By Mark DaCosta-The Caribbean Guyana Institute for Democracy (CGID) has filed a formal complaint to the Publisher and Editor of the New York City-based Caribbean Life against journalist Tangerine Clarke, who is being accused of using a racial slur during a protest in Brooklyn, New York. Clarke, a reporter for Caribbean Life newspaper, allegedly referred to African Guyanese protesters as “hungry belly dogs” while they demonstrated against President Irfaan Ali’s visit to the United States on 25 September 2024.
The protest occurred outside the Waterfall Lounge on Church Avenue, where President Ali was attending a breakfast meeting. It was organised by CGID, a prominent advocacy organisation that has long been a voice for democratic reforms and ethnic equality in Guyana. Protesters were calling for justice for victims of political violence, with some demanding accountability for the death of Courtney Crum-Ewing, a well-known Guyanese political activist murdered in 2015.
Donna Brown Harcourt, the mother of Crum-Ewing, was among those at the demonstration and one of the individuals directly insulted by Clarke. Harcourt has been a persistent advocate for justice in her son’s case, and many in the crowd were there in solidarity with her, protesting the Ali administration’s handling of political violence and corruption in Guyana.
Clarke’s comments were captured on video, which later surfaced on social media, showing her hurling the offensive words as she left the venue. When confronted by Jason Benjamin, a CGID board member, she reportedly did not back down. Instead, she flaunted her media credentials, showing her New York press pass while defending her actions.
The CGID issued a statement strongly condemning Clarke’s remarks, calling them “highly racist, provocative, reckless, and disgraceful.” According to the organisation, her behaviour not only disrespected the protesters but also tarnished the credibility of Caribbean Life and reflected poorly on journalism as a whole. In their complaint, CGID urged the management of Caribbean Life and Schneps Media, its parent company, to take swift disciplinary action against Clarke. The organisation has also reached out to the New York City Commission on Human Rights regarding the incident.
The protesters were particularly outraged as Clarke’s comments came in the context of their ongoing fight for justice in Guyana, where ethnic tensions have long simmered between the Afro-Guyanese and Indo-Guyanese populations. The term “hungry belly dogs,” commonly used as a racist insult in Guyana, is particularly offensive to persons of African descent, as it carries connotations of poverty and degradation.
CGID’s director of communications, Richard Millington, expressed the organisation’s intent to explore legal avenues against Clarke and possibly her employer, as the group believes her actions violated the protesters’ constitutional rights.
Clarke, who has covered the Caribbean-American diaspora for several years, is no stranger to controversy. However, her reputation as a journalist is now under significant scrutiny following the allegations of racist behaviour. The management of Caribbean Life has yet to release a statement on the matter, leaving many in the Guyanese community waiting to see what actions, if any, will be taken to address the incident.
This case adds another layer to the ongoing conversation about race, politics, and media ethics, both in the Guyanese diaspora and back home. The Afro-Guyanese community in New York, which has long been vocal about their concerns over political and racial injustices, is demanding accountability not just from President Ali but from those in positions of influence, including members of the media.
The protest itself, fuelled by long-standing frustrations with the PPP government, underscores the deep divisions within Guyana’s political landscape, with ethnic allegiances often overshadowing broader national interests. As this controversy unfolds, it is likely to heighten tensions both within the diaspora and across our land.
