Making yet another contribution to local research, Pro-Chancellor of the University of Guyana,  Dr. Prem Misir, launched his most recent book last Wednesday at the Cara Lodge Hotel, Quamina Street, Georgetown. The book, ‘Racial Ethnic Imbalance in Guyana Public Bureaucracies: The Tension between Exclusion and Representation’ was already being hailed by many as a timely work.
At the event, Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Guyana Dr. Emmanuel Cummings, who delivered the keynote address, lauded  the work saying that the time has come for us (Guyanese) to do our own writing, noting that too often we make reference to the work of foreign writers.
Cummings delivered an overview of the work pointing out the importance of specific chapters. Chapter one of the work examines poverty reduction, the explanation given by Misir that the fact that Guyana’s racial perceptions persist will push some racial groups to believe that there is a discriminatory distribution of rewards and that the rewards are competitive and scarce especially for the poor. Cummings noted that ‘Eradication of Poverty’ is an important aspect of our society, noting that it is also a Millennium Development Goal.
Cummings, quoting Misir, said the multiethnic nature of Guyana thrives on the perception that poverty could induce marginalization, on the basis of racial and ethnic discrimination, thus chapter two addresses the social construction of race-ethnic conflict.
Continuing, still referring to Misir’s notes, Cummings noted that inequality is the nemesis for achieving national unity and is a critical item for discriminatory practices and marginalization and so chapter three reviews the concepts of inequality and national unity within the Guyana Public Service.
The education system is also examined in the book. Cummings pointed out that historically the school system was a replica of ethnic imbalance, noting that chapter four describes the system to explain some precursors for possible marginalisation. Following, chapter five focuses on inclusion through the Secondary Schools Entrance Examination (SSEE) contributing to disadvantage and possible marginalisation.
Chaper seven shows the movement from a no-national housing policy in 1992 to the allocation of over 75 thousand house lots, a development which Cummings, quoting Misir, pointed out, “Intrinsically provides land for all ethnic groups”.
Chapter eight traces the  social and economic conditions in Colonial Guyana, described as horrific, to the current Ministry of Health’s National Health Sector Strategy (NHSS) 2008-2012, a strategy that is designed to implement access to quality and consumer friendly health services to all ethnic groups, inclusive of particular programmes for the disadvantaged.
Noting that many Guyanese may not understand the intricacies of power sharing, Cummings praised Misir for including the subject as a chapter in the work. He noted that chapter nine explores the rationality of power sharing and reviews political marginalisation, given the perennial perception of racial division in the society with its associated propositions of prejudice, discrimination and marginalization.
In the book Cummings notes, Misir discusses the four major assumptions of the study which were also outlined by the author himself at the event. These major assumptions were namely: that the PPP/C is a perceived Indian Government; that the PPP/C distribution of economic and social rewards is inequitable to the advantage of Indians and the disadvantage of other ethnic groups; that Guyana is a racially divided society; and that Africans in senior positions are tokens in the public sector.
Permanent Secretary at the Office of the President Mr. N.K Gopaul remarked at the launch that the issue of race is not often confronted in a “frontal” way, but that Misir has confronted the issue. “All of his work is based on serious academic research” he noted, noting that this should be the standard in all research.
Positing that serious academics must be prepared to do serious work, he noted that there was a paucity of same in Guyana and commended Misir for setting an example. Noting that the issue of race is not an easy one to write on, he suggested that the work be read by students and academics.
Pointing out that for too long we have utilised foreign theories to analyse what is wrong in Guyana, Gopaul threw out the challenge that students should examine existing theories in perspective.
Welcoming remarks and bios of the author were provided by Former Deputy Vice Chancellor of the University of Guyana, Mr. Tota Mangar who described Misir as a prolific researcher.
Dr. Misir is a Visiting Professor, University of the West Indies, St. Augustine- “Graduate Research Methods” and Anton de Kom University of Suriname. Member of PAHO/WHO Evaluation team: For Renewing Primary Health Care and PAHO/WHO Consultative team: CARICOM priorities for The proposed Regional Goals for Human Resources for Health, member of Global Fund /CCM.
He is the author of several books including: ‘The East Indian Diaspora’ (1993), ‘Work Commitment in Education’ (1995),‘Workers Participation in Management’ (1995), ‘Leader Behaviour and the Compliance Structure in Education: A Sociological Study of Ideology and Social Change in Guyana (1998), ‘Cultural Identity and Creolization in National Unity: The Multiethnic Caribbean’ (2006), ‘Ethnic Cleavage and Closure in the Caribbean Diaspora: Essays on Race, Ethnicity and Class’ (2007), ‘Political Mass Media- Racial Complex: A Collection of Papers’ (2008), ‘Racial Ethnic Balance in Guyana Public Bureaucracies: The tension between Exclusion and Representation’ (2010) and the forthcoming HIV/AIDS among High School Students in Guyana.