-GACC

THE Guyanese American Chamber of Commerce (GACC) has condemned the attack by Opposition operatives who attempted to “unjustly punish” the innocent, Guyanese business owners in Brooklyn who simply embraced President, Dr Irfaan Ali, during his recent visit to New York.

Mark Benschop and Rickford Burke’s organisation, Caribbean Guyana Institute for Democracy (CGID), called for the boycott of Guyanese-owned businesses in the diaspora that embraced the President.

The GACC noted that micro and small businesses are the backbone of a nation’s economy and enterprises and are significant job creators that often provide employment opportunities to individuals who might otherwise struggle to find work.

“A call to boycott small businesses for baseless partisan political, ethnic, religious or any other reason is downright outrageous and the GACC urges the people of Brooklyn, New York to ignore these calls,” the statement noted.

The organisation further noted that Guyanese-owned businesses contribute to the cultural fabric by preserving and promoting Guyanese traditions and customs and fostering social connections and community cohesion by serving as gathering places and hubs for social interaction.

“The GACC condemns any effort undertaken to deny the Guyanese-owned businesses in New York this critical role.

“The GACC is of the firm belief that a boycott of small businesses merely for welcoming into their establishments elected officials, let alone a visiting Head-of-State from the country from which the owners of these businesses hail, and who clearly, as in this case, identify as Guyanese and/or Caribbean owned specialising in Guyanese/Caribbean fare, is unfair and unjust,” the GACC said.

The organisation added that people who continue to call for a boycott should show more responsibility by considering the possible harm it could do to businesses, their workers, and the community.

The GACC further stated, “The GACC wishes to reiterate its condemnation of this attempt to unjustly punish the Guyanese business owners in Brooklyn who displayed decency, good manners, and the traditional warm Guyanese hospitality by welcoming President Ali to their establishments.

“The GACC encourages all Caribbean-owned businesses to stand in solidarity with those that are subject to these calls for a boycott. Here in the Diaspora, it is through our collective Caribbean strength and unity that we are best able to effectively protect and promote our interest.”