New York Attorney General (AG) Letitia James on Sunday told a Guyanese diaspora forum in New York that she was concerned about reports of racism and discrimination in Guyana and will draw this to the attention of fellow attorneys-general and the Biden administration so that the matters could be addressed.
Saying that she was perturbed by the allegations made during a town hall-styled meeting, the Attorney General said she is joining her Democratic colleague, United States Congressman Hakeem Jeffries who earlier this year criticised the PPP/C government about racism and marginalisation of Afro-Guyanese.
The PPP/C government has accused its detractors of not making credible complaints or providing specifics.
James, who was among a number of officials at the meeting organized by the Caribbean Guyana Institute for Democracy (CGID), Guyanese Organizations Against Racism (GOAR) and twenty-one other Guyanese Diaspora Organizations in the New York Tristate area, spoke to the packed venue in an almost eight-minute address.
She spoke after hearing from retired Assistant Commissioner of Police Paul Slowe, APNU+AFC Parliamentarian Ganesh Mahipaul and accountant Nigel Hinds, who in recent times have levelled allegations of racism and discrimination against the government.
“We believe that discrimination should be called out, we believe that racism should be called out. We try to call out class struggles as well. And so all that I have to say is the following; is that I will again along with my Democratic Attorney Generals across the country will be calling upon the Department of Justice as well as the Biden administration to look into the allegations that have been put forward this evening,” she told the audience.
“There are, we are obviously concerned about any destabilising force in Guyana and clearly all of the allegations that have been made this evening suggests that there are problems and that they need to be looked at, they need to be examined and that we cannot ignore it. We can’t put blinders on when people are struggling,” she added.
She further said that people of “African ancestry should not be treated like second class and third class citizens, not this country and not in any other country”.
Similar sentiments were expressed earlier this year by Jeffries, who is a Democrat and a rising star in the party and who represents New York’s 8th congressional district, when he criticised the PPP/C government about racism and marginalization of Afro-Guyanese without adducing evidence.
He had said that the US will take all steps necessary “to get things moving in a fairer, more equitable direction” in Guyana.
His comments had irked the Government which later invited him to a meeting with President Irfaan Ali in New York, an invitation that had not received a reply.
Following his return from Washington in June, where Guyana signed a US$2 billion Memorandum of Understanding with the U.S EXIM Bank, Ali blasted critics of the visit.
Jeffries, in particular, came in for rebuke as he was singled out for what Ali had said was his refusal to meet with him during the visit to Washington.
“I see in one article the name Jeffries mentioned. This president asked the Foreign Affairs Ministry and the ambassador to write him, inviting him to a meeting. He has not responded to the ambassador’s invitation. Ask yourself, why? If you have all these concerns, why you haven’t attended a meeting that you were invited to?” Ali had questioned.
“Stop playing politics with the future of a country. This President will not allow it. I will speak about it. And in stronger terms as I speak about it,” Ali further asserted.
Not tolerate
“Hello Guyana! Let them know you would not tolerate racism, hello Guyana. Hello Guyana! Let them know [we would] not tolerate corruption! Hello Guyana! Let them know that you believe in democracy. Hello Guyana! Let them know you believe in fair elections, come on Guyana, let them hear you roar!’ was how Attorney General James began her address on Sunday.
She noted that she attended the meeting to listen and what “I heard is very disturbing, extremely disturbing. I reaffirm the comments of my brother Jeffries, the United States would not a tolerate racism in Guyana or any other country”.
She also spoke in defence of the Head of CGID Rickford Burke and warned that if anything happens to him answers will have to be provided.
The Guyana Police Force in September issued a bulletin for Burke, in which it said he is wanted for questioning in relation to conspiracy to commit a felony, to wit publication of defamatory libel in order to extort money.
“I also want the officials to know that if any harm comes to Rickford Burke, let me say that again, if any harm comes to Rickford Burke…or anyone in this room there will have to be answers. We will immediately demand answers and I can tell you that someone will be held accountable for those answers,” James said to loud applause.
She stressed that she believes in democratic institutions and that Guyana needs “strong democratic institutions and I will defend that and I would abhor any discrimination or racism of any people particularly people from the African diaspora”.
In the US as well James said they have attempted to root out corruption and to address issues of poverty but she admitted that it is not a perfect country.
“We still know there are individuals who unfortunately live in poverty and we call them out. You see we believe in the first amendment in our constitution, the right to freedom of speech, the right to journalism, journalists should have … the ability to report whatever they seek without any interruption,” she added.
“As the Attorney-General that is my responsibility and I join with you again today expressing my concern with regards to all I have heard this evening. I would join with you and stand with you and march with you and fight with you to stand and defend your rights. I use the law both as a sword and as a shield and I will use the power of my office to stand up and fight on behalf of the Guyanese people,” the New York AG said.
