Latest update April 25th, 2024 12:10 AM
Nov 22, 2011 Letters
Dear Editor,
Racial marginalization is a scourge of modern society. In Guyana it is not just a perceived notion or a mirage. It is real.
In Guyana, the perception of marginalization arises not from the relegation to the fringe of society of any individual (gays, political dissenters, etc) or groups (religious, political, ethnic, etc); nor is addressing the issue of marginalization all about equitable or proportionate distribution of resources to all races or institutions, and putting some people of a certain race that is claiming marginalization in top positions.
It is about putting the leadership of that people in positions of meaningful decision making in the national and regional development processes of the country. In other words, as long as the leadership of a people is perceived to be marginalized from the decision-making processes of the country, that people will continue to see themselves as marginalized.
The issue of racial marginalization or racial insecurity lies at the very heart of the development process in Guyana. Most political, racial and even criminal violence have their origins in this perception of marginalization. Our development process is severely constrained by open threats of destabilization from marginalized leaders. Thousands of non-resident Guyanese wishing to return home to invest or retire in Guyana are reluctant because of this shameful cloud that hangs over Guyana.
Like I said, racial marginalization is real, and it can only be solved by the meaningful involvement of the leaders of all racial groups. And the political party or presidential candidate that proposes to implement this solution, not just by window dressings, is the one that deserves our vote, come November 28.
Gokarran Sukhdeo
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Wow ! Gowkarran,thank you for boldly standing up……we will not move forward unless this scourge is confronted and wiped out.
You have just spelt out the Solution.
Welcome to the AFC Sukhdeo. Together we will make a great country.
This is a poorly written letter. On reading the Letter Caption “Racial Marginalization” would have expected to see/read incidences where this subject of this letter is real. At least 3 incidences could have been mentioned to substabtiate your claim. This letter was mainly based on theory/hearsay rather than the evidence of racial marginalization. Why are East Indian so uncomfortable to talk about race in detail by providing evidence to make the discussion honest? A wrong is a wrong regardless who did it. Writer, wouldn’t it get you on your wrong nerve if someone saw a crime and could not give one account of what they saw. Thats what you did in this letter.
You have a good approach to solving the racial problem but don’t you think we need to literally identify the problems before we start offering solutions. For example, if you were going to build a Information System for a client or any project for a client, wouldn’t it be wise for you to know and understand the requirements first before you model and build the system? You need to identify incidences of racial marginalization or i can simply say your claim is baseless citing lack of evidence.
Racial marginalization is very real indeed. Remember what has come out so far in the Jagdeo / Kisson Libel case:
Exhibit A: “India is alive and well in Guyana”
1. Quote from H.E Dr. B.Jagdeo, Wall St. Journal, August 21, 2011.
There is no record of any such comment by Jagdeo concerning any country from the African continent being “alive and well” in Guyana.
Exhibit B: Systematic ‘Ban’ on AfroGuyanese Being in Positions of Authority
2. The head of every arm of the government – the legislature, judiciary and the executive – are headed by Indo-Guyanese. This has only happened in the Jagdeo’s presidency when compared with the last 4 presidents.
3. Heads of over 40 State Agencies are Indo-Guyanese.
4. Composition of all major Board of Directors for State Agencies are predominately Indo-Guyanese.
5. All current overseas based Ambassadors are Indo-Guyanese because no Afro-Guyanese are qualified to fill such positions. Yet there are no written conditions / criteria for appointing an ambassador.
6. Position of DPP given to Indo-Guyanese (twice) over Afro-Guyanese who were qualified, experienced and Acting DPPs
7. Position of GECOM Chairman always given to Indo-Guyanese.
8. All 22 of the top postions at GPHC filled by Indo-Guyanese.
9. No Afro Guyanese was selected by the Rice Assessment Boards, in regions two, three, four, five and six during the tenure of Jagdeo.
Exhibit C: Strangulation of Economic Benefits For Afro-Guyanese
10. Receipents of major Gov’t contracts are majority Indo-Guyanese
11. Allocations of industrial and agricultural lands in key areas all given to Indo-Guyanese.
12. Major Gov’t investments are made in sectors (i.e. sugar) dominated by Indo-Guyanese as opposed to sectors benefiting Afro-Guyanese workers (i.e. Bauxite)
13. The geographic placement of the Berbice Bridge was chosen for its proximity to a predominately Indo-Guyanese village over a less costly location that would have been close to predominately Afro-Guyanese villages.
14. Cessation of Gov’t aid to the Critchelow Labour College which provides skills training to predominately Afro-Guyanese youth
15. All gov’t properties – with the exception of one (1) – transfered by NICIL, were transfered to Indo Guyanese and at least one (1) foreign externally based company.
Exhibit D: Attempts to encourage ‘mental slavery’ among Afro-Guyanese
16. Refusal to allow a predominately Afro-Guyanese community (Linden) access to any alternative radio and TV stations other than the State run NCN station.
17. Duplicity in encouraging different views of Guyanese history: To an Indo-Guyanese community @ Babu John – DO NOT forget the ancient past with its ‘bloodshed’; To an Afro-Guyanese community @ Buxton – forget the recent past with its bloodshed.
You are right about racial marginalization.
Go into any govt department, and see who and who wuking deh. Den look at the racial composition of the country. Den tell me who has been marginalized in the largest public sector of the country.
ALL THE JOBS THAT PAY PEANUTS AND CANNOT INFLUENCE ANYTHING, IS THAT WHAT YOU TALKING ABOUT?
A sad state of affairs as the two major parties the Peoples Progressive Party and the People’s National Congress are driving their ethnic supporters into interlocking corners of the nation.
A cataclysmic future awaits a divided nation as evidenced throughout history most notably in 1789 at the outset of the French Revolution, even though a monoethnic society, women lead the struggle in the streets for bread as the economy collapsed.
This puts tremendous pressure on The Alliance for Change which is driving the battle for multi ethnic unity.
My African brothers and sisters, unite with your Indian brothers and sisters and every other ethnic group and understand clearly our destiny lies in our unity.
There is still time.
Come together and lead Guyana into the Promised Land.
Let us stand together.