Dear Editor,
When those writing and speaking on behalf of African Guyanese accuse the ruling administration of marginalization, invariably they are screamed at to provide proof. But how can the kind of proof necessary to substantiate these kinds of claims be produced in a society without, and obviously scared of, a freedom of information statute that would allow independent scrutiny of all aspects of data associated with the operations of Government. Surely they jest.
The US has a history of marginalizing and discriminating against several demographic groups. But these groups are able to seek redress by producing evidence compliments of robust freedom of information statutes that allow access to all but the most sensitive security information. And this is how it should be in every society laying claims to democratic credentials. It is kind of facetious to ask people to produce evidence one is aware and assured they have no access to, isn’t it?
There are different kinds, or facets if you will, of marginalization. And historical marginalization, that is, deliberately ignoring the contributions and accomplishments of people because they belong to a particular ethnic or social grouping, is about the most hideous and wicked. As I recall, this was one of the conspicuous arguments put forth by activists for the inclusion of a holiday in the Guyana slate of holidays, in recognition of the arrival and contribution of our Indian brothers and sisters to our dear native land. I find it strange and ironic, therefore, that the ceremony welcoming the return of Carifesta to Guyana, studiously ignored the contribution of the late Linden Forbes Samson Burnham, in bringing this Caribbean Cultural Festival to Guyana in the first instance.
The marginalization of Africans and others in European and American historical narratives by ignoring their contributions and accomplishments to and in our world, is a well established reality. For example, very little is written about the Chinese labour force contribution to the development of the American Railway. Or the multiple contributions pioneered by African Americans, whether in transportation as occurred with the invention of the modern traffic signal by Garrett T Morgan, or Doctor Charles Richard Drew’s pioneering efforts in the development of the first large scale blood bank.
When the contributions and accomplishments of folks, because they belong to specific population or social groups, are rendered marginal or ignored in the narrative of the history of the larger society, they, without a shred of doubt, are being marginalized. How, by any acrobatic or convenient rationalizing, can the return of Carifesta to Guyana be ceremonized without reference to the pioneer who brought it here in the first instance? And therein is displayed in living colour, the utter vindictiveness with which events and happenings in the past and present are dealt with in Guyana.
They asked for proof of marginalization. It abounds in the society of Guyana today, and no more poignant and apparent than in this recent example provided in full public view.
Yours faithfully,
Robin Williams
