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APNU+AFC practising systemic racial, political discrimination —Gail Teixiera
In wake of the recent remarks by former President and Leader of the Parliamentary Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo, that the APNU-AFC government is maliciously targeting Indo-Guyanese, member of the People’s Progressive Party
PPP/C Member, Gail Teixiera
Civic Gail Teixiera is arguing that the APNU-AFC government is practising “Systemic Racial and Political Discrimination.”
Teixiera’s comment is in defence of Jagdeo’s statements which she believes are quite true. She added that this is not the first time that the PPP/C has reported on discrimination by the current administration.
Yesterday, at a press conference held at Freedom House, Teixiera presented several cases which she believes are concrete examples of what the government is being accused of. Teixiera provided a list of State Boards and for each, she stated how many members were of Indian descent.
Her conclusion was that, the minuscule representation of Indo-Guyanese on these Boards is evidential of a systemic approach by the government to ultimately rid these state entities of Indo-Guyanese.
She made reference to one occasion where Dr. Steve Surujbally was questioned on the composition of the election-day staff and the majority being of a specific ethnic group. He responded that the members were chosen based on qualification.
Teixiera said out, that such a response was highly racial since it alludes to the proposition that persons of other ethnic groups are incompetent.
The Member of Parliament went on to give another example citing the composition of the Boards of Guardians in Regions Two, Five and Six. She said that these Regions have a majority of Indians yet there is only one Indo-Guyanese named. It is insensitive, according to Teixiera to have such a dispensation in a country that is multi-ethnic.
Teixiera provided statistical data on the composition of State Boards, appointments of Ambassadors, HonoraryAdvisors and Presidential and Ministerial Advisors since the APNU-AFC coalition came to office 14 months ago.
Teixiera’s findings are that the Presidential Advisors are all APNU+AFC supporters and are of African descent. She was able to track down 12 Ministerial Advisors and recorded 11 being Afro-Guyanese while one is of mixed race.
On the case of the Honorary Ministerial Advisors, she reported that of the 33 persons, four are Indo-Guyanese. She said that an examination of the State Boards reveals a situation that is even more alarming.
Teixiera then referred to a July 2015 Gazette to provide information on the composition of the State Boards. She said that the dispensation shows discrimination and alienation of people of other ethnicities.
She said that on the Poor Law Commission there isn’t anyone from another ethnic group besides Afro-Guyanese.
GUYSUCO Board: two Indo-Guyanese out of nine members; GUYWA Board: two Indo-Guyanese, one mixed-race out of nine members; Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, three Indo-Guyanese out of seven members; Guyana Gaming Authority, one of four members is of Indian origin; Guyana Gold Board, no Indo-guyanese sits on the Board.
She said that there is no ethnic balance which permeates the Boards. She said that the Guyana Tourism Authority is probably the most racially balanced Board there is. Teixiera is of the belief that it is not surprising for persons of Indian descent and Amerindian ethnicity to feel alienated based on the dispensation recorded.
She said whether the government admits it or not, cases of ethnic and political discrimination are public knowledge.
According to Teixiera the words of her Opposition Leader have been their party’s position for quite some time now. She said that the government’s response to the statements made by comrade Jagdeo, was meant to intimidate the Opposition Leader to not speak about racial and political discrimination.
The government has since taken the position that Jagdeo’s statements are reprehensible and considers his actions as promoting divisions, discord and race hate.
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