Dear Editor,
Mr Baytoram Ramharack’s letter published in the Stabroek News, October 16, 2020 edition captioned, `Why did Granger gov’t not take steps to address security concerns of Africans’ was his response to a letter I wrote (SN 14.10.2020) acknowledging Mr Ravi Dev’s reply to my earlier question on his position on the Indian Ethnic Security Dilemma now that the PPP/C has returned to office. In my letter, I contended that the African Ethnic Security Dilemma unlike Dev‘s claim, has not been resolved, but is alive and well. From reading Ramharack’s letter it was my position that African dominance in the coercive arms of the state while important does not ensure African ethnic security is what forced his intervention.
Most of the issues raised by Ramharack do not warrant a response from me. However, his invitation for me to support ethnic balance in the coercive arms of the state – is something I have long advocated and put in the public record since the late 1990s. He wrote: “If there is something that Tacuma should support it is the fact that it is unfair for Africans to disproportionately and unfairly bear the brunt of defending the citizens of Guyana from both foreign and local enemies. There is a greater role for Indians and Amerindians and others to play in defending our nation, given all the challenges Guyana may face in the future. Balance in the disciplined forces implies that a “targeted-outcome” should be established rather than a quota system to identify our best and brightest servicemen.”
As I have stated above I have long advocated for ethnic balance in the disciplined forces.
I refer Mr Ramharack and interested readers to the late Kampta Karran’s book, Race and Ethnicity in Guyana published in 2002. In that publication, there is a presentation by me (in Mr Karran public discussions “Offerings”) which contain my views and recommendations for a resolution of the race problem in the country. Among the ten or so measures I advocated at the end of my presentation were: ethnic balance in the economy; the disciplined forces; and ethnic balancing of the population.
I end by assuring Mr Baytoram Ramharack that I have an open mind on ideas directed to building racial/political justice and national reconciliation. I fully embrace the following statement made by Ramharack, “In our multiethnic society, the Amerindians and Indians must play an integral and inclusive role in our national defence.”
And I will add that this is fair in light of the Indian economic dominance in the country.
Yours faithfully,
Tacuma Ogunseye
