—President Ali, PM Phillips condemn targeted attacks on Afro-Guyanese PPP/C supporters

WHILE condemning the desperate attacks on those People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Afro-Guyanese supporters, President Dr. Irfaan Ali declared that hate and discrimination has no place in Guyana.

Speaking at a public meeting in Eccles, East Bank Demerara (EBD), on Tuesday, both the President and Prime Minister Brigadier (ret’d) Mark Phillips blasted the opposition for stoking the flames of race-baiting.

Dr. Ali noted that the PPP/C has always endured all kinds of “propaganda and slander.”

As he spoke on how Afro-Guyanese PPP/C supporters   are being targeted with slander simply because they chose progress over division, President Ali asked: “Why must they be treated this way because they embrace the philosophy of one Guyana and a philosophy and a party that they believe can take this country forward.”

As he called for the nation to reject these elements, he firmly stated: “Race and hate and segregation has no place in a modern society and has no place in our Guyana today and tomorrow.”

The Prime Minister, while framing the attacks on Afro-Guyanese as a means of spreading hate and division, said, “They’re appealing to African Guyanese like myself. Once you decide that you gonna vote for the PPP/C because you want development to continue in Guyana, they try to call you all kinds of names, but I’m accustomed to being called all kinds of names, and I want every African Guyanese who decides to vote for the PPP/C to know that you made the right decision. You vote for development, you vote on issues, and you refuse to vote on race and that is what will develop Guyana.”

The Prime Minister emphasised that the PPP/C’s platform is centred on shared prosperity.

The Prime Minister cited the opposition’s recent attempt to galvanise support by intensifying what critics have described as the weaponisation of race-baiting, while fanning the flames of insecurities as a political strategy.

During an APNU public meeting in Plaisance on Sunday, former government minister Dr. Henry Jeffrey said that race-voting is acceptable.

He said: “The PPP is solidifying their own Indian base while they are telling your base, ‘Oh, voting race is bad.’ There is nothing bad about it. Racism is bad and it’s two different things. I can vote for Obama without being a racist.”

For a long time, the opposition has been accused of rallying Afro-Guyanese voters by framing PPP/C development initiatives as irrelevant to their communities, while subtly casting electoral support for the ruling party as self-sabotage.

Earlier this month, the APNU made disparaging remarks not only at former members and supporters, but also at those Afro-Guyanese who have not sworn blind loyalty to the APNU.

At a public meeting in Bareroot, East Coast Demerara, on Sunday night, APNU newcomer Eden Corbin and Working People’s Alliance’s (WPA) Co-Leader David Hinds led a scathing verbal assault against a number of former party executives, including attorney James Bond, former Region 10 Chairman Jermaine Figueira and former Member of Parliament Amanza Walton-Desir, all of whom have since broken ranks with the APNU.

Corbin branded these former members, calling them “stupid,” “clowns,” and “cochores” – the latter being a derogatory Guyanese slang implying betrayal or ‘sell-out’ behaviour.

Taking the stage after Corbin, Hinds applauded Corbin’s remarks and furthered the attacks with racialised messaging, reinforcing the narrative that Afro-Guyanese citizens should demonstrate unwavering loyalty to the APNU, which has historically had a majority Afro-Guyanese base.

“When I listened to the young man just now, I wanted to retire. I’m gonna kick back because I know the future is in good hands,” Hinds remarked.

In his speech, Hinds reiterated a divisive collectivist message, arguing that individual dissent within the Afro-Guyanese community undermines their historical struggle.

DISPARAGING REMARKS
Hinds is no stranger to making disparaging remarks against Afro-Guyanese, who exercise their democratic rights and do not swear blind loyalty to the APNU.

Earlier this year, Dr Hinds, known for his provocative commentary on race and politics, drew ire for using derogatory terms to insult African Guyanese who support the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C).

During a recent edition of his show, ‘Politics 101,’ Hinds opened the programme by insulting the dignity of Afro-Guyanese. He hurled a series of grotesque insults, such as referring to them as “lick bottoms” and “house slaves.”

He said: “And some of you lick a**, lick beet** Black people are running around the place [saying] ‘I am campaigning for the return of President Ali.’ Lick backside; that’s what y’all are. All of y’all.”

He then criticised Afro-Guyanese for not supporting the opposition’s black leaders, showing a clear indication that he believes persons should not vote on policies.

“Y’all prefer to lick somebody else’s a** and find everything that is wrong about black leaders.”

Further, he hinted at having leadership which is Afro-Guyanese, claiming that because Guyana is “racially divided,” one cannot discuss the best leaders without taking race into context.

Such insensitive remarks are not strange from the WPA as in 2023, one of its executive members, Tacuma Ogunseye, was released on $100,000 bail for attempting to incite racial hostility in Guyana.