A hunch does not amount to a statement of fact

Jan 29, 2011 Letters

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Dear Editor,
The letter captioned, “Mr. Ramjattan was not endeavouring to forward a sociological analysis of the Guyanese society”, (Kaieteur News, January 25, 2011), by one Ryan Panday, is very unfortunate.
Mr. Panday’s letter was a response to my earlier letter in which I deemed Mr. Ramjattan’s comments, at Bath Settlement, where he called on Indo-Guyanese to cease being afraid of Guyanese of African Descent, insensitive and ill-advised.
Mr. Panday, in his epistle of a response had the temerity to tell Guyanese that the AFC Presidential Candidate, “Mr. Ramjattan, was not endeavouring to forward a sociological analysis of the Guyanese society”, and therefore, he thinks that Ramjattan calling on Indo-Guyanese not to fear Afro Guyanese was an appropriate, well-advised and sensible call to make.
This response is an insult to the intelligence of the Guyanese people and indicates how some believe that important matters like these can be dealt with in this trivialized fashion.
I would be appalled to know that this position reflects the AFC’s views on the matter. If it is, it would only underscore the point I consistently make; that some who identify themselves as leaders in our society often refuse to take the time to ensure that their words and actions do not attract damning or unwarranted consequences.
To justify Ramjattan’s call by telling Guyanese that he did not intend to offer a sociological analysis of the Guyanese society underscores the insensitivity in his argument and non-issue he makes of the “don’t fear Afro -Guyanese” call.
One would imagine that any political leader or national leader, for that matter, who worth his or her salt would have good regard to both the sociological and psychological impact of their statements and actions.
This is particularly important when dealing with plural societies such as ours, especially if that country would have suffered a period of racial and ethnic strife a fact that Mr. Panday seems to understand so well.
So, Mr. Panday it would not have demand Mr. Ramjattan to do a sociological analysis of the historical basis of our society but rather that he, as a leader, would have exhibited an understanding and appreciations of these myths, perceptions, suspicions, reality etc, in order that his comments or actions not offer opportunities for a perpetuation of those unjustifiably awkward beliefs or perceptions.
It is time leaders take care to minimize the level of discord, which exist in the society and must therefore ensure that they do not augment or promote these fictional types, which have the potential to churn out serious repercussions.
The sad events which took place, recently, in Tucson Arizona in the United States which left six dead and many injured, including Congress Woman Gabrielle Giffords, has left the most powerful nation on earth talking about civil debates and imploring politicians to speak more responsibly.
Many claimed that the, alleged, shooter, Jared Lee Loughner, who caused the mayhem in Tucson might have been influenced by unguarded comments and actions by some on the far left in the political arena, whose actions and comments were described as insensitive and provocative and which lacks foresight.
In fact, months before the attack on her life the Congress woman was on national television speaking about Sarah Palin’s comments of “hitting the bull’s eye” and the action of placing ‘cross hairs’ (arrow and bows) on her district indicating that that is also one that must be ceased from the Democrats.
The conversation will go on as to whether the actions by Sarah Palin and others have motivated the shooter to act. We may never know the answer but what is clear is that there is a general consensus that ill-advised, misguided and short-sighted comments from our leaders can result in serious consequences, of which they themselves might not have taken time to acknowledge. Some claimed the shooter to be a psychopath who needed to have undergone some psychological evaluation a long time, others claimed that it is because psychopaths like these exist in societies that leaders should take care to speak and act responsibly.
Mr. Panday and his friends can behave like the ostrich and bury their heads in the sand the facts will not escape us.
His attempt to delve into all kinds of escape avenues to tell readers of what is inherent in the AFC’s manifesto is beyond the point and does not provide justification or excuse for the party’ s presidential candidate’s comments.
I am not on a mission to determine whether or not the AFC is a multi-racial party, whether the party has an affinity to Afro-Guyanese, to dispute the principles of the party, questions its constitution, or whether Mr. Ramjattan understands that Guyanese of all races have to work together for the greater good, those will be for the electorate to decide. My position is simple, his call was clearly irresponsible and lacks foresight, and as such, it has opened the door for all kinds of unhealthy debates, and raises a number of questions. Further, his call was premised on a dangerously lopsided perception, which may have the potential to attract serious consequences.
Ramjattan’s call also exposes a disposition on his part, which may inform his actions, and positions on certain matters related to these two race groups, and because his position is premised on perception, it follows that policies of his party may very well be based on perceptions and not reality, thereby unconscionably doing a great disservice to the people.
Finally, since Mr. Ramjattan seems so sure that the Indo-Guyanese is afraid of their Afro-Guyanese counterpart, it would be beneficial if Mr. Panday or his candidate identify the sources or causes of these so-called fears. Further, it would be good if Mr. Ramjattan or any of his defenders advance examples of this fear in work or existence.
To merely say there is this fear of one people for another without providing instances of this fear at work is to cling to a mere hunch, which has no relevance and therefore cannot be taken seriously. A hunch cannot be used as a basis for advancing a political position, especially when it deals with projecting an impression of a category of people.
In addition, how does Mr. Ramjattan know that the fear does not exist the other way around, just thinking! In this the year of General and Regional Elections, I call on us the citizens to be careful to examine the comments and actions of those of us on the political landscape, it is our responsibility to hold each and every one accountable, it is time we advance our call for a responsible and accountable government; it begins with an examination of all, none is excluded.
Lurlene Nestor

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