Green warns Afro-Guyanese face “subtle re-enslavement”

Aug 01, 2026 News

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…urges reparations fund

(Kaieteur News) – Former Prime Minister and former Mayor of Georgetown, Hamilton Green, has warned that the descendants of enslaved Africans in Guyana face the danger of a “subtle form of re-enslavement,” arguing that economic inequality, historical ignorance and political complacency threaten to undo the gains won through centuries of struggle.

In an Emancipation Day message, Green said recent events in Guyana underscore the urgency of treating August 1 not merely as a celebration but as a call to action.

“As we observe the official end of the brutality of slavery in Guyana, there are ominous signs that the descendants of manumitted Africans face the real prospect of a subtle form of re-enslavement,” Green declared.

He argued that Afro-Guyanese must equip themselves through education, unity and an unwavering demand for justice if they are to avoid repeating the mistakes of history.

According to Green, slavery endured for centuries not only because of European colonial powers but also because some African leaders were seduced by material gain and collaborated with slave traders. He warned that a similar relationship is emerging in modern Guyana.

“The task for all of us is urgent and requires strength, determination, unity of action and sacrifice where necessary,” he said.

Green referenced the late Kenyan scholar Professor Ali Mazrui’s address marking the 150th anniversary of Emancipation, noting Mazrui’s observation that while Jews transformed the suffering of the Holocaust into both religious doctrine and political influence, Black people have neither fully institutionalised nor politically leveraged the legacy of slavery.

He said Afro-Guyanese must study their history if they are to overcome the enduring effects of slavery.

The former Prime Minister also renewed calls for reparatory justice, saying President Irfaan Ali should use Guyana’s unprecedented oil wealth to establish a national reparations fund dedicated to educational advancement and youth development.

“I expect… President Dr. Irfaan Mohamed Ali will announce that the Guyana Government will make a substantial contribution to the establishment of a reparation fund,” Green stated.

He insisted that reparations should not be trivialised because the scars of slavery remain unique and profound.

Green lamented what he described as the systematic erasure of African identity during slavery, noting that enslaved Africans were stripped of their names, culture and religious traditions upon arrival in the Americas.

He contrasted the preservation of Portuguese, Indian and Chinese family names in Guyana with Afro-Guyanese carrying surnames inherited from former slave owners or places associated with Britain’s slave trade.

Calling it one of slavery’s lasting tragedies, Green said many Afro-Guyanese remain disconnected from their ancestral roots.

He also expressed concern that some Guyanese of African descent continue to purchase skin-lightening products, describing the practice as evidence that “emancipation is incomplete.”

Green further warned that colonial strategies used to divide enslaved Africans remain evident today. He referred to the historical distinction between “house slaves” and “field slaves,” arguing that modern Guyana has developed a class of people whose loyalty lies with those in power rather than with the broader African community.

“Events in Guyana, particularly over the last few decades, suggest that this condition is well in place,” he said.

Green maintained that freedom has never been freely given but has always been won through sustained struggle. He urged Afro-Guyanese to understand both the history of oppression and what he described as continuing attempts by powerful interests to dominate Guyana’s vast natural resources.

“It was the constant uprisings and rebellions by the slaves that brought the European plantocracy to their senses, making slavery no longer a profitable venture,” he noted.

As part of what he described as a roadmap for genuine emancipation, Green called on political, religious and community leaders to place greater emphasis on teaching the history of the African struggle, fostering pride in the sacrifices of ancestors, and ensuring young people receive quality education to compete in a rapidly changing technological world.

He appealed to teachers, professionals and religious leaders to volunteer their time by mentoring at least one young person, saying such grassroots efforts could transform communities.

Green also challenged fathers to play a greater role in raising their children, arguing that absent fathers have contributed to family instability.

“Men must be part of genuine and sustainable emancipation,” he said.

Concluding his message, Green wished descendants of enslaved Africans “a thoughtful and action-oriented Emancipation,” urging them to see the challenges ahead not as burdens but as an opportunity to build a stronger future for generations to come.

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• Afro-Guyanese, enslaved Africans, Hamilton Green, re-enslavement

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