The word ‘racist’ should not be so freely used

Dear Editor,

The classification of ‘racist’ seems to have breached definitive boundaries to assume textures and meanings beyond established configurations. The reconfiguration of this volatile word would be laughable if it did not reflect such a tragic indictment of the lengths to which influential persons would go in efforts to create strategic divisions within this fledgling nation.

Mr David de Caires has contributed enormously to this country in many laudable ways. Maybe along the way he has made mistakes and maybe he has offended some persons with his very strong opinions, but he has fought very hard for the right of everyone in Guyana to freely express his/her opinion, albeit within the boundaries of the law. Labelling him as “racist” for an editorial (which he did not even write) that has upset some members of the society is unworthy of someone of the intellectual stature of Mr Rickford Burke.