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To equate reparations for the genocide of millions with Wismar is not the divisive path to follow

Mar 29, 2014 Letters

DEAR EDITOR,
Vassan Ramracha’s article “Reparations for slavery justifies equal reparations for Wismar massacre” (Kaieteur News 28 March) offers the reading public an interesting insight as to how entrepreneurs of his ilk will attempt to sully the reparations for indigenous genocide and African slavery debate. It highlights the “village politics” Prime Minister Ralph Gonzales spoke about when he addressed the CARICOM Repartions Commission in St. Vincent last September.
Given our mixed ethnicities and racial politics in Guyana, it was predictable Vassan Ramracha would offer the argument that equated slavery with every ethnic strife in Guyana. Hence he equates our Wismar tragedy with 400 years of indigenous and African genocide, rape, plunder and criminal enrichment. He equates the United Nations definition of chattel slavery as “a crime against humanity” with Wismar. What an inglorious and unconscionable stretch.
Vassan Ramracha would know European colonisers treated groups in Guyana with the same “divide and rule” mentality he is attempting to introduce into the Reparations debate. Contempt for Africans and Indigenous Peoples obtaining justice and reparations is his modus operandi.
Europeans practiced a “continuum of exploitation” in the Caribbean. First, Indigenous Peoples were decimated. Some traded with them and depended on them for their survival. After this initial exploitation including enslaving some groups, Europeans turned to Africa. They introduced chattel slavery and benefitted from 200 years of free labour in Guyana. After Emancipation, Indentured servants (Indian, Chinese, Portuguese, others) and especially with Indians, the “continuum of exploitation” continued.
Emancipation revealed the depths of the architecture of “divide and rule”. Freed Africans were forced to fend for their own. As they sought ways to economic survival, Africans ventured into Amerindian areas. This resulted in Africans and Amerindians coming into conflict. This was expected by the British as they had paid Amerindians to capture escaped Africans during slavery (Quamina was shot in his back) and flooded villages bought by Freed Africans. Divide and rule.
Indentured Indians arrived in 1838. The British underpaid Africans and created the atmosphere conducive to Indians and Africans seeing each other as competitors. Divide and rule again.
Vassan Ramracha’s indirect argument in his letter is there should be reparations for Indentureship. His entrepreneurial approach is understood by those who read his Letters to the Editor. The CARICOM Reparations Commission has discussed this issue at length as individuals in Trinidad, Guyana and Suriname have raised it in one guise or another.
Chattel slavery and Indigenous genocide were and are “crimes against humanity”. Criminal law is therefore where one seeks redress. Indentured Servants came to Guyana with contracts. And as Guyanese-born Emeritus Professor of History  Clem Seecharan pointed out in his recent speech at the Umana Yana entitled “The El Dorado Complex in the Shaping of Indo-Guyanese: A Revisionist Perspective”, Indians came voluntarily to Guyana.
No one denies the harsh treatment they received. But the law is different for slavery and Indigenous genocide versus a contract being broken. I understand there are Indo-Caribbean groups who have discussed a case for Indentureship using the appropriate legal strategy.
I hope Vassan Ramracha uses his entrepreneurial skills to advance the causes of justice and unity. To equate reparations for the genocide of millions of Indigenous People and African Slavery with Wismar is not the divisive path to follow.
Eric Phillips

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