Racism and political favouritism should be eradicated in Guyana

Dear Editor,

For decades I have been advocating racial harmony in the country of my birth, but my pleas were ignored both by the PPP and PNC administrations and it seems as if the new APNU/AFC might not be different. It is like six for one and half a dozen for the other. I wonder what can be done to change this sad and worrying situation which is the bug-bear of the nation.

Growing up we were told that the British sowed the “divide and rule” seed and when Forbes Burnham broke away from the PPP and formed his own party in 1955, the racial divide was intensified despite a few window dressings in both parties.

In the 1960s Sydney King was deemed a racist and his call for partition between the Africans and the Indians was laughable and completely ignored.

Several years later I met him after he had changed his name to Eusi Kwayana. I must say that he is an honest, fair-minded human being and he is concerned about the wellbeing of all especially the poor. He is far from being a racist.

It is the perception of some Afro-Guyanese that all Indo-Guyanese are PPP supporters and some Indo-Guyanese feel that all Afro-Guyanese are PNC diehards.

Professor David Hinds a few years ago in one of his columns penned I was a strong PPP supporter being paid to propagate the Jagdeo administration. Maybe Dr Hinds does not know I write pro-bono for several media houses in the Caribbean.

Moreover, it is known that I was always anti-PPP and a supporter to the PNC having worked for GBS Radio from the inception in October 1968 and Burnham’s law firm, Clarke Martin from the time it opened its doors.

I remember three decades ago an Antiguan journalist accused Ricky Singh of being a racist and went so far to say that he (Ricky) would refuse to shake hand with a Black woman. I responded stating that Ricky’s wife was Afro-Guyanese.

President David Granger speaks of racial harmony, but we are still to see concrete evidence that his coalition government is moving in this direction. Most of the diplomats and important positions are being filled by Afros – this regime is doing the same that the PPP did – two wrongs cannot make a right.

Efforts must be made to stop this party/race politics and choose qualified and unbiased persons to hold important positions. One would have thought since it is a coalition government, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo would have a say in trying to curb the imbalance which is so evident.

A large number of influential Indos, who fought to remove the PPP/C from office because of corruption, now have second thoughts because they feel that only Afros are offered top positions in the administration. Even in the diaspora there is disunity in Guyana Associations in several states and territories.

A few years ago I was asked to intervene in the British Virgin Islands where the division between Indos and Afros was visible.

Over in the United States where President Barack Obama wants legislation for better immigration policies, a dialogue has started about immigrants who landed on Ellis Island in the early 1900s deserve better than the new immigrant for the hard work and sacrifice in raising future generations to create a land that has become a beacon for those legally searching for better life.

The early immigrants did not see themselves as Irish-American, Italian/American, or German/American, but as Americans who stirred the melting pot into one red, white and blue bowl.

Using a cricket analogy – I am batting my last over and before my innings comes to a close I would like to see fair play and a harmonious relation between the two major races in Guyana.  I am prepared to spend the rest of my life to work towards this goal, but some friends and acquaintances feel I am dreaming.

Sincerely,

Oscar Ramjeet