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Dear Editor,
Rickford Burke has always been a contributor to the Guyanese political discourse, brilliant, loud, and always focused on justice and equality, but his voice was one among many others in the Diaspora who shared the same interests and concerns about equality, justice and democratic freedoms in Guyana.
In the past, his social media contributions garnered support but nothing like what obtains today and all because the PPP couldn’t contain their absolute need to control every narrative about their racism and corruption in Guyana. At some point, the PPP unwittingly decided to elevate Rick Burke, to single him out for unique ridicule and punishment, a plan that backfired spectacularly. His social media contributions now attract tens of thousands of supporters, the rallies he organizes attracts thousands and he has a network with tentacles that reach into some of the most important institutions in Guyana, his influence is significant and is today unmatched in the diaspora. The PPP have created their own monster due to their stupidity and arrogance.
The PPP government controls an economy which will soon be in the hundreds of billions of dollars. The country needs massive development and now more than ever, the need for investors is critical. The need for political consensus is important to investors, yet the ruling cabal seems to have been advised to create chaos and instability in the country by penalizing African Guyanese, a profoundly stupid approach to governance in a tiny diverse society.
Even their Indian supporters whisper about their racism as reflected in a recent survey which indicated that 60% of Guyanese agreed that the ruling party practiced racism. The PPP continue to terminate Black people’s employment with impunity, to break their contracts and take away their property, to silence them by unleashing the institutions of the state to harass them and then expect no reprisal. In fact, for years the PPP government had been able to abuse the nation’s African citizens except those who pledge fealty to the regime and so it was because of their shock to his unexpected response that they overreacted to Burke’s engagement.
I am unsure as to why their ‘brilliant’ advisors are not noticing the pattern. That the more they target and attempt to abuse Burke, the more he aggressively responds and the more popular he becomes. Rickford Burke is for many African Guyanese both home and in the diaspora, that voice of courage who is willing to stand up to the PPP and speak truth to their lies. The majority of African Guyanese are proud of Rickford Burke. They support him. They want him to continue to fight on their behalf.
Duncan Roland
