Latest update May 6th, 2024 12:59 AM
Jan 26, 2015 Features / Columnists, Freddie Kissoon
Last Saturday was the official launching of the Decade of African People at the Parade Ground. I sat with Tacuma Ogunseye and listened and watched speaker after speaker contextualize the positives of African civilization and analyze the problems African Guyanese are facing in Guyana today.
As dusk covered the sprawling body of the Parade Ground, the chairperson of the event, Mrs. Penda Guyan, called me to the podium to say a few words. I briefly remarked about what I see in my research as the transfer of public wealth in Guyana to a particular faction of an ethnic group. And I mentioned the ubiquitous appearance of white faces in the commercials in the print and electronic media.
As I was walking back to my seat, two Rastafari (I was told the proper word is Rastafari and not Rastafarian and was asked to use Rastafari; no problem, don’t want to insult other people’s culture) persons approached me. They identified themselves as Ras Simeon, President of the Rastafari Council of Guyana and Ras Ian, the General-Secretary. As the conversation was about to start, we were joined by the Council’s Vice-President, Sister Tekla
I was informed that early in the day, after David Granger gave his speech the leadership of the Council approached Granger and informed him that they want the laws pertaining to marijuana possession to be changed. They said that they approached me because they have read my views on the subject. In return, I told them I was happy to do this column because I have been in rage over the marijuana laws in this column decades ago and continue to rally against its continuation as recent as two months ago
What Ras Simeon, Ras Ian and Ras Tekla wanted me to do was to transmit to the Guyanese population the Council’s inflexible position on linking their demand to the upcoming election. All three Rastafari personalities said to me they told Granger he will not get Rastafari votes if he does not commit the PNC to changing the marijuana laws.
Then a moment of drama came. Ras Ian, said, “I want it to be known that the prosecution of the Rastafari community began with the PNC. It was President Desmond Hoyte that brought in the laws and the PNC has a moral obligation to us to change it.” By this time, the leadership of the wider Rastafari community had joined the discussion.
Ras Reuben Bristol, Overseer of the Twelve Tribes of Israel – Guyana, endorsed the theory of no change, no vote. Ras Iudha, Ielect of Throne, of the House of Nyabinghi was joined by Assistant Ielect of Throne, Ras Esther Gittens and they both agreed that in the upcoming elections, the voice of the Rastafari community must be taken into consideration. Ras Lindon Watkins of the Ethiopian Tahida Rastafari Orthodox Church of Ethiopia said consideration should be given to making July 23 a national holiday after the birth of Haile Selassie.
These Rastafari practitioners had a point and I was happy and will be happy to embrace it. The harsh treatment of Guyanese youths for the mere possession of a marijuana cigarette is sickening and semi-civilized. I will never accept it as someone who believes in freedom. More than six young persons have been jailed in this country for the mere possession of a smoking utensil. Desmond Hoyte had to be in an eerie mood when his draftsmen put that bestiality into law and as President he accepted it.
What the leadership of the Rastafari community in Guyana should know is that even though the PNC Government brought in the law, it was accepted by the PPP Government the past twenty two years. In fairness to the PNC and David Granger, the leadership of the PPP should also be assigned the wrath of the Rastafari community for keeping the horrible sections of the Anti-Narcotic Law in existence.
In fairness to the PNC and David Granger, the Rastafari community should also ask the AFC to give them a commitment during the election campaign to abolish several outdated, colonial aspects of the Anti-Narcotic Law as they pertain to the amount of possession of marijuana and also move in the direction of other countries in relation to the use of the drug for medical purposes. I have never smoked a cigarette or a marijuana joint but I know just as how I embrace gay rights, I believe the marijuana laws should be changed.
As the election campaign gets underway, the Guyanese people should do what the Rastafari community did last Saturday afternoon – withhold their vote if their reasonable, justified demands cannot be accepted by those who want to rule Guyana.
GRA catch EXXON trying to hunch GUYANA over 11 BUS dollars in one shot!!!!
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