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The two-day “Washington Conference on Guyana,” organised by the Caribbean Guyana Institute For Democracy (CGID), concluded Wednesday, with several stories presented of racial and economic discrimination by People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) administration against the citizens of Guyana. Conference participants used the opportunity to highlight concerns of systematic discrimination against black-owned businesses, raising questions about ethnic relations in the country.
In an address to a largely diaspora audience, attorney-at-law and former magistrate Dawn Cush-Holder zeroed in on the disparities in treatment of Guyanese, regardless of social or economic status. She claimed these disparities are primarily rooted in racial factors. One specific case discussed at the conference involved businessman Dorwain Bess, who presently has a contentious legal situation with a fellow businessman.
According to Cush-Holder, after the PPP/C government discovered Bess’s financial support for the opposition coalition, his situation took a troubling turn. Bess was charged with conspiracy to defraud and conspiracy to extort $150,000 after claiming to be defrauded of more than US$160 million by the businessman in question. The situation took an unusual twist when Rickford Burke, President of CGID, was allegedly implicated.
Addressing the issue at the conference, Burke shared that certain individuals within the administration conspired to set him up in the case, and officers of the Guyana Police Force submitted affidavits to the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) detailing their involvement.
Burke, who has repeatedly accused the PPP/C administration of systematically targeting and stifling black-owned businesses in Guyana, cited a research conducted by CGID, which revealed a disproportionate percentage of government contracts were awarded to East Indians, while black-owned businesses received a minimal share. “Almost every single black business in Guyana the PPP is trying to destroy,” he told the participants.
Among the conference’s aim was igniting discussions about the state of business affairs and ethnic relations in Guyana. Organisers hope to leverage the diaspora’s influence to urge a change in the United States’ foreign policy towards Guyana to address these concerns.
Bess hopeful government would be inclusive
Dorwain Bess expressed hope the conference’s discussions would lead to a more unified and fair Guyana, where equal opportunities are accessible to all, regardless of their backgrounds, race and/or ethnicity. He emphasised the need for collaboration and prioritising unity and fairness for the betterment of the nation.
In an invited comment, he told this publication “while I was initially unaware that the matter involving myself and my challenges in doing business in Guyana would be a topic of discussion at the Washington Conference, I find it heartening to observe that issues related to inequalities and discrimination, whether perceived or real, are receiving focused attention from both the government of Guyana and the Opposition.”
Additionally, he posited, “I believe that the United States, given its geo-political and economic influence on the global stage, could serve as a valuable mediator in the pursuit of a unified Guyana.”
Such unity, he said, is desperately needed, where all individuals have an equal chance to prosper based on their abilities and capabilities, rather than resorting to illicit means, for which our country has unfortunately gained notoriety over the years.”
Bess also touched on the issue of Venezuela’s recent sabre rattling noting “it is evident that as Guyanese citizens, we are united in addressing concerns that rightfully pertain to all of us on our homeland.”
Equal opportunities for all
The businessman proposed “now that the ‘Washington Conference on Guyana’ has concluded in the U.S. capital shedding light on grave concerns about the current administration, it is essential to acknowledge that leaders worldwide should not bear the sole burden of advocating for peace, equality, justice and fairness.
According to him, Guyanese share collective responsibility to ensure fairness and equitable opportunities for everyone. With a population of less than a million people, and abundant resources, Bess was adamant “we should strive to work together toward building a united Guyana where equal opportunities are accessible to all, regardless of backgrounds or appearances. This vision can be a reality if we collaborate and prioritise unity and fairness for the betterment of our beloved Guyana.”
