What could have led to this auspicious occasion being slighted?

Dec 03, 2010 Letters

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Dear Editor,
Friday 19th November, the LEN Conference room in Linden, two world leading historians Professor Tony Martin and Dr. Kimani Nehusi, RDC Chairman, Mr. Mortimer Mingo, representatives of the business community, youth clubs, religious community, non-governmental organisations, school children and teachers, performing artistes and three media houses, the occasion, the Region Ten Organising Committee for The International Year of People of African Descent launching of its programme for the year. To date nothing has been published by any of the media houses which were present at the occasion. This non publishing raises a number of questions and points to the reason why the United Nations has seen it fit to “[Proclaim] the year beginning on January 1st 2011, the International Year for People of African Descent.”
What could have led to so auspicious an occasion being slighted with such disdain by the media houses present?  Could it be that the cancer of African marginalisation has attacked these media houses?  Or could it be just plain lack of awareness of the meaning to humanity of this proclamation by the United Nations?
Could it be just downright contempt for things African? Was it an inability to deal with the elevated aspiration of African people discussed in the proceedings? Is it evidence that “racism, its contemporary forms and manifestations, and xenophobia [have] gained, moral” acceptance in Guyana? Would the launching of any other ethnic activity have been treated this way?  Could it be that the African identity is so unimportant in Guyana?
The UN has settled the issues of African marginalisation not only here in Guyana, but world wide when, in the resolution which we are  giving effect to, it says that it makes the proclamation, “with a view to strengthening national actions and regional and international cooperation for the benefit of people of African descent in relation to their full enjoyment…their participation and integration in all political, economic, social and cultural aspects of society, and the promotion of a greater knowledge of and respect for their diverse heritage and culture;”.
This declaration of the UN, The International Year for People of African Descent has been influenced by the need to give effect to many declarations and prescriptions issued at the UN level. but which continue to be largely ignored.
For instance the UN World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance in article 34 of the conference’s declaration says, “We recognise that people of African descent have for centuries been victims of racism, racial discrimination and enslavement and of the denial by history of many of their rights,” and prescribes “… that they should be treated with fairness and respect for their dignity and should not suffer discrimination of any kind.
Recognition should therefore be given to their rights to culture and their own identity; to development in the context of their own aspirations and customs; to keep, maintain and foster their own forms of organisation, their mode of life, culture, traditions and religious expressions; to maintain and use their own languages; to the protection of their traditional knowledge and their cultural and artistic heritage; to the use, enjoyment and conservation of the natural renewable resources of their habitat and to active participation in the design, implementation and development of educational systems and programmes, including those of a specific and characteristic nature; and where applicable to their ancestrally inhabited land.”
The Conference prescribes the role of the media in such circumstances. In article 88 it says, “We recognise that the media should represent the diversity of a multicultural society and play a role in fighting racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.” It further speaks to the issue of community media in article 93 by saying, “We affirm that all States should recognise the importance of community media that give a voice to victims of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance…”  Whatever the answers are the questions in paragraph two about the non publication of the proceedings on Friday 19th indicates that the media has to be more enlightened and sensitive in its dealings with African affairs in Guyana.  The media here has abandoned its sacred responsibility of giving voice to the voiceless and acting as their watchdog.
Dr. Kimani Nehusi pointed out with great clarity and pinpoint focus the stigmatization of African identity, by the historical practice of African name changing to European and Arab naming to become acceptable to Christian and Muslim culture.
The Durban Declaration says, “We reaffirm that the stigmatization of people of different origins by acts or omissions of public authorities, institutions, the media, political parties or national or local organisations is not only an act of racial discrimination, but can also incite the recurrence of such acts.” Further the Declaration calls for the condemnation of such acts.
The media would have lost a great opportunity to give meaning to this vaunted human expression and opens itself to be accused of racial discrimination and just condemnation.
The Chairman of the Committee in revealing the committees plans for next year highlighted that. “The launching represents a broadening of the participation and widening of the public sensitization to the year 2011 being designated the International Year for People of African Descent.”
The role of the media in this respect is of immense importance as it is the most effective mass communication device available to the community. Many still do not believe that the United Nations has made such a declaration and much more are unaware.
At the launching, the issue of a Ministry of African Affairs was raised.  R.D.C. Chairman Mr.  Mortimer Mingo endorsed fully the committees call for the updating and implementation of the Region 10 Development Strategy as a part of the year’s activities.  Non implementation of this strategy from the expressions contained in the Durban Declaration can be construed as racial discrimination against a region whose populace is predominantly African.
This aberration reminds us of the need for, and leads to a call for the dismantling of the state monopoly of local broadcasting in Region 10 and the issuance of licences to persons desirous of broadcasting in the region.
Jonathan Adams

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