PPP/C Administration does not discriminate and is not racist

Oct 23, 2022 Letters

Dear Editor,

Reference is made to a letter published on October 20, 2022, under the headline “What does being Afro-Guyanese, proud, and PPP really mean?” written by Sherwood Lowe.

The questions, he asked, in his missive do not deserve a response from Prime Minister Brigadier Mark Phillips because they appear petty. They deserve a response from any critical, open-minded and objective Guyanese who is up-to-date with current affairs, and the happenings in terms of governance, government, and common political party policies.

I wish to state that everyone should be able to freely choose the political party they wish to support and/or represent, without fear of malice, lambasting, and derogatory terms being attached to their choice.

Firstly, the PM does not stand “on guard, constantly vigilant, reversing any acts or decisions by the PPP that deny equal respect and equal access to opportunities for all”. PM Phillips has no need to because they are no instances of racism, that I can point to, practised by the PPP Administration either internally or externally towards the people of Guyana, more specifically the Afro-Guyanese as a group. That is Lowe’s imagination at work, and playing games with him because every single opportunity reaches all the people of Guyana via the same means.

For example, the ‘Because We Care’ Cash Grant is for all school-aged students and reaches every administrative Region in Guyana even Regions Four, Seven and Ten. I challenge Lowe to point out where that one group is being favoured at the expense of another on this policy initiative.

Furthermore, cash grants distributed to pensioners, disabled communities and children, Amerindians, fishermen and farmers are all equal opportunity policy measures. The PPP Administration’s policy is not clandestine but clear for all to see.

Secondly, Lowe would have been aware that it was the Prime Minister who spearheaded a cabinet outreach to the community of Buxton on July 4; he would have seen the Prime Minister himself interacting with, listening to, and addressing the concerns of residents who were majorly Afro-Guyanese. Thirdly, the PM does not need to call up a single Minister to ensure that funding for all RDCs and NDCs is devoid of political and ethnic considerations. He knows that the law is followed to its letter and spirit.

Fourthly, if Lowe really wanted answers concerning the Prime Minister’s advocacy for unity and inclusivity, I am positive that he would have stumbled upon the Prime Minister’s visit to Golden Grove, which were also mostly of African descent. Fifthly, this PPP/C Administration appears to not be satisfied with the documents and explanation put forward by the IDPADA-G grouping. I feel the issue is not one of discrimination or racism never mind the fact that some of its principals are allegedly accused of being racists and African Supremacists like Vincent Alexander and Dr. Norman Ng-A-Qui.It has to do with accountability and transparency as well as making sure that the money is spent on the African Guyanese and not for funding opposition political groups or elements.

The people are now fully aware of the gross fiscal mismanagement which took place within the hierarchy of the organization. Why has Lowe not directed his Afro-centric advocacy towards the organizational heads who, under their stewardship, spent a minuscule 0.34 percent of the $100M subvention on grants to ordinary Afro-Guyanese? There are people of African Descent or Afro-Guyanese at all levels of the party who would not see a policy that is potentially being carried out in a discriminatory and racist manner and not say something or object to it. These are questions that Guyanese must first ask themselves before allowing functionaries like Lowe to corrupt and disorient their way of thinking with vacuous propositions.

Finally, Lowe’s letter has a certain racist and political undertone. It is aimed at pulling the PM and PPP into a divisive and ethnic debate when he is consumed by the ‘One Guyana’ mantra and Commission that seeks to promote unity and togetherness among all groups of the country.

In Guyana, governed by the PPP/C, the colour of one’s skin is not important to how the leadership sees development and distributes resources. Similarly, political affiliation does not matter.

Yours truly,

Michael Younge

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