The African Cultural and Development Association (ACDA) is advocating for constitutional reform, shared governance and an end to racial division and cautions that foreign powers may not have Guyana’s best interest at heart.
In a press release on Wednesday, ACDA stated it is not surprised by the events of the recent elections crisis “given the array of international forces led by the US and its ABCE allies against the Granger-led APNU+AFC coalition government and the disregard of clearly defined laws and guidelines of the electoral laws of Guyana.”
The Association also expressed disappointment that the crisis did not result in the two major electoral parties agreeing on a serious discussion regarding constitutional reform “to end the pernicious winner take all governance system that only results in deepening the racial fractures in our society.” It contended that racial divisions are inimical to the best interests of the nation “but are cleverly used by politicians and foreign groups to (exacerbate) fears and distrust among our people.” This it says, was more evident and “virulent” during the recently held March 2020 elections.
ACDA reminded that it has been calling for Shared Governance and the end to winner-take-all elections since 1997. It maintains that this system will always lead to a crisis at election time since the major ethnic groups understand that this system of governance gives the winner all and relegates the loser to the economic, social and political margins of the state. “Elections in Guyana are an ethnic census,” the Association posited.
The Association declared that it is now more convinced and committed to an organised struggle of the African community for constitutional reform and economic justice. “We call for urgent and decisive action to utilise the opportunity before our nation from the new oil wealth to address economic inequality affecting people of African descent.” It also urged Guyana to step up to its responsibility as a signatory to the United Nations International Decade for People of African Descent declaration, especially during this time with heightened awareness that Black Lives Matter.
ACDA warned Guyanese “to beware of Greeks bearing gifts” and not to believe that their contribution to the development of Guyana would be matched by the foreign powers “who have intervened most aggressively in the recent national elections.” The association contends that these states have never really been interested in the wellbeing of the people of Guyana, and accused them of seeking to “reap the bounty of Guyana’s oil harvest and the opportunities that would be created for their own gain,” the release added.
