The freedom from chattel slavery African Guyanese enjoy today must be cherished

Aug 06, 2024 Letters

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Dear Editor,

The freedom from chattel slavery African Guyanese enjoy today must be cherished and defended at all costs. This freedom represents a right fought for over centuries by our ancestors. Had they given up we would have all been living in bondage today. That this hard-won freedom is not being allowed to thrive by the Jagdeo/Ali regime must be of concern to all self-respecting Africans.

Freedom does not represent the regime denying the African man, woman and child the right to economic, political, social and cultural self-determination. Freedom is not boasting that 88 million measly Guyana dollars were given to African groups to celebrate Emancipation even more so with the attached conditionality that the PPP leaders or representatives must attend the events. Freedom is not grudgingly giving African Guyanese low costs contracts to clean drains, build small bridges and parade the recipients like prized cattle.

Freedom is not denying IDPADA-G state funding to function in a manner that would empower African Guyanese then creating a rival organization that takes political directives and reduces Africans’ worth to frivolity by solely engaging in merriment. Freedom is not denying Critchlow Labour College state subvention in order that poor people won’t get a second chance for education, employment or to lift themselves out of poverty.  These contemptuous acts are not accident, but aimed to further the stereotype of the lazy African race, incapable of managing its own affairs, without business acumen, and deserving to be led.

Africans must take a stand now. Even more so in the oil and gas economy where everything is being skewed to favour of a few and leave the majority out. Africans must stand up, unashamedly, unapologetically and demand what’s rightly ours. We are no less deserving than those who are reaping the hog of the land.

Not because oil money is flowing must we accept President Ali and his cohorts using state privilege and resources to desecrate events Africans hold sacred.  Emancipation is one such. Many still shed tears in reflection of what their ancestors went through. The PPP leaders don’t get it. As a matter of fact, I don’t think they care to get it. Apart from the African leaders in their midst who don’t care, are the same people who seek to equate the horrors of chattel slavery to indentureship, and as Nandlall once flaunted, that they who arrived to Guyana as indentured servants are today kings and queens. African Guyanese do not share the same experiences and when our space is invaded without regard to our history or sensibilities it irks and hurts.

The Jagdeo/Ali regime is disrespectful. Had any national African leader on the Opposition side, including non-African, acted in similar manner to any other ethnic group on their special/sacred occasion it would have been resented and rightfully so. Because this is about respect and when we allow ourselves to be disrespected it does not say much about us.

Hopetown, West Coast Berbice, is a village of pride. My grandfather, John Thompson, was born and grew there. I recall fond memories and African pride coursing through my veins, visiting Hopetown as a child, listening to the stories of struggles and triumphs of a proud people. That pride remains.

During Emancipation many generations converge to reflect, rekindle and enjoy African culture. Some make special trips from abroad to be present at this time. This is a sacred time for the villagers whose freed ancestors bought this plantation shortly after slavery and converted it to a village. They were among the first to start the system of internal government. The Village Movement led to local, national and regional governments.

Africans today have one day in a calendar year to identify and be proud of their struggles for freedom. This charade by the regime of using state bands and employees to traverse the villages, giving the impression they care about Africans historical struggles and ongoing quest for betterment is nothing less than tomfoolery and window dressing. Their day-to-day management of the state says they do not care about the African well-being.

The regime is misinterpreting and abusing the nurtured value of Africans to be civil and welcoming to those who come into their space. Ours is a culture where we will give our bed to strangers that visit and lie on the floor. These are virtues not weaknesses and we must not allow anyone to think otherwise or take advantage of us.

Let me be among the first to admit that sometimes we do this to our detriment. Because what this regime wanted it got, that is, another photo opportunity. The regime will tell the world that all is well between and among ethnic groups, and it is not true it is engaging in ethnic triumphalism, exclusion, and economic genocide in the African community.

We must take a stand against the new form of trickery that is attempting to parade Africans to the public as content in their sufferings and willing to accept less when as a people they are entitled to significantly more as outlined and enshrined in universal declarations, the Constitution and Laws of Guyana.

While I accept that Africans are not monolithic in interests, we must accept that if we do not, or enough of us do not stand in unison for what is universally acceptable, there will be further erosion of freedoms and rights so many have given their lives for that unfortunately today many take for granted.

Make no mistake, whilst complacency is seeping in on the part of some, others are moving in haste to erode hard fought gains, parade some as undeserving and ill equip, as they shamelessly plunder the nation’s resources and trample on structures designed to ensure equal and equitable participation and respect for our fellowman. The Jagdeo/Ali regime does not hold these values in esteem and we must therefore fight to protect them for the good of all, for when one is affected all are affected.

Sincerely,

Lincoln Lewis

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• African, Critchlow Labour College, Freedom, Guyanese, Lincoln Lewis

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