~maintains call for shared governance to end racial division and political discord
THE African Cultural and Development Association (ACDA) has expressed its disappointment with the March 2020 electoral process which it believes has not alleviated the racial division and political discord in Guyana.
ACDA in a written statement on Wednesday said, “ACDA is disappointed that the [elections] did not result in the two major electoral parties agreeing on a serious definitive discussion on constitutional reform to end the pernicious winner-takes-all governance system that only results in deepening the racial fractures in our society.”
The organisation added that racial division has never been in the best interest of the Guyanese nation, but are cleverly used by politicians and foreign groups to exacerbate fears and distrust among the country’s people. This, ACDA stated, was more evident and virulent during the recently held March 2020 elections.
Additionally, the organisation noted that there was an array of international forces led by the U.S. and its ABCE allies against the Granger-led A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU-AFC) coalition government and disregard for clearly defined laws and guidelines of the electoral laws of Guyana.
ACDA has been on record since 1997 as calling for shared governance and the end to winner-takes- all elections.
The organisation maintains that this system will always lead to a crisis during the elections period, since the major ethnic groups understand that this system of governance gives the winner all and relegates the loser to the economic, social and political margins of the state.
Elections in Guyana are an ethnic census, the organisation said and they are now more convinced and committed to an organised struggle of the African community for constitutional reform and economic justice for the community.
“We call for urgent and decisive action to utilise the opportunity before our nation from the new oil wealth to address economic inequality affecting people of African descent. As a signatory of the U.N. International Decade for People of African Descent declaration during a time with heightened awareness that Black Lives Matter, Guyana must meet its responsibility.”
ACDA in its statement warned Guyanese to beware of ‘Greeks bearing gifts’ and not to believe that their equity in the development of Guyana would be matched by the foreign powers who have intervened most aggressively in the recent national elections.
“Most of them have never been throughout time, interested in the well-being of the people of Guyana. They will not change as they seek to reap the bounty of Guyana’s oil harvest and the opportunities that would be created for their own gain,” the organisation said.
