Demand for apology and goat stealing

May 08, 2021 Letters

DEAR EDITOR,

I write to comment on Lincoln Lewis’ request for an apology (May 6) on the President’s faux pas on indentureship (May 5), the President’s expression of regret (May 7) and the police inaction on ‘goats stealing’ by car bandits (May 6).
Lewis’ statement needs edification as not all Africans came to Guiana as slaves. Ravi Dev is right (KN May 7) that many Africans came as indentured servants like Indians and contributed to the undermining of labour bargaining of freed slaves. Nevertheless, a presidential correction was in order and Dr. Ali is applauded for tendering one, an act that displays his political maturity. The President must be commended.
The President’s Arrival Day message did not mean to offend when he stated that all groups came to Guyana to improve their economic lot. Indeed, all the ethnic groups, except indigent Amerindians, most but not all Africans and almost all Indians, fall into that category. The President could not have meant African ‘chattel slaves.’ Many Africans came as indentured labourers. And many Indians were captured (not recruited) by arkatiyas (recruiters) set up by the British and brought to the colonial territories as indentured labourers. Those Indians did not come voluntarily to improve their economic lot. Political prisoners in India, opposed to British rule, were also forcibly expelled abroad as indentured labourers after the Mutiny of 1857. These prisoners had no choice in determining their economic condition, and as such, they did not make the journey to improve their economic condition; not even compensation for time served. It is noted that Lincoln Lewis demanded a correction of the President’s statement that Africans came to improve their economic lot, but not a correction or apology for those Indians who were forcibly brought to British Guiana to work (for free) to enrich plantation owners.
It is recorded history that Africans were brought as ‘chattel slaves,’ a dehumanising experience, to Guiana and the rest of the New World. A large number of Africans were brought to British Guiana as indentured labourers (from Brazil, West Indies and Africa) to improve their economic lot long before Indians, undermining the wages of freed slaves. Portuguese, Indians and Chinese came as indentured labourers; many Indians were captured, taken to holding depots and forced unto ships heading to Guiana and elsewhere as indentured labourers. Virtually all of the Indians who came of their own free will were deceived about the conditions and expectations in the colonial territories. A very small number of Indians came as free agents or casual migrants (for business and or other purposes). Those who voluntarily signed up to undertake the three months ship journey did so based on the information provided to them of going to work in places filled with gold, milk, honey, etc. Making that journey cannot be construed as of one’s own free will. They were ‘constructively captured’ and endured slave like conditions.
I applaud the President for his maturity in acknowledging his error. An apology was demanded by Lewis and he issued one. How many politicians have issued apologies for their errors? It is noted that Lewis demanded a retraction and apology from the President for his faux pas but he has not demanded same from Amanza Walton-Desir for describing Indians as mentally lazy.
On stealing goats, the evidence was very clear from the news report that two goats were taken into a vehicle for which the number plate was provided. The police must act on that evidence. The owner (driver) of the vehicle has to account for the missing goats unless said vehicle was stolen and used to commit the crime. The news report made reference to a previous incident of goats being stolen using a vehicle. The police intercepted that vehicle but no goats were found, and he was let go and no charge filed, no investigation conducted. The driver of the vehicle should have been held to account for the goats. The Police Commissioner, Attorney General and Public Prosecutor, should launch an investigation into both incidents in which evidence of a crime (larceny) committed was provided to the police. People reading about these incidents consider the police and the legal authorities as ‘jokey.’

Yours truly,
Vishnu Bisram

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