Dear Editor
I WAS more than pleased to hear President David Granger’s call for a forum to ensure that there is consultation to achieve the objectives of the International Decade for People of African Descent.Prior to that call, the questions: why there was no national launch of the Decade, and why Guyana was not observing it, were constantly put to me. These questions, for which I had no answers, prompted me to do some fact-finding. In 2014, the United Nations declared the period January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2024 the “International Decade for People of African Descent” under the theme: ‘People of African descent: recognition, justice and development.”

Specifically, the Decade focuses on three main areas, two of which are: strengthening national, regional and international action and cooperation in relation to the full enjoyment of economic, social, cultural, civil and political rights by people of African descent; and, promoting greater knowledge of, and respect for, the diverse heritage, culture and contribution to the development of societies by people of African descent.

A Working Group of more than 60 countries was set up with a mandate to craft a programme of activities for the Decade. Guyana’s hemispheric neighbours – Brazil, Venezuela, and Jamaica, to name a few – were represented in the Inter-governmental Group, but Guyana did not send a representative to that Group, which was formed in 2013 to fructify the proclamation of the UN General Assembly.

For reasons undisclosed to the public, nothing from Government level was said or done about the Decade from January 2015 to July 2016, a period of twenty months. President Granger’s reminder on Sunday that the clock is ticking on the Decade is about the best Guyana has done so far.

If we assess what past UN Decades have achieved, Guyana would be somewhat ashamed for not embracing the Decade in question. The ‘Decade of the World’s Indigenous Peoples’ (1994 -2004) succeeded in moving indigenous rights and land issues from topics low on national agendas to priority items on the agenda of world fora.

The Decade for Human Rights Education (1995-2005) resulted in the pushing of the frontiers on human rights. In the ‘Decade to Roll Back Malaria in Developing Countries, particularly in Africa’ (2001-2010), the number of cases of the vector-borne disease was reduced appreciably.

It is time for Guyana to plan for, and have, a national launch of this Decade for People of African Descent. The relevant Government departments, the private sector, NGOs, civil society, educational institutions, and religious organisations should come together to brainstorm and prepare a national plan for the observance of the Decade for People of African Descent.

Regards,
LENNOX CORNETTE