Guyanese first and foremost

Dear Editor,

I am a Guyanese living in the US and recently saw in your column a letter writer commenting on Mr Moses Nagamootoo telling Indians in New Delhi that he is not Indian but Guyanese. My elementary school son would have given the same answer Mr Nagamootoo gave had he been born in Guyana and been asked the same question.

Two years ago an Indian child who had just emigrated from India enquired of my son (who was in Grade 3 at the time) whether he was Indian. My son replied, “I am not Indian, I am American but my culture is Indian.”

I appeal to all Guyanese to look at themselves as Guyanese first and foremost with a sense of nationalism and patriotism, and not to fall prey to ethnic rants and rhetoric.

Yours faithfully,

Chabiram Deoraj