The International Decade for People of African Descent Assembly – Guyana (IDPADA-G) is outraged and deeply offended by the vile remarks made by the Attorney General at a public rally last evening, in which he disgracefully referred to Cuffy (Kofi)—Guyana’s National Hero—as a “proud house slave.”
This is no ordinary insult. It is a deliberate desecration of the memory of the most important figure in African Guyanese history, and by extension, an assault on the dignity of every African Guyanese man, woman, and child. We are all insulted. We are all affronted. We are all justly indignant.
Who Cuffy Was: A Titan of Freedom
Cuffy was no “house slave.” He was a man of extraordinary courage and vision, who in 1763 led the great Berbice Revolution—the first great war of liberation on this soil. Cuffy commanded the loyalty of thousands, appointed generals and captains, managed supplies and food, negotiated with the Dutch Governor as his equal, and governed as Head of the first free African Republic in the Americas—the Berbice Republic.
The rebellion he led shook the foundations of slavery and established once and for all that Africans would resist enslavement and claim freedom, dignity, and self-determination.
To now tarnish his name with the despicable label of “house slave” is an act of blasphemy against Guyana’s history and a gross indignity to the African Guyanese community.
The True Face of Disrespect
The Attorney General’s remarks cannot be divorced from the long record of discrimination, marginalization, and oppression of African Guyanese by his party’s administration. His words lay bare the true contempt and disregard that the ruling party holds for people of African descent in Guyana.
We say: Enough. This is the turning point.
A Call to Action
- We demand an end to the mockery and erasure of African contributions to Guyana.
- The time has come to:
- Convene a National Committee to ensure our history is accurately recorded and taught from nursery to university.
- Establish an African History Unit at the University of Guyana to institutionalize research and teaching of African Guyanese history and culture.
- Identify and mark with pride the villages and settlements founded by Africans, on land they toiled for and purchased, so that our children know the sacrifices and triumphs of their ancestors.
- Restore our village councils to save our land.
No longer will we accept leaders in power who insult and oppress us, who take our lands, degrade our culture, and mislead our youth.
The Attorney General has ended the era of domination and arrogance. Guyanese must choose wisely on September 1.
Equity and Dignity—Now.
