Dear Editor,

I EXPRESS my thanks to co-organiser, Dr Vibert Cambridge for his reply to the concerns that I have raised. If his remarks are credible, then he must examine why Indo-Guyanese at home and abroad did not apply to participate in this international cultural folk symposium and festival. And why didn’t the organisers take a proactive approach towards ensuring diversity, inclusion and equality?

They should also seriously examine the ethnic composition of the organising committees to ensure inclusion and diversity. Therein lies the problem. The organisers are The University of Guyana; Moray House Trust; the Festival City 50th Anniversary Committee; The Caribbean Broadcasting Union; Guyana Speaks; The Guyana Cultural Association of New York, Inc., etc — all Afro-Guyanese-based organisations. There is no Indo-Guyanese-based organisation or institution among the collaborators.

I hate to say it, but this exclusion reminds us of the long history of marginalisation of Indo-Guyanese that is driven by race and politics. Dr Cambridge and his organising committee should be sensitive to diversity and should become pro-active in a quest towards inclusion and diversity. No ethnic group should be regarded or treated as a footnote.

Yours sincerely,

Lloyd Sharma