The reality is that race is of major political significance in Guyana

Dear Editor,

Within recent days there were two letters in the newspapers by Mr. Dennis Wiggins (KN & SN 14/02/2007) and Dr. Randy Persaud (KN 17/02/2007). Mr. Wiggins is proposing a shift in thinking from what he calls racial democracy to social democracy. I am inclined to believe from his arguments that he sees his concept of racial democracy as dominant and counterproductive to Guyana’s development. Mr. Wiggins holds the view that social democracy, which purports a class concentration, serves the economic development of classes across the racial divide and ultimately Guyana. Apparently, Dr. Randy Persaud is building on Mr. Wiggins’ “central question”, but is he endorsing Mr. Wiggins’ class contention? Both arguments, while very interesting, and I rather suspect, well meaning, may not have taken full cognizance of the realities that exist on the ground. Some of these realities are:

Race is of political significance in Guyana. Political parties draw support along racial lines.

This is manifested and entrenched in the political process we call elections. Then, thereafter, the distribution of wealth, power and resources.

The labour movement which represents the interests of the working class is split along race, political and independent lines. The labour market and jobs are concentrated along racial lines. Africans concentrate in the public sector and Indians in the private sector. In the state sectors Africans dominate the teaching, public and disciplined services and Indians the sugar industry.

The PPP, with executive power and day to day management of the country, on assuming office in October 1992 commenced a process of dismissing public servants, with no regard to public service rules and acceptable labour practices. Further, the government continues to disregard the collective bargaining process in the traditional public service but upholds and respects same in the sugar industry.

GAWU and NAACIE in 1999 broke relationship with the GTUC after the GTUC called a 72 hour national strike in protest against the police shooting of unarmed striking public servants.

In the Structural Adjustment Programme, IMF recommended the privatisation of the sugar and bauxite industries. The government refuses to privatise sugar but privatised bauxite.

In bauxite, the government refuses to inject money into the industry to sustain it; rather they gave workers money as termination benefits then sent them home. In sugar the government injected significant sums of money to improve the industry performance and guarantee jobs for sugar workers.

The State-owned media, owned by Guyanese, the taxpayers of this country, can only be used by the PPP, government and their supporters. It would be enlightening to have the learned gentlemen revisit the realities stated above and explain to us class relevance and the contention that Guyana’s conflicts/problems are rooted in class, hence a class approach to resolve same. Also, how can the struggle move from racial to social?

Conversely, other societies have honestly confronted their racial conflicts/problems and are arriving at racial solutions. Notable examples are:

a) The United States of America, where the African American civil rights struggles resulted in the Civil Rights Act, Voting Rights Act and Affirmative Action. The consequences of these actions are efforts being made to equally integrate citizens regardless of race and provide avenues for social, economic and political development that otherwise could not have happened.

b) South Africa honestly confronted apartheid and in the process created an inclusive governance system by rewriting the Constitution to meet the diverse needs of the society. Consequently, avenues for social, economic and political development for all today, that otherwise could not have happened.

I am sure both Mr. Wiggins and Dr. Persaud can intimately attest and extensively write about the racial problems/ racial solutions variables operating in USA.

I am sure, too, that were these gentlemen to pay close and critical attention to the variables in Guyana, USA and South Africa they will find many similarities.

Some of societies’ worst problems are best solved when citizens are true to their realities.

It would now be interesting to hear Mr. Wiggins and Dr. Persaud views in light of some of Guyana’s exposed realities, similarities and best practices of other countries with shared dynamics.

Yours faithfully,

M. A. Bacchus