Saying there has been “a vicious onslaught” of claims from certain sections of society seeking to malign the PPP/C government for discriminatory policies against Afro-Guyanese, Prime Minister Mark Phillips has pushed back, contending that they are without merit.
“Let me be clear. These accusations are baseless and unfounded as our Government has demonstrated through our policy framework that our transformational development agenda will be achieved based upon the inclusivity of all Guyanese,” Phillips said in a statement issued on Friday evening.
He acknowledged that race is an emotive subject for many Guyanese and said that it is for that reason that “forces” are seeking to exploit the citizenry’s fears, divide them and rob them of the opportunities that are flowing in the world’s fastest growing economy.
In particular he cited recent criticisms by account Nigel Hinds, who has raised concerns about racism in Guyana, as well the main opposition APNU+AFC coalition, which Phillips accused of stirring up racial strife in communities.
“We in the Government will not be distracted by false narratives peddled by certain unsavory characters which are evidently designed to generate racial hostility and undermine our transformational agenda which is creating historic opportunities for all Guyanese,” he said.
“We will continue to confront the lies, machinations and the diversionary tactics of those who want to see Guyana fail as a modern democratic state,” he added.
Phillips said that as an Afro-Guyanese from the town of Linden, he was proud to be part of the PPP/C administration, where he said all Guyanese, inclusive of Afro-Guyanese, have equal access to opportunities and where national policies and programmes are never influenced by race.
“Our policies are non-discriminatory,” he said before listing government interventions and ongoing programmes since taking office in 2020, calling them proof that no Guyanese is being denied access to opportunities from our Government.
Phillips added that those peddling race are in quicksand and are running out of time as more Guyanese come to grips with their deceptive tactics.
“These voices go cold when confronted with the facts as I have laid out above,” he said, before urging citizens to continue to pursue a path that will bring us all together as “One Guyana…,” he added.
