Dear editor,

I HEARD the massive earth-shattering outcry a few days ago, where an Indo-Guyanese was caught on video mocking, making disparaging and stereotypical utterances about Afro-Guyanese. I took some time to reflect, not because of uncertainty about how to articulate my view, but moreso to give those who are crying foul now an opportunity to reflect on how hurtful it is to be discriminated against.

Before I state my position, I do feel compelled to first outline some basic principles for those who are now wallowing in self pity. In law, there is the concept of protected characteristics. They are called protected characteristics for obvious reasons; those with it are protected by law. These protected characteristics are: Age, disability (physical and mental), gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership, and pregnancy and maternity. To treat someone differently based on those protected characteristic is considered discrimination and is unlawful.

I went through this preamble to highlight what I see as a scorch in the Guyanese society. Many are happy to discriminate based on disability, and the entire country is quiet as nuclear-bombed Hiroshima in Japan. Folks can be discriminated based on their sexual orientation, and we all turn a blind eye. Discrimination based on marital status is as common as oil in the stabroek Block. If for a second you think I am confabulating, please permit me to highlight a few examples.

A few months ago, a young lady had a mental health crisis at UG. Many found it funny, and had it circulating on social media for the entertainment of those who need to find themselves a life. Did we hear a national uproar? What about a statement from UG? Yes, there was a statement! The A4 was as blank as a cheque a geriatric old fool would have given his young versatile lover.

I opened up about my mental health diagnosis a little over a year ago. By doing this, I left myself open to discrimination from a present presidential candidate, a government adviser, many of my Queen’s College batch mates, and many more. There is a certain UG lecturer with whom I have had many social media exchanges, whose hatred of homosexuals would make one believe that they have committed an unpardonable sin.

I sympathise with the homosexuals in that lecturer’s class. Where was UG and those who are now crying crocodile tears when this cold-hearted lecturer discriminated and continues to discriminates? Then there is a pastor in Linden who spends his entire Sunday sermons condemning homosexuals. It baffles the rational mind, or probably not that baffling after all, why he is so obsessed with what two grown men do in the privacy of their bedrooms. And we should not forget the obstetrician who chastises unmarried pregnant women who visit his clinic for medical attention. He, too, struggles to rid himself of his biblical hat on his secular working days. All those and many more discriminatory acts for years have been as conspicuous as the mid-afternoon sun’s rays, but we all viewed them with sunglasses.

Now this gentleman made a discrimatory statement on race, and all are awake. Recommended disciplinary actions are flowing like the Kaieteur Falls. He should be expelled. He should be suspended. He should be forced to do community service in Black communities. He should be forced to give a genuine apology. He should be banned from social media. Many who are presently crying their eyes out are aware of the examples of discrimination I have alluded to, since they, too, would have witnessed it and said nothing, but are now plastering their social media pages with the University of Guyana’s statement. It is not pleasing to their newly acquired exacting eyes.

It has not gone far enough. How far is far enough, may I ask? Labelling him a devil? As far as I’m concerned, you all should shut up and dry your eyes. You are a pack of hypocritical Pharisees. Racial discrimination is not the only form of discrimination. Discrimination has many demonic heads. Many of those cephalic presentations you witnessed but chose not to engage your vocal cords. Many who presently have tear-stained faces are guilty of discrimination themselves. Why are tears flowing from your eyes now? Simple.

Because you are now the victims. When it affected homosexuals, you ignored it. When it affected people with disability, you conveniently disabled your brain and tongue. When it affected unmarried pregnant women, your infertile thoughts had more pressing issues to address. Don’t cry now, because you are not going to get my sympathy.

What that lad said was unfortunate, but for me, I see it as timely. It is timely because it should open the eyes of the bigots of how painful discrimination is. Sometimes we only understand when we experience it ourselves. I trust this serves as a teachable lesson to all of Guyana. Do not discriminate. Do not condone discrimination. Defend those who are being discriminated against. One day, your day will come, and no one will be there to speak out for you.

First they came for the Communists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Communist

Then they came for the Socialists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Socialist

Then they came for the trade unionists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a trade unionist

Then they came for the Jews
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Jew

Then they came for me
And there was no one left
To speak out for me.

Regards,
Dr. Mark Devonish MBBS  MSc Med. Ed  FRCP(Edin)  FRCP(UK)
Consultant Acute Medicine 
Nottingham University Hospital
UK