Dear Editor,
A recent editorial by Stabroek News in which it condemned former President Jagdeo for his comments as it relates to East Indians caught my attention. I believe the point President Jagdeo was referring to needs to be understood in its context. The fact that we must stop looking at everything through the lens of race, I felt was the core of his comments. The editorial painted a biased opposition view and was simply not objective. The implications of what was said by the AFC of people of Indian origin to me should have been the focus of the editorial. I have pushed for economic development across all of Guyana and continue to do so regardless of race or religion. My recent visit to Parliament enlightened me, as I looked down the PPP aisle and then the opposition’s aisle, the PPP benches were the most diversified of all political parties. If racism was a factor, they would have mirrored the one-sided opposition. Enough said there.
Politically, while I served in the opposition camp, I came across blatant racism by senior members. I must say I was a student of President Hoyte and at no point was there any detection of racism in his blood. In recent times at senior meetings, members of the opposition would refer to Indians in the PPP as “dem PPP coolie people” in a very derogatory way. Sometimes I used to look around the room and feel my hair to make sure I didn’t change race. The best example was Winston Murray. He was never looked at as Indian in the PNC until he decided to run for the leadership of the party and it was said by many, “no way an Indian will ever lead the party.” My exit out of the PNC was very public because of those sentiments in the past. After I left the opposition ranks, I was shocked at how many senior members of the opposition said, “Well you a coolie, what you expect,” even though I had served over a decade in the opposition ranks. By leaving, they felt my Indianism was the reason for aligning with the PPP.
Race issues abound in many countries, including our nation and the United States. I spent almost two decades in the US military and I can say, I ran across racism numerous times and did my best for it not to keep me back. I remember many from the minority in the USA telling me as an immigrant why did I come to take their place. So even though all of us were minorities, racism was even more prevalent.
President Jagdeo’s comments in context addressed issues that must be curtailed. There is a big difference between favouritism from any government to the accusation that it was given based on race. If that was the case, my friend Joe Hamilton who left the opposition because of its incompetence would not have gotten a position with the PPP.
We must move past this discussion simply based on race as the former President has indicated. AFC Chairman, Mr Nigel Hughes, must take his position seriously and realize that in representing a lawsuit whose main premise is a racial defence approach only adds to this dilemma we face as a nation, and targets people of Indian origin. We must move forward in the best way possible as a multi-ethnic society and treat others with respect. We are only victims of the race card if we allow it. We are all Guyanese regardless of the colour of our skin, the texture and colour of our hair, our religion or our sexuality, but we must each be proud of our ethnic identity and our culture while respecting each other.
Yours faithfully,
Peter R Ramsaroop
