"Uncle..dis is nah time fuh you.." in Guyana 2026


Time

Friday afternoon after I say right, let me pretend that I am in a modern progressive city and walk to relieve the stress from the difficult workshop which had to deal with geopolitics, gender-based violence and the powerlessness felt by Guyanese when dealing with 'outside' forces and local politicians. Lamaha Street with the fancy courtyard where the train station once stood, but no real pavement as these things go. 

School children coming down laughing as they do, jostling each other. Some with umbrella to protect from sun.

 Group comes up near me and I prepare for what I think is normal to allow them to get into single file and pass. The youths , the leaders of tomorrow like the leaders of today don't make room though.. determined not to break up their formation and collaboration and their unity, 

they push me aside.. one girl shouts 'Uncle.. dis is nah time fuh you deh pon de road.. " 

I manage to step out of their way and hope that no vehicle would also want to ensure that I get out of their way..

Guyana 2026

So as I age I realise that I will fade and disappear, not be seen. I did not realise that with the fastest growing economy, it has become rapid that pushing out the people to one side who will not be fit to survive is going to be a thing.  Small business owner who tiefing current and water from a woman with a disability who has tried complaining is going to be praised as part of the new OneGuyana and not that those of us who want lil peace and quiet and be able to walk safely will be told 'dis is nah you time'..

Do you all feel like yall belong to the artificial boundary state created by colonisers? Yall feel dis is yall own, and dat yall could put out people giving yall headache and who you tink don't belong hey? 

I had passed a building for rent has 'Essequibo is we own' sticker big on it, fading though

Yeah.. the young people reminded me, I have no place here .. is nah me time.. constant reminders that is nah me time, nah me place..

Praises though to the other people who trying to assert that history and geopolitics and economics and greed mean that even as  some of us can't go anywhere.. even if we are constantly reminded that this is not really we own, we trying to make this time our time and this place our place and not push anyone way 

 

 

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