I am confused as to why H. Forrester in his/her letter to Kaieteur News “The ERC should promptly end this investigation” (19/08/2009) would suggest that the ERC abandon an investigation of “racism” brought by Mr. Kwame McCoy against Mr Freddie Kissoon because Freddie contends that Kwame should be sent to “Monkey Mountain” which H. Forrester says is a real place in Guyana.

Mr. Freddie Kissoon obviously knew that any inference of “monkey” was deemed to be racially charged and insulting to dark-skinned people and in particular to black people.

H. Forrester contends that people can then call black people “nigger” because Niger is a real country in Africa? Or, because some black people calls each other “nigger” as in “What’s up my nigger” it is okay for everyone else to do so?

IF you call anyone “nigger” you are likely to get the “SH**” kicked out of you by the vast majority of people as people are not tolerant today of “racism”.

I suggest the ERC continues its investigation unless Mr. Freddie Kissoon makes a public apology to Mr. Kwame McCoy which I am sure would settle the matter as Guyana courts have many other problems to deal with.

I have many relatives who are of African Guyanese heritage and I do enjoy their company. Even though my Uncle Eddie in Barbados is slightly Africanist I still enjoy playing cards with him. I have many relatives who are of Indian Guyanese heritage. I have relatives who are Portuguese heritage. I have many relatives who are of Caucasian (white) heritage. I listen to Eddie Grant, Bob Marley and Rihanna more than  I do of Indian music.

There is one thing that I have learnt. That is, racism is a learnt behaviour. Therefore if you learned it you could certainly unlearn it too.

I still stick to my point that while the PNC were preaching anti-apartheid in South Africa they were creating apartheid in Guyana.

Guyana is not the same country that it was five years ago. Unless people come to realise this then the opportunity that currently exists for Guyanese to progress would be lost.

I suggest that the government seriously look at building a higher capacity port in Berbice (Crab Island) as it has indicated that it intends to do (which may take about two years to complete). And, also to rebuild the rice and gold mining industries in Guyana since the upgrade of the sugar industry is nearly completed.
SEAN BRIGNANDAN