Sadly, we have come to the point in Guyana where we all observe egregious discrimination by the government of Guyana and we shrug and call it politics. None are exempt from averting their gaze against this evil; sadly, even Afro-Guyanese have adjusted to a life of acceptance of abuse and discrimination and find relief in commiseration with our friends and close community members. We know that racism is rife in Guyana, but survival has us busy and the PPP government of Guyana depends on this. We all know the truth, but we all prioritize survival. At some point, we will be forced to take a stand, but until we find a selfless, courageous leader who will stand up and sacrifice for us, we will be forced to bide our time.
Can you imagine Priya Manickchand or Sonia Parag or any female member of the PPP government being arrested and detained for 24 hours? Even Nigel Dharamall, with all of the vile accusations against him, has not seen the inside of a lock-up in Guyana. Yet Roxanne Myers and several others were detained for days, despite health issues and the need for medication.
Can you imagine the government claiming lands which East Indian citizens have owned for generations? Yet in Mocha and in several other places, Afro-Guyanese were dragged and bulldozed, under the horrified gaze of little children who I am sure have these memories etched forever in their minds. Today, there are dozens of court cases in progress where the government of Guyana has moved to evict Afro-Guyanese from their lands.
The PPP continues to frustrate the efforts of talented Afro-Guyanese because they feel that they do not possess the talent to compete with Afro-Guyanese. And rather than embrace the contributions of each group in Guyana, their strategy is to control and destroy in the most crude and mediocre ways.
We have accepted that it is okay that some outstanding Black professionals are ineligible for government contracts or work. They have also enlisted the private sector and international agencies to withhold support from Black professionals, hoping to drive them out of the country.
Is it ok for subventions for Critchlow Labour College and IDPADA-G to be withheld with the goal of crushing these organizations. The PPP government is a nation at war with Afro-Guyanese.
We misunderstood the intervention of the ABCE diplomats during the 2020 elections as some push for democracy in Guyana, but today we know their intervention was about securing western financial and military interests and not about justice, equality, and democracy. We know this because today they avert their gaze to PPP’s evil and feign blindness as they entertain the PPP vagabonds with smiles of acceptance.
African Guyanese receive no contracts, their applications for licenses for mining are turned down, civil society members are frustrated at every turn, and yet our “friends” of other races see this and avert their gaze. So while Afro-Guyanese cheer for the success of others, the support is not reciprocated. We must develop some personal pride and dignity. Stop supporting individuals and institutions that do not support you!
The PPP government of Guyana must be forced to stop the boycott of Afro-Guyanese citizens. It is wrong and it is dangerous. What Afro-Guyanese were willing to accept when our country was poor will not be accepted in Guyana’s time of plenty. It is time for all Guyanese to stand up against this systemic discrimination. The progress and prosperity of Guyana depend on the fair and equal treatment of all its citizens, regardless of their ethnicity. Only through unity and justice can we build a nation where every child, every person, can thrive and contribute to a brighter future for all.
