Born in the Land

Why did you migrate from the Republic of Guyana years ago?  Why are you living where you are now – as a full-fledged citizen?  Or even as an alien or undocumented “illegal” resident who is still contributing to your adopted homeland’s economy and welfare?

 I guess the reasons are many and varied-depending on personal circumstances.  Somewhere amongst causes related to employment opportunities, education of a specialized category, the racism or politics in the land of birth, or just an ordinary “pull-factor” such as the need to be in a new (developed) environment that’s different, challenging, peaceful or culturally – inviting.

 Whatever the reason, migration – temporary or permanent – gave the world DR. WALTER RODNEY, DR. MOHAMMED SHAHABUDEEN, DR. SHRIDATH “SONNY” RAMPHAL AND DR. IVAN VAN SERTIMA .

 Do you know or recognize those four names of eminently prominent, qualified, distinguished, accomplished and internationally – known and acclaimed Guyanese?  Yes, all those adjectival descriptions – and more – can be used, most justifiably, to describe those Guyanese international achievers all born in the Land of the Mighty Roraima.  For me it is a source of pride to know  that the Land of my birth, my own native land, has produced these giants.  But it also saddens me to know that these brilliant sons had reason to migrate or “exile” themselves from Guyana to other people’s homelands.

 I was tempted to “borrow” wholesale from a piece Terry Holder wrote for my use seven(7) years ago.  In that article, “THE SKILLS DRAIN”, Terence Holder, himself a former General Manager of the Guyana Broadcasting Corporation(GBC) who served the Caribbean as Secretary-General  of the CBC but returned home to become a Deputy General Manager with the  Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (G.T&T), mentions scores of names of Guyanese now resident abroad who are making their minds, brains and skills available to the world.  I’ll quote from it as the persons are the very ones, along with, perhaps, hundreds more, I can mention, IF I HAD THE TIME AND MEMORY TO DO SO.

 The world-reknowned academic, historian and teacher DR RODNEY, was killed while being an activist  opposition politician at home in June 1980.  Dr. Rodney was recognized throughout the developing  world and the Caribbean – partly through  his seminal work, HOW EUROPE UNDER DEVELOPED AFRICA.  Dr. Ramphal was once Secretary –General of the Commonwealth of Nations.

 Among those who lived abroad, or are still alive serving regionally or internationally are: DOCTORS CHARLES AND FRANK DENBOW from the now – famed family of Georgetown.  Charles won all there was or is to be won in the field of  medicine at UWI in Mona, Jamaica, Dr. EWART THOMAS is at Stanford U. in California, Dr. David Dabydeen is at Warwick in the UK but visits and serves his homeland continuously.   Other great Guyanese  writers abroad include E.R. Braithwaite (TO SIR WITH LOVE), in Orlando, Florida, WILSON HARRIS, John Agard, Marc Matthews, Grace Nichols in Britain, Frank   Birbal Singh in Canada (O.K! I known I’ve left out dozens of other writers).

 DR. RICHARD ALLSOPP is in Barbados after producing the Dictionary of Caribbean Usage. And at the Cave Hill UWI, you can find Dr. Joycelyn Masiah and Alvin Thompson, Lecturer in History, Dr. COMPTON BOURNE now heads the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) and Dr. TULSI DYALSINGH from the Corentyne is now living as a much-honoured “Texan” in Midland – a medical doctor, banker and Patron of the Arts.

 What about HAVELOCK BREWSTER, the late KENNETH KING well-known international economists?  Or Ken Corsbie, Godfrey Chin, Keith Waithe, Dave Martins, Ramjohn Holder and the late Wordsworth Mc Andrew?  Most  still alive but serving the ENTERTAINMENT FIELD anywhere  else but good old Guyana.  Yes, just like EDDIE GRANT, AUBREY MANN, Jimmy WRAY, TED E-JONES, RUDY BISHOP, STANLEY GREAVES AND JOHNNY BRAFF.

 Since by now you’re gotten the picture, I’ll end with the names of just a few Guyanese SPORTSMEN who live abroad – still active, or in active retirement.  Remember ROHAN KANHAI, CLIVE LLOYD, LANCE GIBBS, ALVIN KALLICHARRAN, CARL HOOPER, AND LEONARD BAICHAN?  These cricket greats gave us great joy.  James Wren-Gilkes, Aubrey Bryce, Chris Lewis, Claudette Masdammer, June Griffith, Hodiah Davidson, Pat Britton, Garth Isaacs and Lennox Blackmore are others. Can you recall their sport-disciplines?  In which they excelled?

 My only regret, I repeat, is that all of these talents – AND THOSE MENTIONED REPRESENT ONLY A TINY SAMPLING – are not available to a homeland badly in need of them – in economic planning, medicine, agriculture, drainage and irrigation, education, even sport.

 Perhaps they may want to consider some scheme or pragramme whereby they return to offer, to serve their true homeland GUYANA – EVEN FOR A FEW MONTHS OR  YEAR – from their new adopted “homes”.  Until …