As plans for the International Decade for Peoples of African Descent get underway, the Rastafari community of Guyana is awaiting an indication of participation from the Government of Guyana and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
This is according to the Guyana Rastafari Council, which says “many promises” had been made by both the government and the UNDP in 2011 at the launch of the International Year for Peoples of African Descent.
When contacted yesterday, Ras Ian, General Secretary of the Rastafari Council, explained that the council partnered with the Guyana government in 2011 to launch the International Year for Peoples of African Descent. He added that the International Decade officially commenced on January 1, 2015 and will end on December 31, 2024.
He noted that the Amerindian community also had an International Decade and had so far seen a number of benefits coming out from it. He hoped that there would be similar benefits for the African community with the commencement of the International Decade for Peoples of African Descent.
“We’re looking into issues of recognition, justice and development, which is also the theme for the International Decade,” Ras Ian said. He continued, “I think the decade’s celebration would help in the African community’s quest for reparations, which is a big issue in the Caribbean region. It is also important because there are issues that need to be addressed when it comes to the African community worldwide, not just in Guyana. We’re talking about issues, such as equality.”
The United Nations website states that the main objective of the International Decade is to promote respect, protection and fulfilment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms for people of African descent, as recognized in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Meanwhile, the council recently held its election, which saw the appointment of new office bearers for its executive committee. Ras Ian explained that elections are usually conducted bi-annually but this election was the first held in four years. He added that the council is a registered body with a mandate that its members will have a right to a democratic process to elect a committee.
According to a press release from the Council, those recently elected are President Ras Simeon, Vice President Sister Tekla, General Secretary Ras Ian, Assistant Secretary Sister Nathalie Gonsalves, Treasurer Ras Richard Taylor, and Committee Members Binghi Addis Asher and Ras King David.
Further, the release said that the council had identified a number of problem areas, including the consolidating of the strength and scattered interest of the Rastafari community. The council will also aim to direct its efforts toward making a more significant contribution to national development, increase its visibility and become vocal in helping to resolve the numerous social, economic and political issues that affect Guyanese.
“We want to set an example of the kind of spiritual and moral leadership that would see Guyana rise from its present state of abject moral and cultural decadence,” Ras Ian explained.
According to the release, this year will see the council commencing a national outreach programme to ground, sensitise and mobilise its membership and all interested persons on issues of common interest and the way forward for the Rastafari community. Furthermore, the council said it will continue its networking and workshop programmes with various organisations to educate and train on issues such as gender violence with an emphasis on men and boys, voter education, and family planning.
Organising the coordination of a Regional Rastafari Conference on Reparations under Caricom’s Regional Reparations Commission and Guyana’s National Reparations Committee will also be on the agenda.
“We know what’s currently happening in Guyana; there are lots of political and social issues. We know we have a role to play so we want to mobilise for the specific purpose of contributing,” Ras Ian emphasised.
According to him, the Guyana Rastafari Council has about 220 registered members and had been existence from 1999 but had only begun functioning in 2004.
