In current day Guyana, psychological wrongness is dangerous and suicidal

Nov 24, 2009 Letters

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Dear Editor,
I agree wholeheartedly with the sentiments of M. ST. Clair Morgan as expressed in the letter captioned “Mad Dogs and Dumpsites”.
One has to wonder about the twin motives behind locating that dumpsite in the community where it is at, and allowing it to be referenced by the name of a celebrated freedom fighter like Nelson Mandela.
Callous disregard for certain segments of the Guyanese Community, and personalities in whom, not only they but much of the world take pride, seem to be a cause célèbre for the current regime in power in Guyana. Insult to an international Icon, by associating his name with a stinking dumpsite and locating that dumpsite in a specific community, should be no surprise. Like our recent ancestors were wont to solemnly observe, “yo don’t see tings in broad daylight an den wait til nite to tek firestick fo go look for it”.
The discriminatory discrepancy in the allocation of funds to certain organisations, demonstrates the separate and unequal perspective that inundate the mindset of the real powers in the national administration.
The removal of subventions from Critchlow Labour College, an institution that is crucially involved in providing an opportunity for an advanced level of education to Guyanese who do not earn enough to pay for such education, represent another pillar in the separate and unequal foundation of the policies of the national administration. As one observes who is put where to head up crucial and powerful agencies and departments, it is impossible to ignore the blatant strategy in employ.
The deceitful assurances that all is well in our community that continuously emanate from local Pied Pipers of Hamlin are simply manifestations of mindsets too corrupted by negative stereotypes and “getting even” rationales. Examine any theatre, past or current, with the kinds of divisions that exist in Guyana and the shared patterns are too familiar and consistent to ignore, or to attribute to co-incidents.
We must strive to be a reflection of our National Motto. That is, a nation of people of diverse origins, but forged together into a national mutuality of purpose and destiny. In this pursuit, we should never be deterred from identifying and illuminating the obstacles, whether man made or otherwise, that is defeating to the achievement of that goal.
A letter writer recently opined that African Leadership in Guyana are inhibited by a psychology of wrongness, self imposed censorship of any action that might be discerned as pro-African. That is not a unique development, because historically it describes a psychological pattern in the thinking of black leadership, regardless of geography or other social differences.
The Pied Pipers of propaganda and disinformation in these theatres and situations have always enjoyed remarkable success in re-defining racism from hatred of another group, to manifestations of an African’s love and concern for his or her group. In Guyana it has come to mean that Anil Nandalall’s effused exhortations of his group’s passage from obscurity to where it is today while giving a speech at Leguan is okay.
However, and in contrast, Eric Phillips passionate appeal to Africans for a revival of cultural values that were lost in centuries of enslavement and decades of physical and mental compartmentalization, as a vehicle to improve their social, intellectual and economic existence, is not welcome. He was called upon by many who wrapped themselves comfortingly in the words of Nandalall, as they well should, to “explain what he meant by African Renaissance”.
Finally, when it is okay for one group to define their experiences under what they perceived to be the oppressive nature of Governance led by members of another group, but the reciprocal is intolerable, then what do we have? What we have is intolerance. What we have is unfettered hubris and arrogance. What we have is a society practicing a standard reminiscent of what obtained in George Orwell’s post revolution Animal Farm. What we have is a double standard. To the same extent that the members of one group are told that they do not understand what it was to live under 28 years of Governance by one political party in Guyana, so too is that observation relevant today. If your defining of your experiences is not intended to be a threat or offensive to me, then why is mine considered to be thus to you? When the Political Regime in any nation, regardless of its composition, feel it necessary to argue for equality under the Law for the worse among its group, but feel no compelling obligation to do likewise when the worse is outside of their group, that is a double standard. That is a manifestation of unequal justice. And when that forms part of a pattern that is recognizable in the national administration of a country, the self imposed impediment of “psychological wrongness” becomes dangerous and suicidal.
Robin Williams

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