28 Years of Advocacy: Bridging Divides, Upholding Justice, and Advancing a Unified Guyana

Jun 10, 2025 Letters

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Dear Editor,

Kaieteur News – On June 9, 1997, the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) established its Race Relations Committee in response to rising ethnic tensions, particularly between Indo- and Afro-Guyanese, two groups that form the majority of the Public Service. The Union recognized that such division posed a serious threat to national cohesion and equitable public service delivery. The committee was officially launched at the National Cultural Centre, with Prime Minister Janet Jagan delivering the keynote address.

We say “Race relations” because it refers to the interactions, perceptions, and institutional frameworks governing how different racial or ethnic groups coexist in society. Healthy race relations are built on mutual respect, equal opportunity, open dialogue, and the dismantling of systemic barriers to inclusion. The principle we uphold is that we are “All Different, All Equal “diverse in background, culture, and experience, but equal in rights, dignity, and humanity. This concept is central to the mission and vision of the GPSU Race Relations Committee, shaping its advocacy and action across all aspects of public service and national development.

The mission of the GPSU Race Relations Committee is to monitor, challenge, and work to eliminate racial discrimination within the public service and to foster a culture of unity, justice, and equality among all Guyanese our unwavering commitment to promoting respect for diversity while advocating for the equal treatment of every individual. On this anniversary of the GPSU Race Relations Committee, we reflect on our journey as a people and a nation, one that aspires to be grounded in equity, justice, and unity.

Just days ago, we commemorated 59 years of independence under the national theme: “Guyana: A Future of Unity and Progress.” This theme captures our collective hope, but we must face a hard truth, that vision remains unfinished, deteriorated, and in some ways, broken. The very existence of this committee speaks to the lingering challenges we face in achieving genuine unity in our workplace and in our country. Guyana is a nation made up of six peoples, some indigenous, others brought through colonial systems as enslaved people, indentured laborers, or economic migrants. Today, many citizens are the result of ethnic, cultural, and religious integration, a rich fusion that defines our identity. And yet, despite this deep interweaving, efforts continue to divide us by race, class, and social structure.

We are a people who respect all religions, who celebrate together, and who share traditions across communities. But sadly, when moments demand unity, there often arises a sudden epidemic of division, where race is chosen over reason, prejudice over principle, and bias over what is just. As we move forward, we draw inspiration from the timeless words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who declared in 1964: “I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war that the bright daybreak of peace and brotherhood can never become a reality.”

This quote reminds us that division is not destiny. With courage and conviction, we can choose another path, one of peace, equity, and shared progress. Let us examine our conscience and follow our human instinct to do what is right for our country. Let us live the true meaning of our Coat of Arms: One People, One Nation, One Destiny.

Guyana’s commitment to eliminating racial discrimination is enshrined in its supreme law. Article 149 of the Constitution of Guyana guarantees every citizen the right to freedom from discrimination on the grounds of race, political opinion, color, creed, or sex. It mandates equality before the law and equal protection and benefit of the law for all individuals. In addition, the Racial Hostility Act of Guyana criminalizes the incitement of racial hostility and the publication of material that promotes racial hatred or animosity. This law affirms the nation’s obligation to curb inflammatory actions and speech that threaten national harmony.

The establishment of the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) under the Constitution was a landmark moment in Guyana’s history. Its purpose is to promote harmony and good relations among all ethnic groups, investigate complaints of racial discrimination, and recommend policies that foster unity. The ERC serves as a watchdog and bridge between communities, helping to monitor incidents of racial bias and providing a platform for redress and education.

However, the effectiveness of the ERC is tied to the will of all stakeholders, government, civil society, and institutions to support its work, act on its findings, and uphold the principles it represents. We urge continued resourcing, independence, and collaboration with civil organizations, including the GPSU Race Relations Committee, to ensure that the ERC achieves its full potential in strengthening Guyana’s social fabric. Guyana is also a signatory to numerous global conventions that speak directly to these issues. Notably, the United Nations International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD), adopted in 1965 almost 60 years ago, mandates that all forms of racial discrimination must be condemned and eliminated by law and practice. The International Labour Organization (ILO) further supports this stance through Conventions No. 111 and No. 169, which promote equal opportunity and treatment in employment.

Public Services International (PSI), to which the GPSU is affiliated, also upholds anti-racism and non-discrimination as core principles of ethical and sustainable public services. It recognizes that racism and classism are deeply rooted in systems and institutions and thus calls for active measures to dismantle them at every level. Guyana has consistently spoken in favor of equality, dignity, and inclusion. Our national motto, “One People, One Nation, One Destiny,” affirms this commitment. However, our words must match our deeds. We must honor our signatures to these conventions, not only in policy statements or lyrics in campaign speeches or fashion statements for the press, but in practical enforcement and lived reality. This includes upholding the laws that hold individuals and institutions accountable for acts of racism and racial discrimination.

We urge that laws be upheld across all workplaces public and private that explicitly prohibit racial discrimination.  Use mechanisms for reporting, investigation, and redress. Institutions must be held accountable not only for their policies but also for their practices. A safe, respectful, and inclusive work environment is not a privilege but a right. The continued existence of racism, classism, and discrimination shows we still have work to do. This work begins at home, in classrooms, playgrounds, in offices, fields, factories in our service delivery. It begins when we speak truth, reject injustice, and refuse to normalize bias in our everyday actions.

We must also be courageous enough to confront a different but equally damaging misuse of race, when individuals use claims of racism to deflect from their own wrongdoing, mismanagement, or lack of accountability. To exploit the gravity of racial justice for personal defense undermines the legitimacy of real struggles faced by those who are genuinely marginalized. It weakens the integrity of the movement and erodes public trust. We condemn all attempts to weaponize racism for political, personal, or organisational cover.

The Guyana Public Service Union has a legacy of representing all members equally, regardless of background, ethnicity, or political affiliation. The government must do the same. Leadership must look closely at what divides us and act to repair it.

In a country experiencing economic growth and development, discontent, marginalization, and unrest are signals that people are being left behind. The priority in nation-building must be inclusion economic, social, and cultural. This is especially urgent as our national borders face external threats. Our people must not be overlooked or sold short. Every community must be part of development, not at the fringes, but at the center. We believe that education is a powerful weapon against hate. That’s why GPSU reaffirms its commitment to promoting training, cultural literacy, and public service values that foster inclusion.

The GPSU will continue its work to:

*Leads by example in inclusive governance,

* Empowers public servants through education and cultural exchange,

* Revive and Promote Social and cultural events that bring out the beauty of Diversity.

*Stands boldly against every form of racial injustice and exclusion,

*Build bridges between communities and promote national healing.

As we commemorate the 28th anniversary of the GPSU Race Relations Committee, we reaffirm our commitment to dismantling all barriers of discrimination visible or in disguise, institutional or cultural.

This message is more than a reflection, it is a charge to act. We must all become active participants in the healing, inclusion, and unification of our nation. We also charge our race relations committee not to be a ceremonial body remembered only on anniversaries. Let it be a living, breathing force of advocacy, visibility, and change, respected for its role in advancing equity, unity, and national cohesion.

In every policy, every appointment, every act of governance, let us honor our national and international obligations. Let us create public services that reflect the dignity, equality, and diversity of all Guyanese. Let us change the trend where injustice by one political administration becomes justification for continued wrong by another. As Mahatma Gandhi said, “Be the change that you wish to see in the world.” Let us lead by example and do right by our people, not in retaliation or repetition of past wrongs, but in commitment to a better future.

In solidarity,

President,

Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU)

Patrick Yarde

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• advocacy, Bridging Divides, Guyana Public Service Union, Patrick Yarde, Racial Discrimination

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