Dear Editor,
There is a substantial difference between ‘African talks’ and an ‘African understanding’ of his reality in this country. While the ‘African talkers’ may even mean well there is a tendency to slip into demagogic simplicity. It seems that Modibo’s letter “The AFC must represent African interests all the way to Parliament” ( KN 07.11.28) is a classic reflection of that dilemma.
I had expected him to take issue with my mentioning that over 90% of AFC’s financing comes from the sophisticated Indo community, for he is probably not yet conscious that every viable political party in this country has or is being substantially financed by sections of the Indo community.
I also anticipated his response to reveal his motives, quality and breath of thinking. It is striking that he responded that “approximately 99% of the persons who voted for the AFC were from the Afro community”. Anyone who posits such an argument in the absence of scientific evidence, much less reasoning, is presenting malicious and absurd engagement of his intelligence.
For him to even persist in linking me to the AFC’s leadership, even though it has never been so, and I have so stated, is testimony of his motivations.
Further, that he could arrogate to himself the belief that Harry-Voglezon, Raphael Trotman, Sheila Holder, Cathy Hughes and David Patterson are “paid servants of these Indian financiers” attests to flawed reasoning at its highest, however plausible. Either he is underrating these individuals or overestimating his ability to judge.
The fact is, Guyana’s politics is more complex and intriguing than it appears. Things are not necessarily the way they appear. And things are not necessarily the way they do not appear. While there is a strong concentration of ethnic considerations in Guyanese politics, there are also strong subtle class, business, personal and other interests at work. What is most troubling is how these interests are intertwined in webs of deceptions and facade. It will take more than the Modibos and the AFC to disentangle the web. One paradox for example, is that while some PNC Afro-supporters were busy beating and robbing Indians during the protests a few years ago, it was Indian financing that was making refreshments available at Congress Place. Even Indians who were PNC members were beaten and their properties looted. This kind of aberration issues from logic as dysfunctional as Modibo’s. I remember Mr Vincent Alexander was so disturbed that he was publicly chiding the crowds for their recklessness.
It is a similar kind of reasoning that caused many in the Afro community to nickname Desmond Hoyte ‘Desmond Persaud’, since he attracted many Indians to him and facilitated them. How many Afro Guyanese were in the position to, or were willing to offer Hoyte the kind of assistance he needed at the time? Even those who were granted opportunities during the divestment period failed to collaborate and occupy the opportunities.
No Afro leader could function in a vacuum. Just as how the Indians know and invest in their interests the Afro community should do the same. If Mobido is genuinely concerned about African problems, and believes that there is a disproportionate ethnic influence in the AFC then common sense should dictate that he motivates the Afro community to invest more in the AFC. Money without labour is dead. Labour without money is also dead. In real politics people scarcely operate from a position of love but from interests. They do not have to love each other to marry their interests. What is fundamentally important is that they do not pursue their interests to the detriment of the other. You best protect your interest when you invest and participate in it.
Not even emancipation activities, which should be most important to the Afro community, are properly financed by the community, even though there are many Afro Guyanese with substantial resources both in and out of this country. Isn’t it troubling that ACDA had to ask the government for financial assistance to aid this year’s emancipation activities?
Look at what happens to the calypsonians, other artistes, artists and sports personalities for example. They all search for sponsorship from within the Indian community. Further, I say not.
Yours faithfully,
Lin-Jay Harry-Voglezon
