Dear Editor,
It is refreshing to see Africans’ proud public expressions and read of their contributions to Guyana and the world. I say, like a burning flame let it ignite other groups, since it presents opportunities to better understand, appreciate and respect each other.
I applaud Stabroek News’ editorial note to a letter written by B. Walker captioned “Rice as an industry was developed by the Indians” (07.03.01). If this is an indication of the journalism to follow in the letters columns then we may be entering a new dispensation and upping the bar on quality (truth and factual) writing towards a Guyana of peaceful co-existence.
I get the nagging impression that there are persons among us who are bent on stirring up racial agitation by spreading news that Africans and the Burnham PNC have not contributed positively to Guyana. Recent letters written by Emile Mervin and Lloyd King applying a forceful unbalanced approach, with no credible supporting claims or evidence, painted Mr Burnham a dictator. On the other hand, there was Quacy O. Softleigh’s letter (23/02/2007) loaded with evidence, that I had the opportunity to verify, which showed that Mr Burnham did some impressive things for Guyana. If, according to Mervin and King, Burnham was a dictator, it seems that this dictator has achieved significantly more for Guyana than any other Presidents to date. Did his success lie in his commitment to Guyana’s development, the quality of ministers around him, and/or his intellectual prowess?
I further notice B. Walker’s bid to discredit Africans as the original rice farmers in Guyana by writing that such farming is not that of an “industry”, which he claims Indians developed. According to the dictionary “industry” is defined as production, making, assembly and creation, among other descriptive words. So B. Walker, I say to you, let Africans have their due credit for assembling the rice industry in Guyana. It does not matter that it was cottage (small), medium or large scale. What matters is that according to the dictionary Africans were the original (created) rice producers in Guyana.
The fact that Africans started the rice industry in Guyana does not take anything away from Indians who have since sustained the industry. I am sure that Indians are proud of their contributions to Guyana and do not need to covet the kudos that rightfully belong to another.
Yours faithfully,
Navindra Persaud
