The word “negro” is a relic of a brutal era that sought to define people by their skin colour and subordinate them accordingly…carries the weight of centuries of suffering, discrimination, and systemic injustice, something that cannot and should not be ignored. So says Vice Chairman of the Institute for Action Against Discrimination (IFAAD), former Mayor Pt Ubraj Narine, who has added his voice to the conversation of the appropriateness of the use of the word
Last week attorney-at-law Nigel Hughes, representing Kidackie Amsterdam, protested the Police’s use of the word “negro” to identify his client. Amsterdam, host of the online “Buxton Morning” show was on May 30, 2024 charged under the Cyber Crime Act with using a computer system to encourage or incite persons to commit a criminal offence against President Irfaan Ali. He has been released on $200,000.00 bail. Hughes’ objection has since morphed into a national discussion whether the word is culturally appropriate in the 21st Century given derogatory historical usage and association.
Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall S.C, M.P has responded to calls to remove the identifier as usage from the Police’s record and replace it with “African Guyanese.” Rather than acknowledge the concern and seek to address the aggrieved, the Attorney General (AG) made known the word was part of the Police’s lexicon for more than a century, intimating that it may not be removed.
Narine, former Georgetown Mayor, is now calling on the AG to be respectful of others’ history and the articulation of their pains. He cautions that maintaining the use of a term that hearkens back to the worst of historical injustices only serves to reinforce this modern system of inequalities.
Going further, the IFAAD Vice Chairman is reminding the AG and People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) government, who are paid from the public purse, of their moral and ethical responsibility to listen to the voices of those who historically marginalised, and take meaningful action towards creating a more just and inclusive society. He is advising that this includes eliminating outdated and offensive terminology from our legal and social lexicon.
Narine’s full statement follows:
I have taken note of the Attorney General Anil Nandlall remarks on the word “NEGRO” I wish to remind him in contemporary society, the language we choose reflects our collective values and our commitment to respect and human dignity. The term “NEGRO,” deeply rooted in a painful history of slavery and oppression, is a glaring symbol of this struggle, especially for African Guyanese. Its continued use today is not only anachronistic but also profoundly disrespectful.
Historically, the term “NEGRO” was not just a descriptor but a tool of dehumanisation used by the British Empire to strip African slaves of their identity and agency. It is a relic of a brutal era that sought to define people by their skin colour and subordinate them accordingly. This word carries the weight of centuries of suffering, discrimination, and systemic injustice, something that cannot and should not be ignored.
The debate surrounding this term has recently been reignited by the stance of the Attorney General under the PPP government, who has expressed a reluctance to abolish its use. This position has sparked outrage amongst many, as it seems to suggest a continued disregard for the historical trauma and present-day implications of such language.
The Attorney General’s resistance to change has led to accusations that the PPP government is perpetuating a form of modern slavery through systemic injustices. I argue that the government’s stance is not just a refusal to update outdated laws and policies, but it’s an indication of deeper social and political issues that continue to marginalise black lives.
Modern-day slavery may not manifest in chains and auctions, but systemic oppression and entrenched inequalities function as a sophisticated form of subjugation. It manifests in disparities in education, employment, justice, and social treatment that disproportionately affect African Guyanese communities. Maintaining the use of a term that hearken back to the worst of these injustices only serves to reinforce this modern system of inequalities.
Words matter! They carry the power to harm or heal, to divide or unite. In a country striving for equality and progress, it is imperative that our language evolves to reflect these values. The use of terms like “NEGRO” is a stark reminder of a past that we should be working to overcome, not perpetuate.
The Attorney General and the PPP government have a moral and ethical responsibility to listen to the voices of those who have been historically marginalized and to take meaningful action towards creating a more just and inclusive society. This includes eliminating outdated and offensive terminology from our legal and social lexicon.
Respect and sensitivity to the lived experiences of all citizens are foundational to any democratic society. It is high time that our leaders set an example by forsaking divisive and derogatory language in favour of terms that honour the dignity and humanity of every individual. Only then can we hope to build a future that is free from the shadows of our past. Racism under the PPP Government must END now and the word NEGRO must be abolished!!
Pt.Ubraj Narine, JP, COA
Former Staff Sgt.(GDF), Mayor
City of Georgetown
