Dear Editor,
The report recently compiled to highlight alleged marginalisation of Afro-Guyanese is a sign of a new freedom in Guyana to examine thorny issues that continue to plague the country. It gives us the opportunity to examine and discuss openly what is true and what is not. I hope that the result is a thorough debate seeking to arrive at what the reality is, and to dispel ungrounded claims.
However, even more important for me as an Indo-Guyanese, is the need, now that a report has been done for Afro-Guyanese, for a similar compilation to address the state of Indians in the country; our fears, the violence perpetrated against our communities, the discrimination we face on a daily basis along racial, religious and cultural lines, and the feeling that even after 16 years of the PPP/Civic in government, we are still seen and treated as second-class citizens. During the colonial period we were third class. Under Burnham and the PNC we were second-class, assigned a status below the black governing class.
And now even though Guyana is a democracy and all its people should be treated fairly, Indians are still in this second-class status, effectively barred from participation in the armed forces, harassed daily in the other public service agencies, and living in fear of the invasion of our homes, our villages and our places of business.
These issues must also be examined, and appropriate remedies made.
Yours faithfully,
Mohan Singh
