Dear Editor,
I share the position of Mr. Medino Abraham in his letter of Wednesday, 28th. June, 2023, his thought of finding potential radical solutions to the social challenges we Amerindian people now face in this country make for serious conversation. The time indeed has come for us, Guyana’s First Peoples, to step back, reflect and renew our Indigenous walk, a walk that will garner greater respect for us from all sections of the populace than what actually obtains. I have lived long enough to have experienced intimidating situations. I have lived long enough to know what embarrassments levelled at us can do, moments that could have destroyed an educational career. An evil symptom of class culture permeating throughout the country today has bared its ugly head on us, the Amerindians of Guyana. It is evident and it is being played out in its most heinous form.
All of Guyana would have recognized it and it must be rooted out before it becomes a social endemic, if it hasn’t already done so. I must mention that what has bared its ugly head is not racially driven. My take is that, the Amerindians have shared a mutual relationship with both Indo-Guyanese and with Afro-Guyanese all these years and it couldn’t have been better. What exists is symptomatic of abuse of power. It boils down to what is known as the powerful over the powerless. There is also that deep-seated element of anti-Amerindian sentiment that is tacitly accepted in many spheres of activity wherever you turn in the Guyanese society. You have to be Amerindian to know what I’m saying. However, there is a way out; there is a way to address the ills of our dear Land of Guyana, and which will not be a difficult task.
The choice for Amerindians to stay or leave the political hegemony has always been with them. It has always been in the psyche of the Amerindian people, believe it or not, particularly in those who have attained higher education. Therefore it will be they who will be more vocal on the common issues of our people. Each conversation I have had with my brothers and sisters recently pointed to the possibility of finding an answer to the Amerindian political dilemma. Editor, the answer lies in the fact that the Amerindian vote will be a powerful decisive factor in the upcoming General Elections, 2025. We stand to hold a very powerful position in our country, judging from census statistics if we should vote as a block. It is time we take a stand to be part of the policy-making body in Guyana. We need to be in decision-making to really make solid contributions in the molding our nation towards respectability and accountability.
Treat a people with scant regard is reason enough for them to rethink other possibilities, making use of the Democratic Right to choose for ourselves a new way, a new polity for which our people are crying, especially for which our children are crying. Amerindians may now have to venture into the arena of some form of political leadership, thereby forging increased membership in Parliament to really have a voice, as it were, to make an impact on behalf of our people. We have the resources adequately prepared and are confident in our youthful intellectual base. Yes, our decision to remain, or not to remain in embarrassing circumstances of powerlessness, of us being belittled, bullied and preyed upon, lie at polling stations across the length and breadth of this country, come 2025. Only we can decide our fate against bullyism; only we can decide our future to live as a people of hope, a people of authority, a people who can take a rightful place in society, for the sake of our country, our children, our people.
We will never again let only some to decide our fate. We must be engaged, we must be consulted and we, the Amerindians of this country, have the will to make that happen, come 2025. Long live Guyana! Long live the Amerindians of Guyana!
Sincerely,
Joseph Atkinson
(Retired Headmaster)
