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There continues to be resistance to racial unification
Dear Editor,
March 21 is set aside annually to observe International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination by the United Nations, in recognition of the day that 69 persons were killed by the police in Sharpeville, South Africa, as they peacefully demonstrated against the apartheid system in 1960. The struggles against racism and discrimination are a worldwide commitment to eliminating the affliction of racism that permeates every society, regardless of political or economic circumstances.
Although the apartheid system has been dismantled, racist laws and practices have been abolished in many countries, and an international framework for fighting racism was implemented- built on the United Nations’ International Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination of 1979-, there is continuous resistance to racial unification.
The Convention is an international commitment to forging togetherness, and removing intolerance that is imbedded in the structure of communities and societies. However, across the world, individuals continue to suffer the wrath, injustice, and stigma of racial discrimination, despite the significant breakthroughs with national laws and international treaties; despite the global outcries from affected communities and individuals.
The theme for this year’s observance is, ‘The Poison of Racism’. This speaks of the toxicity of discrimination, enslavement, and the horrific nature of colonialism, where the freedom to live life in dignity, equality, and justice, were sacrificed on the altar of nation building.
As Guyanese, we live in a country with diverse ethnic compositions and cultural proliferations. So, we should redouble our efforts, and set an example to eliminate the scourge of racial discrimination and segregation. We should also work assiduously to achieve unity of purpose and commitment to a common bond, where everyone coexists without the tentacles of racial discrimination hanging over us. This must be done in order to dismantle the ‘divide and conquer’ tendencies of mischievous elements within our society, since a variety of methods are utilized to discriminate in a de facto fashion, or explicitly in the law, be it through policies of racial segregation, disparate enforcement of laws, or disproportionate allocation of resources.
The Guyana Public Service Union has been consistent in its belief and actions that there is no room to itemize someone’s physical features/characteristics- something that one has no control over-, the uniqueness of our heritage, and to use these to cause strife, mischief and mayhem. Racism is an ‘age-old antic’ of people who possess low moral character, to institute hatred solely on a person’s ethnicity. Yet, as a union, we would be burying our heads in the sand, to say that racial discrimination does not exist in Guyana, particularly in the Public Service. Moreover, the Union, having recognized the veracity of this scourge within our midst, constitutionalized a Race Relations Committee in 1997 to build awareness, combat the doctrine of racism, educate, and promote peace and understanding. This was done in an effort to eradicate racism and racist tendencies in all its forms, and to build a world that is free and fair for everyone. The GPSU will continue to fight for dignity and equality for all. This must be the reality of every citizen of the world- to not rest until all are free to live their lives respectfully and with dignity.
Therefore, first and foremost, let us examine our actions and the negative impact of racism, and strive to disseminate a message on a daily basis, that racial discrimination must be eliminated. The just cause of our fore parents standing up to racial injustices must be upheld, and the current and future generations must be prepared to continue to demand equality for all.
Regards
Guyana Public Service Union
(There continues to be resistance to racial unification)
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