Latest update May 2nd, 2024 12:59 AM
Jul 11, 2017 Letters
Dear Editor,
There is a famous quote that says “it takes a spark to set the forest on fire.” In remembering this quote, I can only recall that the ethnic fighting in our dear country erupted after some report that an “Indian” had killed a “Black”. The eruption was easy because the distrust among and between these two ethnic groups were at a boiling point. Are we preparing the ground for another ethnic conflict? My prayer is that we will learn from our past and do all in our power to build bridges of social cohesion among our people.
Former Chairman of Region 10 Solomon Sharma wrote an interesting article about the anniversary of the “Sun Chapman.” It’s a sad part of our history when innocent lives were lost due to evil. Ravi Dev added to this piece by pointing out that Solomon left out the part of the history of Linden when he either failed to or disregard the casualty of the “Indian” before and after the Sun Chapman incidence. Very interesting!
Sase Singh wrote a very informative letter in respect to the appointment of Permanent Secretaries in the various ministries. His assertion that our current government (whether deliberately or unconsciously) appointed 17 of the 18 from the “African” community. This is not new in our country. I am reminded of Dr. Luncheon statement, when he reported that no “African” Guyanese was qualified to hold ambassadorship position in the last government. The question is, “where do we go from here?”
I would like to touch on the ethnic problem in our country. I will repeat what Prime Minister Nagamootoo stated in the last election campaign, for which he was roundly condemned by the previous government. He stated that he is not “Indian”. I responded to his statement with a letter to the press, full supporting the Prime Minister’s statement. None of us who were born in Guyana are “Indians” or “Africans”.
To be Indian or African is not an ethnic group. We are Guyanese of different ethnic group. People of every ethnic group on the earth were born in what is Africa today. Does this means that they are all “Blacks?” No, but they are qualified to be called “African” because they were born on that continent. Similarly, in India people of different ethnic groups were born there today, and that qualifies them to be called Indian. So the nationality of someone born in India or in Africa makes those people “Indian” and “African” respectively. But in Africa, their nationality is not only African, but Nigerian, Libyan, Ghanian, and so on. In Guyana, we are neither “Indian’ nor “African.” We are Guyanese by nationality.
In Africa, the Blacks can be from the ethnic group of Yoruba, Ibo, Zulu and so on. In Guyana, some of our ancestry came from these ethnic groups. So a Guyanese whose ancestry came from the great continent of Africa is either a Yoruba, an Ibo or any of the many ethnic groups in that continent. You are not “African”. Your roots came from Africa, but you are not African, you are Guyanese of African descent belonging to the ethnic group of Yoruba, Ibo or another ethnic group. Similarly, our ancestors who came from India also have different ethnic group. The major groups in Guyana are the Dravidian and the Aryan.
We have heard of the Madras culture where they celebrate the dead with music and dancing. Yet we call them “Indian”. What about the other “Indians” in Guyana who weep and mourn for the dead? Are they not all from Indian ancestry? Yes, but they have different ethnic and cultural identity. The people in Guyana need to wake up from our slumber. The country is blessed with the greatest ethnic and cultural groups in the world, and what are we doing? Instead of celebrating our great cultures with pride and joy, we seem bent on destroying each other. How long, how long, will be the cry?
My recommendation is that we carry out a detail survey in two (2) predominantly “African” villages, two (2) predominantly “Indian” villages, two (2) communities of “both ethnic group”, and two (2) “Amerindian” villages. Let us find out what these communities need to make our country move forward. Our researchers must compile the findings of these surveys and then propose new measures to launch a “New” Guyana.
We can use the information from the survey to write a “New” Constitution and begin the process of building our people rather than tearing us apart. The funds for this project should come from our business community, the government and other interested parties. We can then use some of our students from the University of Guyana to work with our researchers to get this done.
Let us put our hands to the plough and build a “New” Guyana for our Children and Grandchildren, and let us begin to celebrate our different ethnic groups and its rich cultures with pomp and glory.
Charles Sugrim
THEM PIMPING OUT GUYANA.
May 02, 2024
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