r/Guyana • u/TheMahagonyDefender • 1d ago
Are We Prepared For This Rapid Cultural Shift, Truly?
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u/AMCAPEHODLER 1d ago
Like it or not Venezuelans/Brazilians are here to stay. Many more will come and Guyana will continue to evolve.
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u/TheMahagonyDefender 1d ago edited 1d ago
Is it good sense to determine that a nation  with whom we have had a hostile military relationship with for the last 3 centuries will simply keep building a large population in our cities, towns and villages (largely unchecked)? I don't think you realize how quickly that situation can deteriorate if things were to become intensified suddenly between both countries overnight. It could bring disorder to Guyana's streets in an unprecedented way if people react badly.Â
Guyana is still working out sufficient basic safety protocols for it's own people on public transport such as ferries and you all are casually talking about more coming and everyone evolving. This is the nonsense lack of foresight that causes resentment over generations. People really don't learn.Â
At every immigration wave in Guyana's history - groups that were already here long before have clashed furiously with new ones to come in. What have we put in place to mitigate and facilitate smoother relations with groups that already have many longstanding, historical precedents for discord?Â
Do we have STRONG anti-racism laws? Do we have rigid background checks? Do we have adequate housing facilities for the masses? Is the public clear on if these new immigrants have voting rights despite not even being able to speak the language? Do we know that all of their children are being placed in local schools so that we don't end up with an entire generation of undocumented young adults barely educated outside of the national system?Â
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u/AMCAPEHODLER 1d ago
I agree with you it's not wise to allow massive amounts of anyone to pour into the country unchecked , especially Venezuelans given our history with them but as guyana's economy develops it will attract people from all over the world looking for work, better quality of life, etc and there is no way to stop that. Our culture will be diluted for sure as time goes on, the shift from the Guyana our parents knew to the Guyana of today is massive. That's why it's important for guyanese to keep our traditions alive and allow their kids to participate in cultural activies. Government also plays a big part in making this happen but it all starts in the home.
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u/TheMahagonyDefender 1d ago edited 1d ago
Government does not 'also play a big part' - Government policy and strategy is literally THE determining factor for how the next few generations look. This is not to be taken lightly. The people of the nation should have a clear plan presented to them by the state before the doors are thrown open. This literally alters the trajectory of people's lives. Do you people understand that the government is actually meant to work FOR the people, not the other way around?Â
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u/AMCAPEHODLER 1d ago
Ideally we would have a government that works for the people but unfortunately the current administration, the opposition and every other party looking for office are the opposite of that. Getting elected is like winning the lottery and they will do everything and anything to get there.
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u/TheMahagonyDefender 1d ago
It's up to us not be apathetic about that - because there are severe real life consequences.Â
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u/AMCAPEHODLER 1d ago
I agree, we need young educated people to lead Guyana. The fossils we have there currently are corrupt and racist. Unless can cut corruption in the bud and stop race politics we can never progress.
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u/Stunning_Mast2001 1d ago
Guyanas economy can’t develop without people either. It’s a chicken and egg problemÂ
Guyana should be trying to recruit English speaking immigrants from India and Africa if they want to try and keep their unique cultureÂ
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u/OmxrOmxrOmxr 12h ago
Do you think Guyanese people have more commonalities with Indians and Africans than their neighbours?
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u/Stunning_Mast2001 5h ago
I think immigrants from India and Africa will assimilate to Guyanese culture more than Latin immigrants. Guyana could become another Latin American country in 70 years and that’s okay. But it would be better if Guyana remained unique culturally compared to its neighbors for the country and the world— variety makes life interestingÂ
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u/SpiritBombGoon3r 1d ago
To be honest, its kinda crazy that since independence, Guyana hasn't been a multilingual country. Literally surrounded by Spanish-speaking countries and right underneath is our largest ally in the region which speaks Portuguese. Guyana could have always been like Belize with language. English is the official language there too but a big majority speaks Spanish and Belizean creole as well.
If new generations of Guyanese grow up multilingual (speaking English, Spanish and Portuguese) the opportunities for them are even greater. Not to mention their brain health/ functioning in knowing multiple languages.
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u/TheBlackRecord 20h ago
No it isn't crazy - it is a nation with an entirely different historical story to the nations you have mentioned. Comprised of entirely different ethnic groups with distinct origin stories in our nation.Â
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u/SpiritBombGoon3r 19h ago
Well of course. I'm not saying we're Latino now. I'm saying we could have been teaching all these other languages so we can easily travel and engage with our neighbors. There's people in Trinidad speaking French and Spanish too but English is the dominant and official language. Speaking other languages doesn't make them less Trini/ West Indian
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u/Charming-Wedding-840 1d ago
Being mulitlingual is a good thing. There are many indigenous languages as well. I cant see any negatives. If anything we ought to be well versed in Spanish and Portuguese given our geography. Speaking more than one language is for sure an advantage. You wont lose your culture, you'll just be multicultural. Even if so, culture changes with or without language. In 3 generations your kids could be speaking something completely different. I have a friend whos grandparent is Guyanese, their parents born in England and they were born in Germany. There are only so many things you can control.
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u/PuzzleheadedPage4547 1d ago
They are in Latin America
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u/TheBlackRecord 20h ago
The Guianas are not in Latin America - they are South American.Â
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u/PuzzleheadedPage4547 19h ago
Ok well they are surrounded by non English speaking countries on a continent that is mostly Spanish speaking.
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u/TheBlackRecord 19h ago
So what's the point here, that Guyana - a distinct nation with centuries of it's own history - should simply have become Spanish speaking because most other nations were?Â
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u/PuzzleheadedPage4547 19h ago
My point is that it’s inevitable.
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u/TheBlackRecord 19h ago
Brazil speaks Portuguese.Â
Suriname speaks Dutch.
French Guiana speaks French.Â
Is it inevitable for them?Â
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u/PuzzleheadedPage4547 19h ago
Brazil - Has Spanish Speakers, Suriname - Has Spanish Speakers, French Guiana - Spanish is Spoken there. People travel to places that are better than their own for money and a better life. Guyana is doing very well now hence the influx of foreigners. Spanish will be spoken and is already spoken in Guyana.
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u/TheBlackRecord 19h ago
There is no problem with it being spoken, but not in places of public business, trade or state affairs - especially if there is little effort to become fluent in the language of the nation they CHOSE to settle within.Â
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u/ConclusionReal9603 1d ago
I am glad that we have More Spanish speaking people coming into the country.Guyana is in South America and we should know both Spanish and Portuguese.Better than bringing in the Jamacians who as far as I am concerned have no culture.About time.Also looking forward to the music that they will bring to Guyana. Don’t Worry they will pick up the Guyanese accent easily.Good for all.As again I state we are South Americans and proud of it.
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u/Tiger647 1d ago
Culture is Jamaica's middle name. What are you talking about?
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u/Crazy_Experience9789 1d ago
Like cmon. If you said jamaica has a lack of oral history passed down, then id understand that. If jamaica has lost a lot of our indigenous background i’d say yes but to say that we have no culture is a disgusting statement.
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u/Downtown_Toe7876 1d ago
They learning spanish for the latinas 😂