–PNC’s Figueira lashes out at party operatives
DEEMING it just “plain stupid,” Jermaine Figueira, a member of the People’s National Congress (PNC), on Saturday, flayed his party supporters who called for the boycott of Guyanese-owned businesses that engaged and welcomed President Dr Irfaan Ali during his recent visit to New York.
In a letter to the press, Figueira, who is also a sitting Member of Parliament (MP) for the opposition A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC), said Dr Ali’s visit to Brooklyn underscores the importance of engaging with diaspora communities and recognising their contributions to national development.
While not naming them, Figueira’s letter comes at a time when Mark Benschop and Rickford Burke’s organisation, Caribbean Guyana Institute for Democracy (CGID), openly called for the boycott of Guyanese-owned businesses in the diaspora that embraced the President.
The MP said that it is imperative for fellow Guyanese in the diaspora to reject such a boycott.
“Boycotting Guyanese businesses, “we own” people in a foreign land is just plain stupid. How is that going to achieve anything good? We have hundreds of foreign-owned supermarkets popping up in every part of Guyana and no Guyanese is calling for a boycott of their businesses so why the self-hate and intended hurt on ourselves?” Figueira argued.
He posited that there should be advocacy for dialogue and constructive engagement to address all grievances.
“The strength of any community lies in its diversity and unity. The Guyanese diaspora, comprising individuals of various ethnicities, backgrounds, and beliefs, embodies this diversity that makes us Guyanese, that makes us unique with the potential to be strong. Instead of fostering division through myopic and irrational foolishness, we must strive to build bridges that connect us and promote understanding and collaboration.”
He also noted that boycotting Guyanese-owned businesses not only hurts and undermines the economic livelihood of these individuals but also perpetuates division and animosity within the community.
According to the PNC member, boycotting Guyanese-owned businesses serves as a detriment to entrepreneurship, employment opportunities, and economic growth within the diaspora.
“These businesses are often the backbone of local economies, providing employment opportunities, goods, and services to the community especially our fellow Guyanese, giving them a piece of home. By supporting these businesses, we contribute to the economic prosperity of our fellow Guyanese and foster a sense of collective empowerment.
“Many Guyanese-owned businesses have overcome numerous challenges to establish themselves in their respective services in a foreign land. By patronising these businesses, we not only support their growth but also celebrate their achievements and contributions to the community,” the APNU MP said.
He further argued, “I say again, that the call for a boycott of Guyanese-owned businesses within the diaspora is misguided, self-destructive, and counterproductive. Instead of fostering division and animosity amongst ourselves, we must strive to build bridges that promote unity, dialogue, and collaboration.
“As we navigate the complexities of our shared history and collective aspirations, let us remember that it is through equitable distribution of resources and opportunities, bipartisanship on what is best for Guyana, having respect for the rule of law, unity, and solidarity, that we can achieve true prosperity and progress,” he said.
