Disagree with Freddie that African Rights Activists have betrayed supporters

Feb 18, 2022 Letters

Dear Editor,

In recent columns (KN Feb. 17, 16, and earlier), Freddie Kissoon unfairly berated African rights activists for what he described as “their betrayal” in championing African causes but has not similarly castigated Indian rights activists for their failure to achieve goals or the PPP administration for betraying its supporters. During the coalition and past PNC administrations, Ministers of African origin championed their community. Which Minister of Indian origin under this PPP or all previous PPP or PNC administrations ever championed Indian culture?
African rights activists and the coalition have not betrayed their supporters. The coalition maximised resources to supporters. The same can’t be said of PPP. African rights activists have captured the attention of all governments. The same can’t be said of Indian rights activists. African activists have made demands from successive governments and backed up these with credible threats or actions if they were not met. They have a lot of achievements to show for their advocacy whereas Indian rights activists have nothing to show for their requests or demands. Their own government ignored or marginalised them.
The coalition doled out billions of dollars annually to African organisations to host cultural programs and to provide services to their communities. Past and present PPP governments hardly doled out funds to Indian organisations for programs. The coalition hired thousands of young Africans and utilised the services of African rights activists as advisors, consultants, and in high profile positions. The PPP terminated many of them. How many Indian rights activists has PPP hired and how much funding, if any, has the PPP given to Indian organisations to promote Indian culture?
Freddie is reminded that it was the coalition that gave several million dollars to Indian groups to observe the 100th anniversary of end of Indian indentureship in 2017. Indian organisations would be dishonest if they don’t recognise the generosity of the coalition towards Indian culture. And it was the coalition that gave funding for celebration of Indian Arrival Day in 2016 thru 2019. The PPP did not give funding to any Indian group to celebrate Indian Arrival Day. In fact, it is the PPP that refused to label the celebration Indian Arrival Day whereas the coalition recognised it for what it was. It was PPP that marginalised Indian groups that sought to promote Indian culture. Which government decimated the Guyana Indian Heritage Association (GIHA) for advocating Indian culture and other causes?
The coalition gave $1million annually to Swami school (SVN) on West Coast. The PPP government never gave a donation to SVN or to the Swami school (Hindu College) at Cove and John. President Granger annually graced SVN on invitation for graduation ceremonies. Coalition government Ministers of African origin attended Indian events when invited. Do PPP Ministers of Indian origin attend Indian cultural events? President Irfaan Ali declined the invitation last week to attend SVN graduation ceremony. Education Minister Priya Manickchand also ducked the event. Yet Indian rights activists and PPP supporters were critical of Swami Aksharananda for inviting President Granger to his school.
In recent missives over the last month, Indian rights activists called for fair and accurate portrayal of Indians in the Atlantic Series school books published by the Ministry of Education. Has the Education Minister reached out to any of the Indian rights activists on addressing the problem? I can assure Freddie and the public that no corrective measures will be taken in the books and no resources will be committed to Indian rights activists or Indian organisations. The Indian rights activists have a better chance of getting their programes implemented under a coalition government. The coalition and African rights activists have not betrayed supporters. They did well with the limited resources available. Their Indian counterparts have not done better.

Yours truly,
Edward Burrowes

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