Dear Editor

WHAT is the objective of the group which called themselves ‘Guyanese Organisations’ Against Racism’ (GOAR)? Presumably, it has to be against all forms of racism and racist statements. The rally it held in Brooklyn was dubbed, Guyanese Organisations Against PPP Apartheid Governance, Racism and Injustice. However, this theme alone would suggest that it is not only anti-government but there is a deep-seated hate against its supporters who are deemed to be Indians. This is contrary to what the objectives of this organisation should have been, and that is to campaign against issues which promote racism and provide solutions to curb such racism.
According to Rickford Burke, co-chair of GOAR, “The events are to create awareness of the rapidly deteriorating political, social, economic situation in Guyana; pervasive racial injustice against African Guyanese and other non-supporters; the PPP misuse of the criminal justice system and Guyana Police Force as a vendetta hit squad against Black citizens.” This is baloney on a humongous scale.

The questions which these organisers need to answer truthfully and honestly are: What evidence is there to support the ‘deteriorating political, social, economic situation in Guyana’? Is there ‘pervasive racial injustice against African Guyanese and other non-supporters’? Is the PPP misusing the criminal justice system and the Guyana Police Force? The answer which immediately comes to mind is that these accusations levelled against the PPP were predominantly what the PNC unconscionably did for 28 years and what the Coalition replicated for another five years.
Under the Coalition from 2015 to 2020, Guyana was heading for another dictatorship. The Constitution was flouted by Granger on numerous occasions and the legal system was repeatedly vulgarised by spurious and vexatious litigations brought by the Coalition. Indo-Guyanese were made to pay dearly for supporting the PPP/C as was evidenced on many occasions when they were brutalised, robbed, sexually assaulted and raped during the PNC protests. Has this ever happened when the PPP and its supporters are involved in any protest action? The social costs were high when over 7,000 sugar workers were ‘thrown under the bus’.

Many communities were utterly devastated as thousands could not afford three square meals and many children dropped out of school. The Coalition went on a dismissal rampage and cared nothing about anyone. As thousands lost their jobs, many businesses closed their doors and many more persons were forced to join the breadline. What wrong did the sugar workers committed? They were deemed to be supporters of the PPP/C. That was their crime.
Let me give an instance of how the PPP Government is treating employment. Currently, both Indo and Afro-Guyanese are once again employed at the estates which were closed. I want GOAR to visit Rose Hall Estate, Skeldon and Enmore and check for racial discrimination. At Rose Hall Estate, persons are employed as they come, be it Indo or Afro-Guyanese. There is equal opportunity and this has been the hallmark of the Irfaan Ali’s Administration. GOAR and its organisers need to see the smiles on the face of all the races as they once again become wage earners and will once again live their lives with dignity and self-respect. What a shame that GOAR and the Coalition cannot even attempt to hide their destabilisation agenda as their lies and deceit are laid bare.

GOAR needs to understand that persons who are politically appointed stand to lose their jobs with a change of government. This is nothing new. In terms of wages and salaries, workers are far better off than under the Coalition, and this government continues to address the needs of the vulnerable groups of society even as employment continues to rise. Even in global rising of costs, the government has cushioned the negative impacts with tax-cutting measures and the giving of cash grant reliefs amounting to billions. What did the Coalition gave during its five years in government? In fact, everyone benefitted under this government and there is no consideration for race or political affiliation. On Monday, the President announced another $2.6 billion for vulnerable Guyanese. The people were starved for cash for five long years and now their pockets are filled again.

On the other hand, during its five-year tenure, the Coalition robbed and pilfered the Treasury and squandered like there is no tomorrow. GOAR should read the Auditor General’s Report and have first-hand knowledge about thievery and corruption. At the same time, US Congressman Hakeem Jeffries should not bring his honourable office to disrepute and infamy. The characteristics of such a person should be to display sober judgement and intellectual honesty when analysing issues. It is clear and evident that the Coalition attempted to rig the 2020 Elections on more than one occasion and this Congressman’s involvement to prove otherwise should be vigorously condemned by all.

In conclusion, it would seem that everyone and every organisation which stood to defend Guyana’s democracy must be made to disappear. According to President Ali, it is disappointing that so called ‘credible persons’ should say that the time is up for Ambassador Lynch and in the same breath they should also do the same for the OAS, CARICOM, and all the countries and organisations which ‘supported the efforts to have a democratic environment in Guyana and defeated the efforts of those who tried to rig the election and install themselves, undemocratically in the country’. Well, fact is that the time is up for the Coalition. It is indeed lamentable that GOAR and the Congressman should be involved in peddling lies, making deceitful statements and engaged in race-baiting in a foreign land. It is indeed deceitful, dishonorable and race-baiting.

Yours sincerely

Haseef Yusuf