Dear Editor,
WE request a few column inches of your newspaper to voice our collective concerns regarding comments made by a prominent son of the soil. The “we” are Dr. Mark Devonish of the United Kingdom and Tyrone L. Talbot of the United States, both sons of Guyana residing and working in the diaspora. We draw the reader’s attention to the below comment:

“However, let me remind the Guyanese agents of hate and division living amongst our diaspora that Guyanese living on Guyana’s sacred soil, stand united and in total solidarity against any attempt to divide us.” “If the persons who design and posted the message to target home-grown Guyanese business are offended because I referred to them as agents of division and hate. I am sorry if the CAP FITS”

Editor, actually, this is a snippet from a post from Captain Gerry Gouveia’s Facebook page in support of Terrence Campbell who was apparently facing boycott of his businesses because of reported affiliation with ANUG. Let us make it clear to the reading audience; we are not champions of quashing any voice of citizens of our beloved Guyana– home or abroad. We feel that both Mr. Gouveia and Mr. Terrence Campbell (in whose defence his post was made) are entitled to their respective political affiliation which is protected by Article 10 of the Constitution. Both men are also constitutionally protected and entitled to their right to their private business holdings which are protected by Articles 17 and 19 of the Constitution.

It is our observation that Mr. Gerry Gouveia is clearly not happy because of the proposed economic protest against a fellow member of the business fraternity. Both Gouveia and Campbell have every right to be concerned by such suggested protest. It will hurt them where it hurts. Mr. Editor, the question we ask is ‘What about the economic small folks with the money in their pockets, are they devoid of enjoyment of choice to spend their money where they see fit? We draw the reading audience’s attention to Article 40 of the Constitution. This article stipulates their right to individual freedoms. So if someone wants to organize citizens in a peaceful economic boycott, such protest is also protected by the Constitution and it is every citizen’s right and no one should trample upon it. They can exercise the right to support any business they see fit and also entertain any suggestions of boycott.

The plutocracy does not own the rights to the minds of the citizens and while collective actions of a section of the citizenry may bring discomfort, this is what we do in democracies the world over. We draw your attention to the protest in France just before the Christmas holidays over gas taxes and the Occupy Wall Street movement over the gluttony of the plutocracy of the United States.

Mr. Editor, was Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., “an agent of hate?” Was Mahatma Gandhi an “agent of hate?” Was Nelson Mandela an “agent of hate?” Is Reverends Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton “agents of hate?” Was Dr. Cheddi Jagan an “agent of hate” when he, through the Guyana Agriculture Workers Union, orchestrated strikes against the Guyana Sugar Corporation? Some of the mentioned names suffered greatly for their protest actions.

Mr. Editor, we both visited Guyana in 2017 and 2018 respectively. Both of us patronised businesses owned by both individuals to the tune of nearly one million Guyana dollars. Which included trips to Kaieteur Falls, flying to that destination of Roraima Airways; treats for our children at Bruster’s Ice Cream Parlour, Church’s Chicken, Quality’s and Mario’s Pizzas. We have encouraged our family and friends to support these businesses whenever they fly home. So to read one of these businessmen titled citizens as “agents of hate” and then claim “once a Guyanese always a Guyanese” stuck both of us as a betrayal of this inclusive message. Mr. Gouveia is correct that no matter where we call home, the nation’s constitution recognizes us as citizens of Guyana until we draw our last breath.

Citizens reserve the right to patronize any business they see fit. Citizens also reserve the right to protest in any peaceful format they chose. What is not enshrined in our Constitution is that citizens own a fealty to the business plutocracy.  We are citizens of “sacred land of Guyana” who resides overseas with our hearts beating for our “Dear Land of Guyana.” Calling for all to desist from their divisive rhetoric and preach words of encouragement.

Regards
Tyrone Talbot, SPC
United States Army (Retired)
Mark Devonish MBBS MSc MRCP(UK) FRCP(Edin)
Consultant Acute Medicine
Nottingham University Hospital
UK