Dear Editor,
Two very interesting letters discussing the need for racial balance in the Security Forces appeared in the SN. The Irfaan Ali Administration should treat this subject as urgent, compelling State matters. Both letters, Dr. Ramharack’s and Mr. Campbell’s are very good (SN July 30th, 31st). They deal with an important national issue.
I call for national debates on the issue – in and out of parliament. And, let there be a consensus on the important points which must be incorporated in the nation’s laws and policies. (I hope the gov’t is not asleep but paying attention). I had blogged on Ramharack’s letter saying: Racial Balance in the military and police Forces should be treated as a separate, stand-alone issue. Not contingent on imbalance in the business sector. Commonsense and a little bit of history should make all Guyanese wiser on this matter.
Indians in Guyana could never, would never have confidence and comfort in a predominantly African-Guyanese Police Force. The word “predominantly” is an understatement to describe a Force that is 90% African-Guyanese.
(One of the problems in Iraq is that a minority Sunni group dominated the army and State in a nation where the Shiites are twice the size of the Sunnis. It went on for 30+ years under the Sunni dictator. Well, it finally imploded to much suffering). African-Guyanese with justification should agitate over the paucity of Africans in the entrepreneurial class – and find ways to encourage African-Guyanese to start and own businesses. Pre-ident Burnham had started Co-op Bank and Small Businesses Corp – a high proportion of African-Guyanese got loans to start businesses. Why SBC closed down? Why Coop Bank closed down? Learn from their mistakes – and reopen them. Give gov’t-backed loans to qualified African-G loans to start businesses. Provide them with training – book-keeping, marketing, management.
is one way to correct the imbalance in the business sector.
Do not use the imbalance in the Business sector as an excuse to not racially balance the Army and Police Forces.
Sincerely,
Mike Persaud
