Don’t let the political elites keep us divided.

Jul 14, 2019 Letters

Dear Editor

It’s probably the most unfortunate situation to befall the Guyanese people and that is the real time watering down of our fundamental constitutional rights to freedom of speech and association.
We live in constant fear that any criticisms we make of either of these two parties will be held against us. Victimization seems to be the order of the day and I felt this personally as both parties historically have done this to me. And just recently I happened to make a few statements regarding my understanding of the NCM case before the CCJ , clarifying a point and I am told, Like you gone back home”, meaning back to the PPP. As soon as a black person criticizes the PPP you become PNC and vice versa. And if an Indian criticizes the PPP its Judas and vice versa. The other day I was told I was another Charrandas just because I made some minor criticisms of the present coalition Government.
Folks we do this to our selves. We deny each other the right to have a differing opinion, the right to belong to a different party, the party of our choice.
Look at how the leaders of the parties greet each other. Look at how they chat and discuss and smile with each other. We see this all the time but we on the other hand tear each other apart in defence of one party or the other.
The stark reality is that when the PPP was in power there was the huge element of nepotism and favoritism in sharing the national patrimony. Some of the same, though to a lesser extent takes place today. So while a few more Africans and a few more Indians are getting the bread, we the working people, the unemployed, the single parents who are getting the crumbs; who are down trodden are at each other’s throat.
We need to unite in our interest, working class interest. Remember the strike when the bauxite and sugar workers were together, they received 40% increase. Today, bauxite workers in problems and it’s Africans. Sugar workers in problems and it’s Indians. No! they are workers.
I want to conclude by saying this, regardless of which party is in power, a united working class would hold them accountable. A united working class would ensure they govern in the interest of all. Why are we fighting each other to ensure a small percentage of Africans or Indians get a big slice of the bread, instead of uniting and ensuring that the workers gets a fair share of the bread.
I want to suggest that from today each Indian and each African note how many times they have seen Indians helping Africans and Africans helping Indians. I want each of us to begin to appreciate our common economic interests.
Remember historically Indian and African workers have marched together and were killed together in defence of their mutual economic interests. Don’t let the political elites keep us divided.

Rajendra Bisessar
BSc Sociology, LLB

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