Dear Editor,
Are Guyanese/Guyana better off since the white man left? Depending on the ethnicity of the person, this question if asked today, would elicit sharply contrasting answers.
Prior to Guyana’s independence in 1966, the white man was a convenient scapegoat for all of the nation’s ills. The British departure has however exposed the underbelly of Guyana. With rural speeches that are tantamount to incitement, it is most disturbing to see the lengths to which politicians go to exploit the nation’s fragile ethnic balance.
After 47 years most Guyanese have lost hope in the politicians’ ability to govern cohesively. After all, the divide and conquer philosophy has been working quite well for Guyana’s elite class leaders.
Yours faithfully,
Berkeley Van Bowen