THE RACIAL DIVIDE

Apr 20, 2018 Letters

Dear Sir,
In this country scribes and columnist alike wail about this humongous racial divide that exists in this land. The problem, however, is that none of these columnists or scribes are prepared to point fingers. This racial divide that we have could not have materialized out of thin air.
Everything has a beginning or am I to understand that this is just one of life’s phenomena? Should we just blame the politicians, without actually checking the root? What part did we the people play?
Mr. Ralph Ramkarran sees it as the “root of all evil. A political victory is seen in purely ethnic terms.” Even though it is the root of all evil according to Mr Ramkarran he makes no suggestion as to how it can be healed.
Mr. Ian McDonald sees it as “the disruptive, unhealable, seemingly eternal antagonism between Indo Guyanese and Afro Guyanese.” So what is your suggestion Mr McDonald? What do we do to heal the unhealable?
Dr. Hinds says; ” It is no secret that the majority of African Guyanese and Indian Guyanese attitude to the PPP and PNC respectively is influenced by ethno-racial considerations.” He observed further, “Some would even accuse people like me of racism for daring to raise the issue of race.” Raising the issue of race, and not checking the core is an exercise in semantics.
I have often wondered if we could have a catharsis in this country; if we could have telling of the truth and nothing but the truth so help us God. Maybe then we will be able to face up to the many things that we have hidden including the racial divide and how it started. No one seems capable or willing to begin an investigation and let the chips fall where they may.
Was it always like this? Did we hate each other from the very beginning? How and when did this racial divide start? Who is responsible? Maybe Mr Ramkarran, who was a member of the PPP for ages can assist us.
How about Eusi Kwayana? Something had to have happened, to sever this relationship. What was it? What were the words or action taken that created this crisis; this crisis that is a festering sore that we cannot heal or not inclined to try?
Burnham and Jagan won a political victory in British Guiana in 1957, supported by Guyanese of different ethnicities. They then split because of differences. Was it the split that created this division? Surely if there was animosity it had to be political and not racial. Several Guyanese of different ethnicities went with Burnham as those who stayed with Jagan.
Could it be as humans we think in superior and inferior terms, be responsible for this division? Or is it a cultural thing that was seized upon by unscrupulous persons and used to our detriment?
If I am being naive I apologize. But maybe the scribes and columnist will divorce their attached souls and try to erase this hatred, by creating a real catharsis. I am suggesting however as Guyanese that we unearth this division, and live up to our motto as “one people one nation one destiny.”
Yours Faithfully
Milton Bruce

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