Dear Editor,
I totally support the call that AFC presidential candidate Mr Khemraj Ramjattan made recently at Bath Settlement for Guyanese of Indian descent not to fear Guyanese of African descent. It is indeed unfortunate that the two largest ethnic groups in Guyana still have to refer to themselves as Indian or African Guyanese. I eagerly look forward to the time when we will all be known as just Guyanese.
It cannot be said enough that Guyanese need to heal themselves of the malignant racial blemishes that somehow seem to rise to prominence during the election season. As Guyanese, we should live and work as one people, one nation with one destiny at ensuring that Guyana’s future is secure through sustainable development, good governance and equal rights and justice for all.
Let issues of education reform, racial marginalization, eradication of poverty and widespread corruption, and police incompetence prevail. Let issues of the thriving drug trade, increasing crime and lack of a freedom of information act, along with one radio station be matters of concern.
A political party pursuing all of the above as well as sensible economic solutions for the sugar industry and the nation at large should form part of everyone’s rationale for supporting a political party. Guyana cannot continue the same way; there needs to be political change.
Race voting must cease to exist in Guyana. But that can only happen if the Guyanese people refuse to be the pawns of convenience for some political parties with narrow political agendas. There must be an end to the ‘us’ and ‘them’ syndrome that has for so long stymied progress and development.
Politicians can help to eradicate racial voting, but it is the people who need to make that sustained effort to rid themselves of the excess baggage of racial perceptions.
Yours faithfully,
Richard Francois
Dubai