President Bharrat Jagdeo yesterday said government has no desire to control and or dominate the 2011 agenda for the people of African descent and as he officially launched a year-long programme in observance he called on opposition parties and aggrieved African-Guyanese groups to engage on issues of concern.
Jagdeo declared the year of celebrations opened amid calls for a boycott of the state programme and concerns by several African groups that they were not properly consulted during the process of planning an agenda. “Let us come to the table and discuss whatever the issue is, don’t stay in the corner and cry like a baby,” he said, while pointing out that he won the right to speak at the function because of his Guyanese birthright. Speaking to critics, he said his Indian ancestry comes after his citizenship, while noting that he shares the same blood as every other person who claims citizenship here.
Government is expected to take the lead in the observances but not dominate, the President said before a large gathering at the International Convention Centre, Liliendaal. His speech, which resonated with attendees, largely focused on the need for stakeholders to come together to observe the year; the struggle against new-day slavery; and his government’s commitment to support the 2011 agenda financially and “in every other way.”
As the occasion was ushered in yesterday, the sounds of African drumming penetrated the atmosphere and a sea of people, the majority richly attired in traditional African wear, flooded the Convention Centre. Transportation to the launch was organized for the attendees. Posters and messages of what Africans achieved over the years were mounted at the entrance of the Centre, in addition to an exhibition of African literature.
‘Suffering’
Before he took the podium, Jagdeo heard a cry from President of the Rastafarian Council Ras Leon Saul that African youths are becoming an endangered species and are in need of real attention at a governmental level. This statement drew a thunderous applause and loud endorsements of “Yes! Yes…they are they are!”
Saul, who offered greetings on behalf Rastafarian community, used the opportunity to reject calls for a boycott of the activities, saying “Why would we boycott ourselves?” He said the time calls for more responsible actions, but he also pointed out that the government programme failed to mention what plans are in place for the economic and social development of Africans in this country, and for youths.
Saul said Africans are suffering in Guyana and that this needs to be addressed this year. “We suffering fuh true,” a woman shouted at the top of her voice while another said, “Real thing, we suffering.” He continued that the administration needs to use this year constructively and address the issues affecting African people so that at the end of it they could emerge more proud and stronger.
Further, Saul noted that Rastafarians remain the ‘most-stigmatized’ and ‘discriminated-against’ of any group in the country, while adding that any progress made for Rastas is also “progress for the nation.” He also called on the government to consider legalizing “our sacrament,” that is, marijuana.
Jagdeo observed that it was fitting for the United Nations to designate 2011 the year for people of African descent and he said that rampant discrimination against Africans is evident across the world. He referred to the African Slave Trade as the greatest crime against humanity and he questioned why the western world acknowledges the Jewish Holocaust but has failed to recognize that Africans also experienced their own holocaust during the slave trade.
Jagdeo pointed out that he was in agreement with many of the points raised by Saul but he disagreed on the ‘sacrament,’ saying, “I can’t promise you that I will legalise marijuana.”
The President reiterated the call for everyone with a vested interest in the year of observances to come together in the spirit of bi-partisanship. He argued that failure to cooperate would mean a disservice to the Africans who “we set out to honour in the first place.”
He called on those gathered to realize that the real struggle is not within Guyana, but in the global environment, where a few big powers dominate. Jagdeo declared that people need to see beyond boundaries, and that the opposition needs to join his government in calling for reparations at the global level.
‘Wake-up call’
Acting CARICOM Secretary-General Ambassador Lolita Applewaithe was among several other speakers at the event and she observed that poverty, underdevelopment, racism, discrimination and social exclusion continue to affect people of African descent disproportionately at a global level. She noted that too many persons of African descent do not have access to basic services in health and in education. “Too many persons of African descent in the world are caught in a cycle of persistent poverty from generation to generation, and too many persons of African descent in the world in 2011 are not better off economically or in their quality of life than our 18th century forbearers who were enslaved,” Applewaithe said.
With respect to the issues, she observed that the international community needs a wake-up call to accelerate a regional and international programme of cooperation to ensure that African people have full enjoyment of their rights to participate in all the political, economic, social and cultural aspects of society.
The programme to launch the International Year for People of African Descent (IYPAD) also included brief remarks from Minister of Culture Dr. Frank Anthony and Director of Culture Dr. James Rose. The Minister defended the process used to plan the event and he explained that all the major African groups were invited and that those who were not invited initially were later informed.
Anthony said that the process remains open and inclusive and he also issued a call for stakeholders to get involved. “Let’s put aside the petty differences and celebrate with our African brothers and sisters,” he said.
Greetings for IYPAD year also were extended from the Portuguese, Chinese, Indian and Amerindian communities. Sacred drumming, chanting and dancing were part of the cultural programme for the opening.
Among some of the events on the IYPAD 2011commemorative calendar are African art exhibitions, public conferences addressing issues affecting Africans, African community conferences, the inclusion of African prayers at official functions, retracing the African slave trade route to Guyana and celebrating African writers.
Prior to yesterday’s launch, Opposition Leader Robert Corbin had turned down an invitation by the government to join the list of speakers on the programme, saying that he would not attend any state-sponsored activity. In a letter to Rose, Corbin criticized the government over its handling of the agenda and for moving ahead without addressing the concerns raised by major African groups.
The Committee of African organizations which has accused the government of planning a programme without proper consultations had also issued a statement saying that their concerns remain unresolved as the national programme is launched. The Committee said there is still general displeasure with the process used to create the government’s programme, adding that the process was flawed and government-controlled.
