black people had to wait for East Indians to come to their rescue in British Guiana - well then just how did Black people manage all those 50,000 years without East Indians. Also they would have been no civilizations in “Africa,” “Asia,” “Europe” and “the Americas” in millenniums past. In short without Blackman there would be no human development on this planet. Blackman is the foundation of the human experience. None predates Blackman. Blackman is earth’s rightful ruler.
FIRST RURAL DISTRICT SHOW
An Agricultural and Industrial show was held at Golden Grove on December 7, 1897. It was an astounding success. The exhibits displayed, more than a hundred and twelve years ago, reflected the magnitude of the philosophy of self-sufficiency amongst our representatives. Another show was held the following December at Golden Grove. It appears that the 1898 Show was not as successful as that held the previous year. The major reason given is that a similar show was sponsored by the farmers of the neighboring Victoria Village and held at Belfield on whit Monday 1898. The major esteemed historian Norman Eustace Cameron tells readers - the first such show was scheduled to be held in 1889, in the village of Buxton However, in the aftermath of “The Cent Bread Riots” of March 1889, the colonial authorities’ rescinded permission to stage the event. Readers may wonder - What the Rioting in Georgetown had to do with showcasing the industry of our people? It was simply stated - racism. The colonial government was ever willing to portray black people in bad light and seldom would they grant the opportunity to Black people to showcase themselves as worthy of the heritage of their ancestors of Nile River Valley Civilizations.
Thus, eventually the first rural district show was held at Golden Grove on December 7, 1897. It must be noted the highly esteemed schoolmaster and wordsmith the honorable Mr. Tappin Johnson Elliott was one of the major organizers of the show. Mr. Elliott delivered one of the featured speeches at the ceremony marking the opening of the show. Mr. Thomas Elliott, brother of Tappin Elliott, also a schoolmaster, musician and politician of note were also in attendance. The participants and patrons consisted of the various so-called ethnic groups found in the district and neighboring political boundaries. As many as five hundred products were displayed. Prizes were adjudged and handed out to a number of the industrious folks. The fact that Black People made Curry Powder was very surprising to me. Mrs. Mary Sandy, the daughter of Bentick Sancho and sister of Lambert Tuckness Sancho won several prizes including that for producing Curry Powder and Coconut Oil. It is, thus, accurate to conclude those folks got it right. They are primarily the members of the first and second succeeding generations of the shareholders of Golden Grove and Nabaclis and other communities on the East Coast of Demerara. They were self-sufficient. They practiced self-determination and self-help. They clothed, housed, and nourished themselves. Much respect to them.
THE DECLINE:
The great flood of January 1934 is often identified as a marking point respecting the beginnings of the decline in the fortunes of the Small Farming industry in the rural communities on the East Coast of Demerara. A number of Social Scientists and commentators expressed views that the soil became less fertile in the aftermath of the 1934 Flood. That may have been possible; however, crop rotation, animal waste-matter, and remains of burnt vegetation could have been employed as manure in the attempt to revitalize the land. I am an eyewitness. I noticed as late as January 1969, the farmers of Golden Grove, Nabaclis, Victoria, Buxton and Friendship were still producing vast amounts and high quality of crops and domesticated animals. The manufacture of coconut oil appears to have been the major industry in the three ancestral adopted village districts.
It is my contention; The major factors which gave rise to the decline and disappearance of the Agricultural Industries in the Rural Communities in Guyana are the following;
1. the shenanigans of the two major political platforms,
2. the policies of the National Government,
3. the failure to access to cheap and reliable power supply (electricity),
4. the migration of young people, primarily the males to the major urban centers in Guyana, the Caribbean basin, United Kingdom, Canada and USA,
5. the rise and expectations of remittance,
6. the ill-gotten gains of illegal narcotics trade,
7. loss of self-esteem and self-discipline of the succeeding generations,
8. the aspirations for the so-called white collar jobs such as the Civil Service.
9. The banning of several food items -gave rise to the so-called Black Market Trade,
10. the Guianese Government discontinued The Depot which bought the Small Farmers’ crops in the colonial era as late as 1941.
11. The failure to develop reliable export markets.
THE REBIRTH:
Agriculture; Gardening was very much a part of the curriculum, during my experiences in the school system in the colony of British Guiana (Guyana). Also in the Colonial era in Guyana, there were offices and officials such as the Department of Agriculture, and the District Agricultural Inspectors. The farmers were encouraged to produce by necessity and by the colonial establishment.
Now, I must admit. I am not privy to any program and/or policy of the present administration with respect to Agricultural industries. It is clear to me. The present administration is a failure. The once proud people, with their flourishing agricultural communities are now floundering. They have been floundering for decades. Those rural communities are mired in distress. No change is in sight. Yet you vote for the same people to repeatedly handcuff your socioeconomic development. Who are you? I do not recognize you. What happened to the militancy of the indentured laborers and the slaves? There were hundreds of events between August 1, 1838 and February 1957 in Skeldon which makes me proud of my representatives. There were strikes especially on the sugar plantations and the wharfs. Today, the Guianese people just want to survive to exist like the poor people of USA do on fixed income and act like they are about some thing tangible. They are not even fooling themselves. They are just wishing the situation changes and/or hoping international pressure would extricate them from the decades’ old nonsense that they allow to be propagated against them. Old Ramjeet of Plantation Port Mourant, John Ramballi at Plantation Skeldon, the stalwarts at Plantation Non Pariel in October 1896, the ole Bengali Bechu and numerous others whom the Europeans addressed as Ring leaders would not have sat still with their hands clasped. They would not have been quiet as this lot is today in Guyana and elsewhere.
The ministry of Agriculture seems to be just for show. What are they doing to earn the taxpayers’ money? They are all frauds. I suggest the philosophy of Jerry Rawlins is applicable. At least they could; they should go out of their way to challenge every village in the rural communities to produce, to practice animal and plant husbandry in a major way and thereby become as they once was the breadbasket of the English Caribbean Basin. The ministry of agriculture must lead the charge in this effort of reclamation. Guyanese have become increasingly dependant on foreign products. I charge a consumer mentality does’ not augur well to foster an atmosphere which give rise to developed nation status. The applicable government agencies and/or officials must engage the communities of the rural districts and challenge them to reproduce perhaps as it was in the beginnings of the twentieth century. The government must do its part. They must ensure Guyanese have access to cheap and reliable sources of electric power supply and scientific testing of soils to enable a wider variety of tropical produce. Also, the mountainous and sandy regions must be investigated as sources for subtropical agricultural production.
However, the onus falls upon the people of Guyana, more so the occupants of the rural communities to shoulder the burden to facilitate self-dependence. The international acclaimed historian The Most Honorable Dr. Walter Anthony Rodney (1942-1980) PBUH tells readers a Chairman of the Victoria Institute in April 1919 remarked, “Georgetown looks to the East Coast to decide its political matters” and the facts did bear out this situation. I have identified Hubert Alfred Thompson the remarkable schoolmaster of St. Andrew’s Church of England School at Plantation Cove and John and renowned musician as the orator and thinker who made the utterance.
Recommended Reading:
Rodney, Walter, “the Mass in Action” in the Lamming, George and Carter, Martin (editors) [1966] New World: Guyana Independence Issue
“The people have been left with no guidance, little training, and believe in a myth that Queen takes an interest in their welfare and is their Champion” . . . VERITAS, The Watchman newspaper, November 7, 1873.
THE BIRTH:
The communities in rural districts were founded on the basis of Agriculture. In fact, Agriculture and not Prostitution, the false claim of the Eurocentric world, is indeed the oldest profession on earth. Perhaps, an Egyptologist would verify the above statement. I seriously doubt the Pharaoh Aha would put up with such a practice. Agriculture in the rural communities in Guyana dates back to the Dutch occupation. That is the era of the beginnings of the enslavement and colonization of our ancestors from the Eastern Coast of the Atlantic Ocean on the plantations in the colonies of Essequebo and Berbice in the seventeenth century and Demerary in the eighteenth century. A great number of our people were farmers. They were captured, stolen and kidnapped from the regions known as the Yam and Rice belt found between the Senegal and the Congo Rivers. Thus, our representatives were allowed to engage themselves in their allotted plots on the slave masters’ estates. Also, governors, such as Gravesande in Essequebo, and Bentinck in Demerary, with the aid of indigenous people, carried out several campaigns against maroons (Runaway slaves) which included such activities as burning the rice fields and other crops of those seeking self-emancipation. In short, contrary to the misinformation and/or miseducation, and/or both, propagated by individuals and now by national institutions in Guyana such as the Guyana Rice Board, that rice was introduced in Guyana by East Indians is part of the grand scheme of things aimed to discredit and/or omit black people all together as a group of having made no contribution whatsoever. This is identified by major Afro centric commentators as “Not out of Africa,” “Not before Columbus” and/or “anybody but Blackman” our ancestral legacy is continually stolen and denied us. This has been fostered facilitated by ignorance of our people. There is an old cliché which states and I am paraphrasing the saying; you can hide things from Black people in plain sight, just put in a book; they never read. If you know me, you will observe that for the most part I have a book and/or some reading material in my possession. It is rarely ever fiction. It is primarily humanities and social sciences. You can’t fool me again. They can’t fool me again.
Moreover, Black People were not sitting around, praying to some God in the sky to send a number of East Indians to the colony of British Guiana to feed them. Such a notion is as ridiculous as it is the ranting of a racist mind-set. It is utter rubbish. It’s absurd. Most racists are devoid of logic, and/or rational thought. Whenever you encounter a racist, you tell them the siblings of your ancestors are their ancestors. If that statement does not work; then be plain - tell them every kind of man known on this earth is a descendant of Blackman . . . if it were accurate that Black people had to wait for East Indians to come to their rescue in British Guiana - well then just how did Black people manage all those 50,000 years without East Indians. Also they would have been no civilizations in “Africa,” “Asia,” “Europe” and “the Americas” in millenniums past. In short without Blackman there would be no human development on this planet. Blackman is the foundation of the human experience. None predates Blackman. Blackman is earth’s rightful ruler.
FIRST RURAL DISTRICT SHOW
An Agricultural and Industrial show was held at Golden Grove on December 7, 1897. It was an astounding success. The exhibits displayed, more than a hundred and twelve years ago, reflected the magnitude of the philosophy of self-sufficiency amongst our representatives. Another show was held the following December at Golden Grove. It appears that the 1898 Show was not as successful as that held the previous year. The major reason given is that a similar show was sponsored by the farmers of the neighboring Victoria Village and held at Belfield on whit Monday 1898. The major esteemed historian Norman Eustace Cameron tells readers - the first such show was scheduled to be held in 1889, in the village of Buxton However, in the aftermath of “The Cent Bread Riots” of March 1889, the colonial authorities’ rescinded permission to stage the event. Readers may wonder - What the Rioting in Georgetown had to do with showcasing the industry of our people? It was simply stated - racism. The colonial government was ever willing to portray black people in bad light and seldom would they grant the opportunity to Black people to showcase themselves as worthy of the heritage of their ancestors of Nile River Valley Civilizations.
Thus, eventually the first rural district show was held at Golden Grove on December 7, 1897. It must be noted the highly esteemed schoolmaster and wordsmith the honorable Mr. Tappin Johnson Elliott was one of the major organizers of the show. Mr. Elliott delivered one of the featured speeches at the ceremony marking the opening of the show. Mr. Thomas Elliott, brother of Tappin Elliott, also a schoolmaster, musician and politician of note were also in attendance. The participants and patrons consisted of the various so-called ethnic groups found in the district and neighboring political boundaries. As many as five hundred products were displayed. Prizes were adjudged and handed out to a number of the industrious folks. The fact that Black People made Curry Powder was very surprising to me. Mrs. Mary Sandy, the daughter of Bentick Sancho and sister of Lambert Tuckness Sancho won several prizes including that for producing Curry Powder and Coconut Oil. It is, thus, accurate to conclude those folks got it right. They are primarily the members of the first and second succeeding generations of the shareholders of Golden Grove and Nabaclis and other communities on the East Coast of Demerara. They were self-sufficient. They practiced self-determination and self-help. They clothed, housed, and nourished themselves. Much respect to them.
THE DECLINE:
The great flood of January 1934 is often identified as a marking point respecting the beginnings of the decline in the fortunes of the Small Farming industry in the rural communities on the East Coast of Demerara. A number of Social Scientists and commentators expressed views that the soil became less fertile in the aftermath of the 1934 Flood. That may have been possible; however, crop rotation, animal waste-matter, and remains of burnt vegetation could have been employed as manure in the attempt to revitalize the land. I am an eyewitness. I noticed as late as January 1969, the farmers of Golden Grove, Nabaclis, Victoria, Buxton and Friendship were still producing vast amounts and high quality of crops and domesticated animals. The manufacture of coconut oil appears to have been the major industry in the three ancestral adopted village districts.
It is my contention; The major factors which gave rise to the decline and disappearance of the Agricultural Industries in the Rural Communities in Guyana are the following;
1. the shenanigans of the two major political platforms,
2. the policies of the National Government,
3. the failure to access to cheap and reliable power supply (electricity),
4. the migration of young people, primarily the males to the major urban centers in Guyana, the Caribbean basin, United Kingdom, Canada and USA,
5. the rise and expectations of remittance,
6. the ill-gotten gains of illegal narcotics trade,
7. loss of self-esteem and self-discipline of the succeeding generations,
8. the aspirations for the so-called white collar jobs such as the Civil Service.
9. The banning of several food items -gave rise to the so-called Black Market Trade,
10. the Guianese Government discontinued The Depot which bought the Small Farmers’ crops in the colonial era as late as 1941.
11. The failure to develop reliable export markets.
THE REBIRTH:
Agriculture; Gardening was very much a part of the curriculum, during my experiences in the school system in the colony of British Guiana (Guyana). Also in the Colonial era in Guyana, there were offices and officials such as the Department of Agriculture, and the District Agricultural Inspectors. The farmers were encouraged to produce by necessity and by the colonial establishment.
Now, I must admit. I am not privy to any program and/or policy of the present administration with respect to Agricultural industries. It is clear to me. The present administration is a failure. The once proud people, with their flourishing agricultural communities are now floundering. They have been floundering for decades. Those rural communities are mired in distress. No change is in sight. Yet you vote for the same people to repeatedly handcuff your socioeconomic development. Who are you? I do not recognize you. What happened to the militancy of the indentured laborers and the slaves? There were hundreds of events between August 1, 1838 and February 1957 in Skeldon which makes me proud of my representatives. There were strikes especially on the sugar plantations and the wharfs. Today, the Guianese people just want to survive to exist like the poor people of USA do on fixed income and act like they are about some thing tangible. They are not even fooling themselves. They are just wishing the situation changes and/or hoping international pressure would extricate them from the decades’ old nonsense that they allow to be propagated against them. Old Ramjeet of Plantation Port Mourant, John Ramballi at Plantation Skeldon, the stalwarts at Plantation Non Pariel in October 1896, the ole Bengali Bechu and numerous others whom the Europeans addressed as Ring leaders would not have sat still with their hands clasped. They would not have been quiet as this lot is today in Guyana and elsewhere.
The ministry of Agriculture seems to be just for show. What are they doing to earn the taxpayers’ money? They are all frauds. I suggest the philosophy of Jerry Rawlins is applicable. At least they could; they should go out of their way to challenge every village in the rural communities to produce, to practice animal and plant husbandry in a major way and thereby become as they once was the breadbasket of the English Caribbean Basin. The ministry of agriculture must lead the charge in this effort of reclamation. Guyanese have become increasingly dependant on foreign products. I charge a consumer mentality does’ not augur well to foster an atmosphere which give rise to developed nation status. The applicable government agencies and/or officials must engage the communities of the rural districts and challenge them to reproduce perhaps as it was in the beginnings of the twentieth century. The government must do its part. They must ensure Guyanese have access to cheap and reliable sources of electric power supply and scientific testing of soils to enable a wider variety of tropical produce. Also, the mountainous and sandy regions must be investigated as sources for subtropical agricultural production.
However, the onus falls upon the people of Guyana, more so the occupants of the rural communities to shoulder the burden to facilitate self-dependence. The international acclaimed historian The Most Honorable Dr. Walter Anthony Rodney (1942-1980) PBUH tells readers a Chairman of the Victoria Institute in April 1919 remarked, “Georgetown looks to the East Coast to decide its political matters” and the facts did bear out this situation. I have identified Hubert Alfred Thompson the remarkable schoolmaster of St. Andrew’s Church of England School at Plantation Cove and John and renowned musician as the orator and thinker who made the utterance.
Recommended Reading:
Rodney, Walter, “the Mass in Action” in the Lamming, George and Carter, Martin (editors) [1966] New World: Guyana Independence Issue
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