A columnist of a local daily has voiced his outright disagreement with the IAC’s recent decision to honour the West Indies cricket team’s premier batsman, Shivnarine  Chanderpaul’s contribution to East Indians of Guyana. This columnist has stated about four reasons why the ace batsman ought not to accept which points to the direction of the racist connotation that such will imply.
This is an unfortunate position taken up by this gentleman, one which it is hoped that Mr. Chanderpaul does not follow. Yes, Chanders is an East Indian representing a regional sports team that is drawn from what can be called a cosmopolitan region. That is a given, and I am sure that this illustrious player, understands that though  he is of  East Indian origin he is a West Indian, representing  a region that bears that geographical descriptive identity. And whatever contribution he makes that it is towards and for the West Indian people, inclusive of his race. The IAC, I am sure, understands this quite clearly.
So what is wrong about his accepting an award from a cultural organisation that seeks to honour its kinsmen/women for outstanding contribution as an East Indian to their people? It is the right of any cultural organisation to honour its people for their achievements, even if such has been made from a rainbow mix, without any hint of race.
I am certain that sometime ago, ACDA may have bestowed accolades on deserving local black personalities; as well as, similar outstanding black American icons would have been honoured by many of the numerous black organisations in the USA. Had it been an African Guyanese, representing the regional cricket team as Chanderpaul does, would that have been this columnist’s response?