Call for President Granger to reach out

Aug 19, 2016 Letters

Dear Editor,

President Granger’s message to African Guyanese in celebration of Freedom Day is no better than former President Jagdeo’s message to East Indian Guyanese in Queens. These men have re-certified that they are both ethnic leaders in their essence. But what was shocking was that only one of these leaders who clearly messaged to their flock in poor taste, was called out by those in the the Office of the President.
Does President Granger understand how East Indians and Amerindians feel when he tells his flock that they alone were subject to ethnic discrimination? Has he ever been to a place along the Mahaica Creek where East Indians have suffered for years from flood under the PPP and today are facing open oppression from a PNC government, that uses the National Budget against them? Does he know how East Indians of Whim feel to see four siren vehicles pulling up in their village only for a big lady to collect pepper sauce and “achar” when these people do not even know where their next meal is coming from? Four vehicles for pepper sauce?
So when Prime Minister Nagamotoo chooses to attack one of the advocates and not both, I say he is biased because just like his President by not being honest. The PNC dominated government today is using coded messages to mentally empower its supporters and at the same time dis-empower other groups. That is wrong.
The main objectives of the International Decade for People of African Descent are as follows:
· Promote respect, protection and fulfillment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by people of African Descent. (So I ask President Granger what about the human rights of Amerindians, East Indians and other Guyanese?)
· Promote a greater knowledge of and respect for the diverse heritage, culture and contribution of people of African descent to the development of societies (So I ask President Granger what about the culture of the other people’s of Guyana?)
President Granger is walking on a very thin ice by talking about African inequality, and yet totally ignores the oppression handed down to all races by the PPP. The Amerindians suffered the most but yet the Granger government spends so little on projects to economically empower the hinterland people. Not only Africans suffered under the PPP, so to now look after certain villages like Mocha is not right. All villages need help.
In Guyana 30% cannot rule 100%. Other groups are people too and they too have rights to live in Guyana and rights to work in Guyana and rights to practice their culture in Guyana. Every week is another coded message from President Granger that he wants empowerment, but he says nothing about empowerment and that is plain wrong.
It is time for President Granger to actively build bridges, not with empty promises, but with real action. Failure to build these bridges will put President Granger on the wrong side of history and contribute to the further destruction of relationships between our people.
Jai (Harry) Lall

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