Dear Editor
I KNOW that the national newspaper, the Guyana Chronicle, which is a State-owned newspaper, will not publish my letter since it goes against the coalition government of David Granger. Since the newspaper is now a mouthpiece for the coalition government, it goes against opponents of the Government. I do not expect better. However, the editors will get my message.
Former President of Guyana, Bharrat Jagdeo, in a speech to a gathering in New York accused the A Partnership of National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC) government of practising racism in Guyana against Indo-Guyanese. He said that Indian lands were being taken away by the APNU+AFC government; Indians were being dismissed from their government jobs; State boards are dominated by Afro-Guyanese;and rice farmers and sugar workers who are predominantly Indo-Guyanese are being marginalised. In the case of sugar, Indians face unemployment as a result of the closure of Wales and La Bonne Intention Estates.
As Bharrat Jagdeo belted out the facts, it did not go down well with many of the critics of the former People’s Progressive Party/Civic government. They were quick to condemn him as a racist and as promoting racism. Critics such as Ralph Ramkarran, Frederick Kissoon, David Hinds, Lincoln Lewis and others were quick to pronounce on Jagdeo’s speech.
It seems that no one can say anything against the coalition government and what they are doing to the Indians of Guyana . Any exposure of wrongdoing to the people and if they speak out it will be deemed racist. People must keep their mouths shut and allow the coalition government to do whatever pleases them. Any condemnation of them will be treated as racism.
Those who criticised Jagdeo for speaking out against racism should know that Bharrat Jagdeo is the Leader of the Opposition who represents most Indo-Guyanese and therefore he should as such represent Indians. He cannot claim to represent Indians in Parliament and remain silent as the coalition government, less than two years in government, is doing ethnic cleansing in government.
Look at the State boards. Most of the people put there are Afro-Guyanese who are supporters of the coalition government. Look at the heads of government agencies who were removed on charges of corruption when the coalition government came into power. The list includes Brassington, Nadir, Lionel Wordsworth, Ramotar, Rekha and the list goes on. Not one of them was given the opportunity to clear his/her name.
Decisions have already been made to close two sugar industries in the East Demerara area. Wales and La Bonne Intention Estates are to be closed by year-end, putting thousands of sugar workers and cane farmers on the breadline. Less rice will be planted this year. Rice will not be given the usual support as was done previously. This includes areas of drainage and irrigation and fertilisers .
In the area of foreign affairs, the Indians were removed and replaced by Afro-Guyanese. David Dabydeen was let go. Only Bayney Karran was retained as ambassador. When in 1997 former President Janet Jagan was sworn in as President, Desmond Hoyte and his followers went on a nationwide campaign. Supporters were carrying white dolls on strings and dolls in coffins around the streets in Georgetown chanting racist slogans such as white woman, blue eye, they do not want to be ruled by a white woman, etc. No one had condemned Hoyte and his supporters as being racist. Frederick Kissoon, David Hinds, Lincoln Lewis and others were silent. Now Jagdeo is accusing the APNU+AFC coalition for practising racism, he is being condemned by the critics. Jagdeo stands by his words. He has proof of what he said. It is there for all to see the assaults that are taking place on Indians in Guyana.
Regards
Baldeo Persaud