I am not a blind ‘clown’ performing in a circus of lies and oppression

May 03, 2011 Letters

Dear Editor,
A writer under the name Lancelot Hughes challenged me to provide unambiguous evidence to prove African Guyanese are marginalised and discriminated against by the PPP/C Government. His missive which found prominence in the government run newspapers, Guyana Chronice, which does not publish opinions of anyone critical of the government, was published 22/04/11, under the caption “Ogunseye’s “riot act” is the incorrect approach towards acquiring political office”.
Lancelot Hughes was replying to an article of mine published in the Kaieteur News a day earlier in which I posited that Ogunseye ‘riot act’ call was not without justification.
I could only assume Mr. Hughes was peeved at my very brief contribution on the subject at hand. If Mr. Hughes had asked me for evidence of things that he was not privy to, I would have been hesitant to question his motive and agenda.
Lancelot Hughes, it is the duty of you and your government to acknowledge the obvious and find urgent solutions, (you can begin with shared governance), to release African Guyanese from the stranglehold of poverty, marginalisation and discrimination. The die is cast.
Walter Rodney, Eusi Kwayana, David Hinds, Tacuma Ogunseye and many others fought against what was seen as the era of Burnham’s dictatorship. They felt the pain of Indians back then and fought valiantly in the trenches. Rodney is dead as a result of that struggle, I am told. I am 38 years old. I never knew Walter Rodney but Ronald Waddell I knew personally. Many who opposed Burnham’s dictatorship were imprisoned, including Ogunseye, I am told. I know Mark Benschop personally; hope you are getting my drift.
I attended a meeting in London, at the home of Guyanese author and heard Dr Rupert Roopnarine told a gathering of men and women who fought against Burnham’s dictatorship, that never before in the history of our nation that Africans have been relegated to the dustbins of poverty.
He said that under the PPP’s rule from 1992 to present, Africans have been completely excluded from the social and economic process.
He said that under Mr. Jagdeo rule it became overbearingly clear. Dr Rupert Roopnarine, composed, but with a painful expression on his face, earnestly pointed out that Indians owned everything in Guyana. He explained to the gathering that all the banks in Guyana is owned and run by Indians. Government contracts, major and smaller ones are given to to friend and cronies of Mr. Jagdeo.
He also pointed out that almost every single High Commissioner that are placed in ‘missions’ around the world to represent Guyana are Indo Guyanese.
Mr. Hughes, Dr Rupert Roopnarine is an Indo Guyanese that fought in the trenches alongside Dr Walter Rodney.
The evidence of which you seek is right before your eyes. It is insulting to ask me to provide such evidence. I will gladly submit that the evidence of marginalisation and discrimination of Africans have to the people of this nation by reputable media houses, politicians, activist, trade union leader and youth leaders. Most of all the people especially the majority of Africans in Guyana are living in that condition presently. You should ask them too.
Why would you ask me to prove with evidence things that are right before you eyes? I am not a blind clown in a circus, Mr. Hughes. I hope you are not.
Norman Browne

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