The xenophobic attacks on Haitian immigrants is an attack on humanity and an attack on the essence of what it means to share this space we call Earth. The attacks have further exposed the rancour in the expressions of many who occupy this space we call Guyana. No, their motives are not about protecting the nation. Let’s not pretend that these recent rants are in the spirit of love, peace or unifying us as a people. Those responsible may have convinced themselves and others that they believe in equality, may have pretended to be for one people, one nation, and one destiny, but by their works you know them.
The attacks on the Haitians traveling to or through Guyana is an attack on people of African descent. Haiti is a multiethnic country but with a majority being of African descent, those are the faces we have been seeing in Guyana in their search of a better life. The ‘better life’ that the Haitians are seeking, is the same ‘good life’ that many Guyanese are seeking. But does it mean that we cannot occupy the same space, and both accomplish the same hope? Does it mean that Haitians are coming here to rob Guyanese babies of the milk from their mothers’ bosoms? The instigators of the anti-Haitian sentiments may find reason to convince us this is so. Yet many Haitians are not granted work permits here and move on to other countries.
We are more alike than different but those who have been boldly discriminatory do not care to embrace the similarities. They have decided that now is the time to pen missives and incite unwarranted hate; they have raised false alarms to scare the naive, to trouble illiterates and expose fools who are educated on paper, including those with their fake degrees. The members of this small group perhaps have never known struggle or have chosen to forget. The members of this small group perhaps have no relatives or friends who have migrated from Guyana; they are probably unaware of the Guyanese chapters around the world. They are arrogant in their sense of entitlement and most of their actions are motivated by the current political state of affairs.
The attack on the Haitians is racist. It is an attack on Guyanese because they are us and we are them. I visited Haiti in 2015 with the Guyana contingent for Carifesta and one could not tell a Haitian from a Guyanese if words were not uttered. A walk back in time would reveal that we once heard the same messages between our villages before we were Caribbean or South American. They took the lead and were the first to set themselves free from their oppressors. The injustice that Haiti had to pay France reparations still disturbs and baffles me; another example of the assaults on the children of those who were enslaved and colonised. It was their spirituality that the Haitians largely used to set themselves free; it is that knowledge that their oppressors feared and abhorred and still do to this day. It is the reason many of their skin folk today also demonise them; even blaming their misfortunes on the fact that they dare to still honour the gods and practices of their ancestors.
The attack on the Haitians ignores the fact that they are from our sister CARICOM nation and there should not be an issue with them coming here because there is an agreement on free movement; but freedom of movement should not require special agreements or laws anyway for the Earth belongs to all of us.
The attack on the Haitians is an attack on me as an individual. It is an attack I witness daily in various forms; an attack from which I must guard my mental health. The constant anti-African, anti-Black sentiments uttered through many channels can threaten one’s sanity. It is here when even the president is referred to by racist epithets. It is in America when Black men are murdered by the police for selling cigarettes on the corner, for surrendering or walking in the wrong neighbourhood. When Caucasian terrorists are spoon-fed and taken for burgers after slaughtering a team, a score or more; but if he of African ancestry attempts the same form of terrorism he would be executed on spot. It is in Africa where the many of the biggest beneficiaries of the continent’s resources are not African. It is in the memories of my youth when my skin folk and my kin folk consciously and unconsciously attempted to convince me than I was not equal.
The Haitians are bringing diseases here was one of the arguments by the instigators behind the pens and news of the racist kind and times. These people need no evidence before making these declarations for they are suffering from a worse disease than any physical disease. A disease of hate, a disease of delusion, a disease of entitlement, a disease that leaves them constantly in a state of anger and disarray; there can be no inner peace when one is consumed with hate.
Asians come to Guyana every day, profit from businesses all over this country, and some even mistreat Guyanese who work for them—this I have personally witnessed—but I suppose there are no diseases in Asia. Venezuelans are coming here every day, but I suppose the women are pleasing in the eyes of the local men and the men are not seen as a threat. I guess there are no diseases in Venezuela. Brazilians are here, but I supposed they are regarded in the same light as the Venezuelans. Trinidadians are here, but I suppose they are just coming to work in the oil industry, they are our neighbour and also sister CARICOM nation and we all like ‘doubles’. Cubans come here every day, but I suppose they are just coming to shop, never mind there have been reports that some have paid Guyanese to marry them to obtain citizenship. The numbers show that those people outnumber the Haitians yet the instigators of this alarm about Haitians have not gone out of their way to attack the others.
One of their so-called concerns is that Haitians are being brought into the country to vote for the governing coalition. Again, they need no evidence to make these declarations for every alarm, every accusation is embedded in the entitlement that it is only one set of people that should rule Guyana.
Whether it is Haitians, South Americans, North Americans, Asians, West Indians, Africans or Europeans, Guyanese should not victimise anyone who chooses to visit our country or seek work here. Of course, we must not be lax, and we as Guyanese should be treated with the utmost respect, but let’s not be hypocritical when mass migration of Guyanese to other nations has taken place and continues.
If you fear Haitians coming to this country and are silent on or accepting of the others, you are a part of the racist problem; but I assume you are happy being consumed with hate and sacrificing your peace of mind. Perhaps it is your test in this journey in the hope to eventually achieve perfection.
