I READ Norman Browne’s letter in the Kaieteur News of April 21, 2011, “Ogunseye’s call is not without justification”, in which he questioned my objectivity in my letter, “Ogunseye is guilty of incitement” (Kaieteur News, April 20, 2011).

Browne indicated that I do not understand “the conditions that blacks are made to live under in Guyana”. The letter writer also claimed that Ogunseye’s ‘riot act’, was justified. While I respect Norman Browne’s right to opinion, I must say that he has missed the essence of my argument.

On that note, I will ask Browne to explain for my sake, and for the sake of the public, exactly what “conditions blacks are made to live under”, and to not just make accusations, but to unambiguously provide evidence of these conditions, and whether it is only the African-Guyanese grouping that are living under these conditions.

I am a black Guyanese, but I do not support Ogunseye’s call for violence if the PPP wins the next election. This is not the correct way to acquire political office, and it is not the right way to effect change in this country. From his ‘riot act’ call, it is clear that Ogunseye is no representative of the black community. He has his own political agenda. He represents only his interests.

The appropriate way to seek elected political office is through elections. However, the PNCR, the alleged ‘black party’ – loses votes because their supporters do not go out to the polls. Added to that, is the fact that in the 2006 election, many of the PNCR supporters voted for the AFC, significantly reducing the overall amount of votes that the party received.

What I said in my letter, I will restate here for the purpose of making known to all Guyanese, that as a people, we must choose to embrace only those things that are right. It is the political party’s responsibility to mobilize supporters and secure votes, as this is the democratic way towards winning an election and ensuring stronger parliamentary representation.

Look, Guyana is an ethnically plural society. We cannot overlook that; but we must also be able to look beyond our own circumstances, whatever they may be, and realize that our situation may not be so different from other ethnic groups in relation to a disadvantaged status.

I respect Norman Browne’s right to express his views, but I must say, as a black Guyanese, that an individual’s social progress, is not solely defined within the realms of race and ethnicity, but rather it has to do with social class, which is present within these ethnic groupings, and that is what ultimately determines a person’s life chances.