Posted June 25th. 2009

This article first appeared in the June 16, 1996 edition of the Caribbean Daylight newspaper

At a symposium on Guyana this past weekend, economist Dr. Wilfred David invoked a Derek Walcott poem that characterizes a political quarrel between two men "fighting over a bone". Dr. David likened Guyana's post independence experience to that scenario. But the sad thing about this scenario according to Dr David is that the Guyanese bone has no meat on it. For most, if not all, of the participants, that characterization captured the essence of the problem of Guyana's persistent slide down the valley of despair and destruction. Whether the two dogs represent the two maximum races, leaders, or parties, the problem is clear: they continue to fight over a Guyana that is becoming poorer and poorer. And as another economist, Clarence Ellis, puts it, even the bone has lost its marrow. Yet the fight over the bone continues with reckless passion.

Already daggers are drawn in readiness for the big spectacle of 1997--Elections. The atmosphere is thick with the jungle noises of the gladiators as they prepare for the grand "dog and the bone" game. This is not a game for the civil mind or the voice of progressive transformation, as the Working People's Alliance found out in 1992. During this game reason takes a holiday, and dignity gives way to the worst form of indignity. Guyana becomes consumed by a carnival of lies, deceit, race-baiting and psychological torture. And the bone without meat or marrow is the prize of honor.

Those who dream of and fight everyday for a Guyana that is a bone with ample meat for all to share are shoved aside, branded as anti-national and offered up as sacrificial lambs. The defenders of dignity are clothed in Satan's apparel. Our people unsuspectingly dance to the sordid music of the jungle as they prepare the ground for their own slaughter. They become drunk with that dangerous liquor served by the two men fighting for the bone. In the meantime the rest of the world hurries to meet the 21st century with joyous expectations.

Any place that can take all of sixteen years to accumulate evidence against the self confessed murderer of its most creative liberator is a suspicious place. The fight over the bone takes precedence over everything else. That Walter Rodney wanted to put an end to the "dog and the bone" game is no secret. Those who dedicate their lives to continuing that noble battle must take heart from the recent announcement that Gregory Smith will finally be charged with murder. Indeed all Guyanese must welcome this chance to cleanse ourselves of our biggest indictment these past two decades. Justice for Walter Rodney is justice for all Guyanese, for he died fighting in our ranks.

What does this mean for the men fighting for the bone? Their bowels must be heavy. But they will always seek refuge in our fears and our embarrassment at our dirty past. They will tell us all that what matters is the bone. This time around, there will be another man fighting for the bone, making it a three way contest. Mr. Hamilton Greene understands dog fights at its meanest. The PNC tries to shake him off with little success for he was trained in their kennel. The problem is that whether he is inside the PNC or not Mr. Greene is a dangerous customer. It is reported that sections of the PNC are trying to make peace with him before the 1997 election. They want the black vote to be solid. But Hoyte would have none of it. Whether Hoyte would hold out is debatable. It would be interesting to see what they will do if and when the Rodney trial starts. As influential leaders of the PNC at the time of the murder they must both be prime witnesses.

Hamilton Greene will no doubt make a direct racial pitch in the election campaign. He once boasted to this writer of poor black people's love for him. I don't know whether that is true or not. But what I do know is that black people would be committing a grave error if they give their votes to Hamilton Greene. If the municipal election is anything to go by such a vote could turn out to be a nightmare.

What Hamilton Greene did with the vote given to him in the municipal election'? He used it to continue the political bullyism that has been his trademark. He may call it "executive lawlessness". He used it to settle scores with the PNC. He certainly did not use it to empower black people as he promised. Nor did he use it to improve Georgetown; the condition of the city has actually worsened. The truth of the matter is that Mr. Greene is not the type of politician that is interested in empowering people. He was never trained to do that. He is just one of the men fighting for the bone.

Can Guyana survive another game of "dog and the bone"? My humble opinion is that the country simply cannot. Guyana ought to let the dog fighters, know this fact. Do not cooperate in planning your own enslavement. Instead, seek liberation. Begin to plan your strategy to revive your country. Make the 1997 election a fight for true liberation, a fight to put some meat on the bone.

David Hinds lectures in Caribbean and African Diaspora Studies at Arizona State University in the USA. His writings on Politics in Guyana and the Caribbean can be found on his GuyanaCaribbeanPolitics.com website.