The Opposition, A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC), is accusing the governing People’s Progressive Party (PPP) of destroying Guyana by practicing racism. At the same time the coalition sought to “reassure all Guyanese that [they] continue to confront PPP racism and that will govern Guyana in a manner in which all Guyanese will benefit.”
According to the United Nations’ Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination: “’racial discrimination’ shall mean any distinction, exclusion, restriction or preference based on race, colour, descent, or national or ethnic origin which has the purpose or effect of nullifying or impairing the recognition, enjoyment or exercise, on an equal footing, of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural or any other field of public life.”
Speaking to this matter recently, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said “Today, apartheid lies dead. Much of today’s racism is deeply entrenched in centuries of colonialism and enslavement. We see it in the pervasive discrimination and exclusion suffered by people of African descent…. But, sadly, racism lives on — in all regions and in all societies. Racism manifests in many forms – conscious and unconscious. Combatting it demands action every day, at every level. It is especially important to recognize that historical injustices have contributed to poverty, underdevelopment, marginalisation, social exclusion and instability for both people and countries alike.”
The Opposition, in a recent press statement has accused the government of seeking to court persons in APNU+AFC strongholds but yet at the same time impoverishing the people of coalition’s strongholds. They have outlined a laundry list to support their claim.
Read the full list below: –
In Linden, when the APNU+AFC came to power there were about two hundred (200) persons on social assistance. The Coalition government increased it to eight hundred (800). The PPP in this predominantly African Guyanese community placed eight (8) non-Africans on the Board who removed 600+ persons from social assistance.
The PPP is hypocritical that when they visited Victory Valley they did not want the people to raise the social assistance issue in the public domain so they chose a group to engage a Minister directly. While they are seeking support they are at the same time destroying the very people they are seeking support from.
The people of Victory Valley know that single mothers, differently-abled persons and others in difficult circumstances were discriminated against when their names were removed from the social assistance register and that they will not be carried away by the delivery of footballs to the people in Victory Valley. The poor in Victory Valley continue to be oppressed by the People’s Progressive Party. It must be recalled that the PPP regime fired all twenty (20) members of staff of the St. John’s Ambulance Brigade thus putting them on the breadline.
The APNU+AFC trained and employed sixty (60) Patient Care assistants in Region 10. The PPP continues to quietly fire them daily. Clearly, the PPP is bent on impoverishing Region 10 while appearing as if they have an interest in the people of Region 10. They don’t. There is no “One Guyana”. There is blatant PPP discrimination.
In the case of Mocha, IDPADA-G had successfully sponsored the development of Mocha Farmers Market through the Mocha-Arcadia Multi-Purpose Agricultural Coop Society. The racist PPP government refused to disburse the subvention to this organisation in Mocha. As a consequence, most of the staff had to be sent home. Again the PPP has placed African Guyanese on the breadline because of their policy of discrimination against them and other Guyanese who they perceive to be supporters of the APNU+AFC.
The vicious discriminatory practices are most obvious in their attempt to either destroy or controlled the cooperative society movement in which there is predominantly African Guyanese involvement. The attempt to destroy or control the Guyana Public Service Credit Union which is worth about $2 Billion is another indication of the discriminatory practices of the PPP regime.
The said approach is being taken as it relates to the Linden Utility Services Coop Society Limited (LUSCSL). The PPP has illegally removed the management and has imposed a PPP activist by the name of Handy who is accused of being involved in corrupt practices at the said institution. The Vigalstra Housing Coop Society is also under attack. The same is true of the Coop Society in Essequibo among others.
