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The International Decade for People of African Descent Assembly – Guyana (IDPADA-G) is calling on African Guyanese to recognise that “no one will give us justice unless we demand it.”
In a statement issued last month to commemorate United Nations’ International Day for People of African Descent, the organisation used the opportunity to remind African Guyanese of their proud history of struggles for true freedom: recognition, justice, and development; saying it is a fight in which they shall prevail.
Putting context to the necessary struggles in the New World against tyranny, marginalisation and discrimination IDPADA-G reminded the “centuries long struggle has changed in complexion and scope but in essence is the same battle that our ancestors fought,” as attentio was drawn to the fact the present day development of African Guyanese and a fairer world is “our struggle, and we must lead the fight as we did in 1763 and 1823.”
Most importantly, African Guyanese are being called on “to acknowledge the challenges, discrimination, and marginalisation they face.” Accordingly, the group has been reminded no one will grant them an equal place at the national table without their strident and constant demand. To this end African Guyanese must work to ensure:
“Those entrusted with the mantle of national leadership must ensure that we, the descendants of the enslaved Africans who birthed this nation be honoured, treated equitably, provided opportunities to benefit fairly from the national patrimony, be protected from the excesses of police overreach, brutality, and injustice.”
Going further, the organisation stated that those in the national leadership must commit to protecting and returning ancestral lands to African Guyanese, to providing the group their fair share of resources for the maintenance and development of their villages, the bedrock of Guyana’s Local Government system.
“They must ensure programmes for our youth, providing them opportunities to overcome the hurdles that impede their progress: improved education system, free university, cancellation of student debt and access to land for housing, agriculture, and business development.”
Zeroing on the oil and gas industry and whether African Guyanese are allowed equal and equitable access to economic participation, IDPADA-G flatly stated that “our businesses cry out for a level playing field in the issuance of contracts, access to loans and a significant position in the oil and gas sector.”
The organisation further called on the national leadership to move beyond lip service in acknowledging African Guyanese historical experiences and contributions to nation building to ensuring “the establishment of a National Emancipation Commemoration Commission so that we as Africans can control how this most sacred period of remembrance is honoured.”
Calling on all African Guyanese to stand and be counted, IDPADA-G said, “let us all commit to building a better Guyana for all Guyanese, a Guyana that recognises those who made this nation possible through their resistance, labour, industry, leadership, and ingenuity.”
