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Associate Professor Dr. David Hinds posited that the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) government is afraid that if the case for reparations is made beyond the Europeans and reparations should include the success of state, the cries for equitable distribution of Guyana’s oil resources, the government would not want to link the call for reparations with the call for equitable distribution of resources.
Hinds has been a vocal and fearless critic of the government’s management of the political economy, race relations, and mistreatment of ordinary Guyana. The government often comes in for sharp criticism from the political activist for its refusal to engage the opposition, the A Partnership of National Unity and Alliance for Change, and its discriminatory treatment towards African Guyanese.
Host of the online ‘Politics 101’ show, recently opined that the Gladstones visit on August 19th brought slavery back to the centre of discussions of Guyana’s past, present and future. He was discussing this visit with guest, trade unionist Lincoln Lewis.
The Working People’s Alliance (WPA) Executive Member noted it took the “white folks” to come to Guyana to bring to the forefront the issue of slavery, when it should be an issue that engages our attention daily.
The Gladstones paid a visit to Guyana at the invitation of The Guyana Reparations Committee and The International Centre for the Study of Migration and Diaspora at the University of Guyana.
In a letter of apology read by Charles Gladstone on behalf of the family he has this to say, among other things,
It is with deep shame and regret that we acknowledge our ancestor’s involvement in this crime and with heartfelt sincerity that we apologise to the descendants of the enslaved in Guyana. In so doing we acknowledge slavery’s continuing impact on the daily lives of many.
We understand that we cannot change history, but we believe that we can have an impact on the world in which we live; and in apologising for the actions of our ancestors, we hope to work towards a better future.
We support CARICOM’s Ten Point Justice Plan and urge the British government to enter into meaningful discussions with CARICOM so that both parties can move towards a better future together.
We also urge other descendants of those who benefitted from slavery to open conversations about their ancestors’ crimes and what they might be able to do to build a better future.”
The ancestor of Charles Gladstone, Sir John Gladstone, was an owner of plantations, slaves and indentured servants, and played a very leading role in the Transatlantic Slave Trade.
The visit has attracted much conversation and how Guyanese should interpret the visit and if possible, form synergies.
Sir John Gladstone was an influential member in the Transatlantic Slave, and owned several plantations in Guyana. He also had indentured servants working on his plantations. Hinds questioned the trade unionist on his perception of the Gladstone visit and the Guyana polity. Lewis is of the view Africans should work with the Gladstone family and others of liked-mind based on an agenda set by Africans to address issues of reparation. He made known “all this is seen within the context of behaviours in society and while it might manifest itself at one time these things still exist today but we cannot close the door. ”
Calling for unified approach to dealing with reparations trade unionist said “there are many African leaders in our society but because we don’t speak with one voice it weakens the African struggle”
He advised of the need to decide which organisation will be speaking on which issue and where the policy direction for the African community will be conceptualised, developed and finalised,” and used the ocassion to raise the issue of explained of the International Decade for People of African Decent Assembly- Guyana (IDPADA-G) as the two explored government withdrawal of the subvention from the organisation.
Lewis shared that whilst some may want to say members of IPADA-G are politically motivated, politics is from the cradle to the grave, and Guyanese should recognise the reason why the government took away the subvention because IDPADA-G is a black African organisation. In effect, the trade unionist said the government is challenging the African community through the destruction of IDPADA-G, in effort to undermine the strength of the community.
Lewis said the opportunity that was presented to us as a people by the Gladstones should not elude the African leaders, reiterating that Africans cannot allow anyone else to speak on their behalf.
Hinds touching on the issue of identity, informed of the power of the state to take away citizenship, on the pretext that “Guyana does not recognise dual citizenship” once someone has citizenship with other country, but one’s link remains kinship, regardless of.
The Constitution of Guyana makes it unlawful for a Member of National Assembly, including the President, to have dual citizenship whilst running for and holding office.
