Granger applauded on slavery reparations

Sep 25, 2019 Letters

DEAR EDITOR,

Many people I have been interacting with applaud President David Granger’s position on reparations for slavery in his speech before ACDA earlier this week. Some feel he should extend similar support for reparations for descendants of indentured slavery since the President‘s predecessors failed in that objective. Granger’s supporters are proud of the position their leader has taken on reparations. No leader of another party or group has similarly championed reparations for his people. Other groups (Portuguese, Chinese, etc.) who were victims of indentureship are without representation for reparations. It is noted, for example, that elected Indian leaders have failed their people. On this score, people feel Granger is a mile ahead.
President Granger has publicly and boldly come out in support of reparations for Africans for slavery experienced by their (and his own) ancestors. Granger is very nationalistic and proud of his roots and passionate about the issue of reparations. None of Granger’s predecessors displayed such courage and strength in publicly condemning slavery and or indentureship in seeking compensation for the human rights violations experienced by the ancestors of Africans. He speaks fearlessly on the issue and apologises to none on his views. He chastised Whites for lecturing him about lack of democracy but they refused to apologise for slavery. No Indo-Guyanese President can match Granger on this issue. Whites enslaved Africans and Granger seeks compensation for their dehumanising experience. Whites also enslaved Indians and no Indian Guyanese President or PM has sought compensation for the abuses. On this note, Granger stands out among Guyanese heads of government (or state) as his predecessors have not sought compensation for descendants of indentured labourers who also experienced some of the worst human rights abuses over the last couple hundred years.
Mr. Granger has not minced words on the issue of reparations. He has condemned ‘White Governments’ for demanding respect for democratic rule and human rights in Guyana while they are yet to apologise for slavery, which is among the worst abuses of human rights. Presidents Cheddi, Janet, Jagdeo, and Ramotar failed to take the kind of position adopted by Granger to advocate or support reparations for indentureship, which was also among the most dehumanising form of labour. Indentured servitude was described by scholars as another form of slavery and in some ways labourers were treated worse than slaves often denied rations and fees. Portuguese, Indians, and Chinese and some freed Africans were victims of indentureship. Amerindians became victims of both slavery and indentureship losing hundreds of thousands of lives and their land. They too deserve compensation but no one is championing their cause.
When the issue of reparations for slavery and forced labour was debated at Caricom summits less than a decade ago, President Donald Ramotar and Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar participated in the discussion and agreed for the establishment of a commission to pursue compensation. The two leaders were in an influential position to establish a similar commission for descendants of indentureship to seek reparations for Indians, Portuguese, Chinese, and Amerindians. But the two leaders failed to propose and promote reparations for victims of indentured slavery leaving activists to take up the cause on their own. Until now, no former leader has come out in support of demands for reparations for the victims of indentured slavery. They have failed the descendants of indentured labourers. Granger has been consistent in his demands that Africans deserve reparations. Indian leaders should emulate him. Granger is applauded for his position on reparation. He is urged to support compensation for the descendants of indentured servitude.

Yours truly,
Vishnu Bisram

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