The nation must frontally address this racial problem

Dec 04, 2011 Letters

Dear Editor,
Going by GECOM’s publication of the results of the National and Regional Elections one element that stands out is that the majority of the electorate has leaned heavily for and in favour of the candidate based on their racial identity.
It is clear that race remains a major reason for voting in our multi-racial society. What the voters have done cannot be considered wrong given the fact that they have exercised their fundamental right, guaranteed in UN Universal Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and Article 147 of the Guyana Constitution, which protects the right to self determination through freedom of association.
What however remains a burning issue, and which this nation must forthwith take the bull by the horns and frontally address, is the political pre-disposition to deny others what’s rightly theirs because they do not hold the reins of executive power.
Another issue we face in the divisive race politics is that while the conflicts are more manifested between Africans and Indians, the right of other racial groups to aspire to the country’s highest office, by virtue of the Constitution that so protects this aspiration, has either been ignored or seen in the demonstrated contempt for these groups’ pursuit for self determination through constant imposition in various forms.
No race has a monopoly on governance in a multiracial society, be it the major race or the minor of minors. And this must be reflected in the day to day management of this country.
Governance is the day to day management of the business of all the people and has to be considered as a major factor in the determination of the results, since the results can be interpreted as a strong signal by the electorate who they have put the confidence in to represent their interest.
In fact what we have experienced over a number of years is a culture which says that regardless of whom you elect as your leaders the government would ignore your elected representatives and dictate to you regardless of the circumstances.
And this is what makes a farce of democracy in this society because democracy is not only one man one vote, declaring election free and fair, but moreso it is the day to day governance of the society that takes on board the rights of every citizen and the upholding of the law for every citizen.
Government must therefore be held accountable by all citizens and the resources of the nation protected and managed in interest of all.
This is what democracy is and it continues to elude us as dominant forces continue to use race as a wedge rather than a unifier as they ignore the cries of others for equality. In the creation of a just society these factors cannot and must not be ignored.
Behind this backdrop the utterance of Robert Persaud on the results and his attack on the traditional PPP support base for their apathy in ensuring democracy prevails with the party’s continued dominance in the parliament, especially given the PPP’s record of poor governance, reflects an insidious interpretation of democracy based on Indian dominance.
This is a classic definition of racism. For Persaud and the PPP democracy is at the expense of all citizens in the management and enjoyment of the nation’s resources which is theirs by right, regardless of whom is supported, who wins, whether persons voted or not.
Persons have also used the position articulated by the major representatives in the diplomatic community which cited race-based politics as a hindrance to our country’s development as a front to continue the inequity and rights violation.
It should be said that given diplomatic speak in effect what this community has been saying is that we are failing to address the interests of all the racial groups as it should be in keeping with universal declarations that in their respective multiracial societies they are also bound by, and of which their citizens struggle daily to uphold, and hold accountable those who violate these sacred tenets.
Unfortunately for us the privilege given to a party to govern because of its plurality in votes won on racial association has been used as justification to deny other races, dictate to them, and shut their leaders out of decision making on their behalf. The time is now when this nation must forthwith take the bull by the horns and frontally address this racial problem consistent with universal declarations and constitutional guarantees.
Lincoln Lewis

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