Guyana needs racial cohesion for political stability and to fast track development

Aug 14, 2021 Letters

Dear Editor,

In a multiracial society, it is not normal for any of the major racial groups to allow themselves to be subservient to another. I doubt that their ego and their honour and pride as a people would ever permit this. Hence, the political dominance of one group could cause deep resentment to simmer below the surface. And the volatile atmosphere created could be easily exploited by rogue elements in the dominated group for their own nefarious purposes. In order to prevent such events, it would be essential to have a political system, which would promote unity.
Based on the very bitter and traumatic experiences we have had in all of our past elections, it is clear that neither Africans nor Indians have any desire to be dominated by the other – hence our political dilemma. Our current political system is nothing but a recipe for discord and confrontation.
The political systems, which are appropriate to a homogenous society, may not be suitable to one with a diverse population, for example, like Guyana. Considering the many problems we have had in the past and continue to experience, could it be that something is fundamentally wrong with our political system?
Ours is a country where two deeply opposing racial groups vie for control of the Executive. In a homogenous society, the contesting parties would be indistinguishable to the population, thereby eliminating the racially divisive factor in the political equation. We are not a homogenous society. So if we desire political stability, it seems that we would have to fashion a system where there is no racial rivalry for control of the Executive. But unfortunately, we lack the creativity and open-mindedness required to make that happen.
Historically, I think our political problems could be traced to the split between Dr. Jagan and Mr. Burnham in the PPP, in 1955. However, the racial division between Africans and Indians came to the fore in 1957 when Mr. Sydney King (now Eusi Kwayana) left the PPP for the PNC. Africans and Indians then started to align themselves with these two parties, thereby creating a political gulf between the two races. What followed and continued to today, is the intense rivalry between the PPP and PNC, and thus Indians and Africans, to control the executive arm of government – the pinnacle of political power. And because our political system pits the two major races against each other, our elections have always been traumatic. This will not change as long as the current system exists. As a consequence, our motto of “One People One Nation One Destiny” is just a pie in the sky.
But are our leaders interested in racial unity and political stability? Or do they prefer to use their time and energy to throw dirt at each other, while we the people, who they pretend to represent, are being robbed of our national patrimony – our natural resources? It boggles the mind that two parties who have hardly agreed on anything of national importance, seem to find common ground in their refusal to pressure ExxonMobil for a fairer deal for the benefit of their people.
The previous government talked about social cohesion. But we all know that we don’t have a social problem. What we have is a racial problem. Politicians, it seems, delight in subterfuge, or is it that they are addicted to it? It is no secret that in the wider society, the appearance of racial tolerance is nothing but pretence. Below the surface, there is deep mistrust and even hostility on both sides of the racial divide. While in a multiracial society it is expected that there will be racial prejudice, does it have to be toxic?
As we know, in Guyana, performance of a party in government does not significantly influence electoral support. However, racial consideration does. Our leaders should stop pretending that this problem does not exist. Instead, they should do whatever it takes to promote RACIAL COHESION. This is what we need to move forward. Maybe for the next general election, the APNU+AFC should have someone of Indian descent be its presidential candidate. Likewise, the PPP/C should have someone of African descent.
It is said that “If there is no political stability in the country, you can’t expect production to take place, you can’t expect the right reforms to be implemented, therefore, you can’t expect fast economic growth”. It is hoped that our leaders pay attention.

Yours sincerely
Winston Richards

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Guyana needs racial cohesion for political stability and to fast track development

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