Dear Editor,
FORMER President Ramotar seems intent on proving that there is institutionalised racism against Indians, even if he has to use baseless and inciteful propaganda about Indians being targeted for, and susceptible to, discrimination at the recent Grade Six examinations.His most recent excursion was in response to a David Hinds’ retort, in which he sought to establish that there was, and is, systematic targeting of African-Guyanese who dare openly support the PPP.

I would be the first to admit that some African-Guyanese are not tolerant of their kin who openly support the PPP, and may even respond violently against such persons. But it appears to me that Ramotar will be the last to admit that there are Indo-Guyanese who react in like manner to Indians who show support for the PNC. His stance implies oblivion and denial of such a situation.

My experiences on this matter are very vivid. I recall my first visit, in the early 70s, to an Indian comrade on the Corentyne. As we (African-Guyanese PNC activists) entered his yard, many Indians from the precincts came onto their bridges and stared in our direction as if aliens had just touched down. Our comrade warned us that there would be serious, if not violent, repercussions for him for his act of entertaining African-Guyanese at his home. He even essayed what their course of action was likely to be.

What followed was the flooding and destruction of his rice crop. That was the recurrent cost he had to pay for associating with the PNC.

I remember late Headmaster Jagnandan of Canal Polder, whose house was destroyed by fire in the mid-seventies. His only sin was his open support for the PNC.

I also recall the Rupans, the Ramkeerat brothers, Lalbachan Lalbadadur etal, who had to flee their villages and seek refuge at Loo Creek because they joined the PNC.

The aforementioned are but a sample. Ramotar’s comrades were, and are, equal — if not worse — proponents of what he deems wrong and of which he accuses others. If he is sincere, his crusade should be to struggle against all such attitudes, rather than fuel the divide by pitting Indians against Africans.

One could well imagine how his message is delivered in closed fora and bottom house meetings if he has the gumption to make the public articulations that seem to be his contributions to trumping up Indian support and fostering racial antagonism and a polarised society.

Not to mention Jagdeo’s recent brazen statement about securing Indian votes at the recent local government elections.

A UG student leader once told me that he was told by a PPP activist that one was required to genuflect to Burnham when in his presence.

The aforementioned are but an iota of the various subliminal and not so subliminal racial antics of the PPP over the decades. The time has come for the nation to rise up in chorus against any group that continues to take the country down this dangerous path of ‘divide and rule’ and destruction.

To change the ‘divide and rule’ method may yet be our best manifestation of the Independence that Burnham and Jagan dreamt of, and for which they purportedly fought.
Regards,
VINCENT ALEXANDER