Latest update May 6th, 2024 12:59 AM
Aug 23, 2016 Letters
Dear Editor,
Of recent and in times past Guyanese were bombarded with racist comments, statements and rhetoric’s from irate and discontented politicians especially Mr. Bharrat Jagdeo that spells volumes of division within our communities that enjoyed peace and harmony for a long time.
I am certain that the reading public and learned Guyanese would agree that this is not the way to go; or the acceptable behavior of responsible politicians of the 21st Century. Editor, it took a lot of courage for me as a mixed Guyanese to analyze and ask this pertinent question: Is Bharrat Jagdeo anathema for Guyana? The word anathema is found in the Holy Bible as Paul the Apostle of Jesus Christ – 1st Corinthian 16:22 mentioned.
The true Biblical meaning of this word comes first to the Corinthians to indicate that those who did not believe in the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ it will be a curse for them. In today’s context this word has taken on a modern meaning — an object of loathing: Somebody or something that is greatly disliked or detested and is therefore shunned. I am a man of various origins that connects and relates to my being here, born as a British subject on 15th November 1946 in the county of Berbice.
My grandfather from my mother’s side came from India [I am yet to use the National Archives to confirm this]. My great- great- great grandfather [British -White] from my father side was a plantation owner when his first [British-White] wife died; he married my great-great-great grandmother, who was his Ghanaian [Black] house slave,
Now, Editor There emerged a family tree that speaks of a black house slave and a white slave master producing a family with the name — Beresford. That’s my history. But, here is the amazing fact, for me to enter this world, my mother being of Indian origin had to be with my father who was of British [White] and African [Black] ancestors.
Now when I was born my mother’s father [my grand-father] told my mother that the baby she brought forth was anathema [a curse] to the families of India because of my color [blackness]. My mother refuses to believe that the child that she brought in the world was a curse, as she told me that she was disliked and shunned, a rejected vessel [out-cast] on the part of my Indian family because of my birth. For this very reason my mother related to me the trauma and adverse conditions style experienced that precipitated my birth.
She was caught in a rock and a hard place, on one hand; my father’s relatives did not accept her being pregnant with an East Indian baby, and on the other hand her Indian relatives [Father, brothers and sister] refuted and repudiated her association with a black man.
Is it not revealing, when we do a survey on the Indian continent, we do get to understand the cast system? My ancestors on both sides of my family tree was distinct, one dark skinned the other light skinned. According to the Indian cast system of India, the dark skinned person is regarded as inferior to those that are light skinned.
We as Guyanese have inherited a vast and deep system of racism that has plagued us for decades. Even now we are locked into a cycle of racist thinking that is based on what we learned from our ancestors. I grew up in New Amsterdam Berbice where predominantly blacks occupy every sphere of life. As a boy growing up I would spend my holidays in Crabwook Creek, Corentyne with my East Indian relatives. My father the late Randolph Beresford B.E.M. / M.B.E of London was born in N. Amsterdam.
He first knew my mother [she lived in a loggie with her father] while working at Skeldon Estate as a carpenter contractor. In those days Blacks mingled with East Indians, and vice versa, but they seldom inter-marry, they lived in the same community and attended the same school, shared the same space, shop at the same market and looked out for each other.
In the scheme of life, we learned of various cultures and customs as we travel and read [educate ourselves]. Guyanese of today compared to those of British Guiana [in colonial times] are much more enlightened and alert when it comes to racial insinuations and overtones. Editor, I come down again to the one question that lingers in the minds of a great number of Guyanese living in the diaspora and at home here in the Co-operative Republic of Guyana.
Is Bharrat Jagdeo anathema for Guyana? The first thing that comes to my enquiring mind is, is the statements made by this politian bringing us closer together as a Nation to reflect One Nation One People One destiny. If the answer is in the negative then we all need to take note. Somebody out there help me to believe well for the sake of my beloved Nation – Guyana!
Finally, Editor my mother who is deceased [God bless her soul] brought forth a son [fairest of all her sons] whose name is Glen Khan C.E.O and Chairman of Laparkan Group of Companies, fed on that same breast as I [the darkest of all her sons] did, but never once did I felt inferior being black or dark and having an East Indian brother living in the same home eating from the same pot and loved by the same mother. Which side of the equation must I stand? Indian or Black Guyanese! They called me Dougla as a child growing up.
Apostle Vanrick Beresford
GRA catch EXXON trying to hunch GUYANA over 11 BUS dollars in one shot!!!!
May 06, 2024
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