Dear Editor,
I MUST be “dotish” and “mentally unstable” to accept a word that comes from the mouth of Member of Parliament Amanza Walton-Desir.
Desir’s statement that was released to the public and media via facebook was full of “hogwash”. It is testimony that some members of APNU+AFC Coalition think all Guyanese as “fools” or persons that are “mentally retarded”.
The fact that Desir responded to the protests of right-thinking Guyanese, who called her out and reported her statements to the Ethnic Relations Commission, with nothing less than an unreserved apology is reprehensible and comical at the same time.
The more-holier-than-thou writers in the Coalition were asleep because I am sure they could have done something that is better than the “360” she did in her speech.
To see her struggling through the prepared speech, which was clearly written out for her, was painful as well as disdainful. Maybe, she was not comfortable saying the glowing words about “Indians” in Guyana. Maybe, she thought if she would have said it eloquently that all Guyanese would believe her and forget what she said and it would be business as usual.
But no. It was not a slip of the tongue or “misrepresentation” as she claimed. It stoked fear in me. That she would think it’s okay to speak that way because she is comfortable on David Hinds bandwagon where he is obsessed with the PPP is no doubt appalling and disrespectful.
And what Khemraj Ramjattan said or how he feels about what Desir said is in no way representative of how Guyanese feel about racism.
She was saying that the group she supports is superior to another group which she described as mentally lazy. Her tone, context and intent could not be easily mistaken and travel far above the heads of Guyanese which includes those in the opposition.
She is clearly in a really “Crazed” frenzy. Don’t put gloomy platitudes to us about the topic. We now know how you feel and why you feel the way you do. The opposition allowed this race-baiting and racial insensitive woman to speak for them. No defence or statement could undo the harm caused or indignity caused by what Desir said.
The government, which incidentally said it represents all Guyanese, should boycott this woman. She must learn that Guyanese take offence to this insult because we are “One People, One Nation and we have One Destiny”. Desir’s attempt to divide us now will not make the Coalition appear any more guilty than they already are.
Any rational Guyanese could not be made a fool of. The manipulation of this “Pontius Pilate-like” opposition parliamentarian is cowardly and dangerous to the quest for national unity, cohesion and governance.
A disservice that Desir did by her statements then and now has nothing to do with the PPP. It is in bad-taste. It is counter-productive. Amanza Walton-Desir should stop trying to pull the wool over our eyes. But we are seeing the vile statements of the opposition on race each time they make them on a live show whether it be on the traditional media or social media.
Don’t worry Amanza, Local Government Election is right around the turn. And memories don’t live like people do!
Yours truly,
Attiya Baksh
