ON October 24, 2011, my good friend and brother, Nigel Hughes, issued a response to statements made by His Excellency, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo.  Mr. Hughes emphasised then that he was a Guyanese and a proud descendant from a long line of field slaves. I am in no way objecting to Mr. Hughes being proud of his ancestry. However, I am uneasy with the context in which he referred to his past. In essence, I am forced to believe Mr. Hughes is clearly indicating that only field slaves or their descendants would oppose this government; and those who did not – which would include the majority of the African population and the African members of the government – can be deemed as house slaves.
He has implied that house slaves have characteristics which impel them to follow the directives of their masters, and they cannot articulate the interests of Afro-Guyanese.
Should my interpretation be correct, I would have no other choice but to ask Bro. Nigel to clarify his intention by providing the historical role of the black middle class from the days when Guyana was a colony to when the same middle class was subjugated by the PNC and Forbes Burnham.
I would further emphasise that the likes of myself; PM Sam Hinds; Dr. Roger Luncheon; Minister Clement Rohee; Hon. Dr. Jennifer Westford; Minister Robeson Benn; Minister Jennifer Webster; Police Commissioner Henry Green; Chief of Staff Commodore Gary Best; Fire Chief Marlon Gentle; Director of Prisons Dale Erskine; the various permanent secretaries and ex-minister Henry Jeffrey cannot be seen in the context of timid Negroes.

NOTE:
The men and women I mentioned are persons of quality and have access to power and the authority to implement government policy without fear of being reprimanded.