We must secure our nation’s destiny in unity

May 21, 2010 Letters

Dear Editor,
My trip to Guyana last November reminded me that there may still be hope for a united Guyana where younger Indians and Blacks can take a stand and save our country. While the race card is used by politicians in government to secure Indian votes, which has seen success at previous general elections, we must be reminded that racial division in Guyana is politically motivated. Therein, lies the failure of the PPP at the next general elections.
The PPP, has no intention of liberating poor Indians, and there are many, as many as blacks, in Guyana. It is the destitute state of the majority comprising Indians and Africans that will permanently remove the facade of race based voting in Guyana, come 2011. For reasons unknown to me I encountered problems on my grief stricken journey home. I travelled on an emergency travel document because my passport had expired and there were not any books available at the Guyana High Commission in London.
I disembarked the Virgin Atlantic flight in Barbados, where I had to be in-transit, for six hours. For six hour I was detained in a cell at the airport by immigration authorities. For six hours I shared a cell with a Guyanese woman and her six-year-old son. They were being deported. The child had a Bajan accent. Four Jamaicans who were detained for being on a party boat where drugs and guns were found were also in the ‘airport lockup’. I was entitled to one phone call. I refused it. I asked why I was being held in a cell and was told by airport security that I had to stay there until my plane was ready to leave for Guyana. I protested and would have kicked the electronically locked door open, but was warned I would be taken to the police station and would miss my flight. It didn’t matter to me, but good sense prevailed and I was reminded that my mother was waiting for me to pay my last respect on the final journey to her ancestral mansion. I humbled myself.
The woman with the child told me not to worry because that was how Guyanese were treated in Barbados. She explained that Guyanese Indians were treated worse over there. She said there were more Indians than Blacks from Guyana living illegally in Barbados and were facing so much hardship and disrespect. Tears came to my eyes when she uttered, they had to help each other as Guyanese. When the odds are against us and survival comes first, we band together regardless of ethnicity. In another country that has no respect for Guyana; a country or island that only sees us as Guyanese running from our own land to etch out a living because hardship and poverty were the returns for the votes we gave to the PPP. Other islands will continue to disrespect us because our government sets the precedent of us being disrespected.
A small and privileged clique of persons live like kings and queens, sending their children and families for holiday to London, America and Canada. They are the friends, business associates and those in government. We must wake up from that horrible dream and remove the Jagdeo government come 2011.
We cannot be a Guyana moving forward in division. We must secure our nation’s destiny in unity. The cracks of racism apparent on the foundation of Guyana, is because of bad political architecture. Those cracks must be re-plastered by the colourless hands of downtrodden Guyanese. It is the only hope we have, our future must be moulded in unity. If this is not the saving grace, then we might as well separate. But separation is what those in power will promote. Division is used to keep us in the empire state of mind. Our colonial masters have returned and they look like us. They are housed in Freedom House and Congress Place. We have to fight for the new independence. Until then we must see the indicators popping up. Poor Indians, Blacks and Amerindians must walk hand in hand through the streets of Guyana in protest. Let no one tell you we cannot. Let no one tell you that it will be violent. They are afraid to see that unity because it signals the end of their oppressive reign.
Norman Browne

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