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African Guyanese find it extremely difficult to talk about race. In the face of another person of a different ethnicity, Black people would always sound apologetic when they have to discuss the issue.
As a black man I have been in situations where people of the same ethnicity would say that everyone in the world treats black people badly. They would debate the issue most vehemently. But as soon as someone of a different ethnicity appears the conversation would change.
Over the weekend, during a discussion at Plaisance, a man said that black people often tend to apologise for their blackness. They would be the first to say that we, the people of Guyana, are all one. And they would go to extremes to try to prove it.
On the other hand, people of different ethnicities have no problem with describing black people as ‘you people.’ They would be quick to point out that ‘you people make up the bulk of the prison population.’
“You people leave your children and wives… You people like to sport.” All of that is true. It is as if black people are wired that way. Most simply cannot help the way they behave. They would even apologise when derogatory remarks are made about their kind.
Many would have heard and would have been part of a conversation in which the speaker would make a generalized statement only to add, “You are different.” That is intended to pacify the listener. “You are not like the others.”
Recently, the political opposition began to zero in on the actions of the government against people in some communities. But there were those who believed that such actions would sideline the East Indian supporters.
Indeed, East Indians are also treated badly by this government and many are poor, as former President Donald Ramotar reminded me.
There was the case of the cash grant. Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton said that when the distribution was being conducted the people of Baracara, a predominantly black community, got $50,000 while people in other sections of Canje got $250,000.
The people of Sandvoort, West Canje, complained that their infrastructural works were ignored although there was a piece of heavy-duty machine there in the community. That piece of machinery was relocated to another community to execute works despite the need for its presence in Sandvoort.
In one community, a black man got some black belly sheep. He reported that the person who was making the distribution was lambasted by a government official, and removed from the location.
Why is there this blatant attack against a people who comprise a sizable portion of the community? When confronted with the accusation President Irfaan Ali becomes agitated. He loses his temper and denies what seems to be the reality.
Last week in a notebook I spoke about the removal of black heads from a position in the government and replacing these persons with people of East Indian ancestry.
In a presentation, former Chairman of the Police Service Commission, Paul Slowe observed, (Quote) “Regional Police Divisions 1, 2, 3, 3B, and 6 have Indian Commanders and Second in command. Regional Police Division 4C has an Indian Commander.
“The Head of SOCU and his deputy are Indian. The Head of ‘Operations’ is Indian. The Finance Officer is Indian. The Head of training is Indian. There are many more in senior positions that they are not qualified for.”
I have tried to question the veracity of the statement and was directed to the current Police Service Commission. I never approached the acting Police Commissioner because I was told that he never made those appointments.
If this is the case, the ranks in the Guyana Police Force would only mutter because they all say that the fear of victimization is very real. And many are ashamed to speak on the issue because race is a very sensitive and embarrassing thing to talk about.
Two weeks before I parted company with Kaieteur News I did a column in which I quoted a girl from Berbice advising that the Indian farmers should poison the vegetables and ship them to Georgetown and kill out them black people.
Glenn Lall got angry. He asked me since when did I quote social media. He took down the column from the internet. A short while later, he was quoting social media for attacking the then British High Commissioner.
I asked him if he finds it uncomfortable when I talk about race. He then accused me of being a racist. And that is always the case when a black person dares to talk about race. He is dubbed a racist.
One day a group was discussing the rural lifestyle of Guyanese. Glenn Lall remembered that if a black person goes to the home of an Indian person for a drink of water, that person would seek out the oldest cup. And after the black man drinks the water the cup would be thrown away.
Try as he might to instill in Guyana the motto of one people, one nation, one destiny, Forbes Burnham had a task more difficult than King Canute. King Canute ordered the tide to come no further. He was wasting his time.
Or like Sisyphus whose task was to roll a boulder up a hill. Each time the boulder neared the top of the hill it rolled back down. Poor King Sisyphus had to start all over again.
The late Haslyn Parris in a book spoke of ethnic preference as opposed to racial hatred. He concluded that most people married their own kind because of ethnic preference. But things get crazy when some people try to cross that line.
It is common knowledge that blacks are very accommodating in that area. The same cannot be said for some others. I have a friend whose wife could not go back home because her husband was black. Years later the mother wanted to see her grandchildren. She had to wait until her husband died.
For too long people have been silent. It is time there are discourses about race and one’s own ethnicity. There is nothing to be ashamed of. Bleach and perm will not change a person.
