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I listened to an interview by President Irfaan Ali on the question of reparation on ITV’s Good Morning Britain. The interviewers pose serious issues to President Ali. I was pleased to congratulate President Ali on his adroitness and calm in his response. At one point the TV host with typical first-world pomposity asked the President if as part of reparations, he wanted a palace. President Ali’s response was beautifully crafted and demonstrated his deep understanding of the severity and savagery of slavery. Guyanese everywhere irrespective of race, colour, creed or political belief should be proud of the way the President dealt with the TV host.
I hereby compliment and congratulate the president on the way he handled the British TV Host. As is known, in all of my nearly seven decades of public life; I seldom shower encomiums on individuals as I did in the preceding paragraph. The President’s understanding of the need for reparative justice is great news and for many of us, a giant step as this matter is pursued.
Now that the President is on board, I suggest as the next step;
One, our history dealing with all aspects of our experience is taught in schools from the Primary to Tertiary levels. Of course an analysis of Ivan Sertima’s book “They Came Before Columbus” is necessary reading.
Second, the next bold step, the next glorious step, the next necessary step is for the president to engage in a meaningful dialogue with those individuals and organizations that have for the past several years been in the forefront of justice for all in Guyana. As we engage in discussions, we must not ignore the hurdles to be overcome. Because slavery and its long existence had the complicity, the carnivals of the kith and kin of those who were housed in the several slave places. Some still exist along the coast of West Africa.
Finally, we need to cope particularly with those with one drop of African blood surging through their veins to cope with this conundrum. This persistent problem was put succinctly by Professor Ali Mazrui when referring to the benefits of others including the Jews from the suffering of their ancestors. Professor Ali Mazrui after observing that others have made use of the suffering and sacrifices of their forbearers correctly observes from page one of the book Selected Papers, the 150 Anniversary of Emancipation 1838-1988 organized by Professor Lunke of the Pan African Movement says “But blacks neither socialised their suffering into a sacred doctrine nor exploited it as a political fund.”
Discussions, no matter how tedious, should take account of this foible or weakness so that together we can advance as a united people sharing our strengths and weaknesses so that we bequeath to succeeding generations a land of peace and plenty.
Yours truly,
Hamilton Green
Former Prime Minister and
Mayor of Georgetown.
