The Alliance For Change (AFC) says that this year’s commemoration of Emanci-pation should be more focused on the significance of freedom and the high price that has to be paid to maintain it and less on revelry and celebration.
“Let us take a moment in quiet contemplation to remember those whose rights and freedoms have been trampled upon, especially in recent times by the State and note the failure by many of us to speak out in protestation,” the AFC urged in its Emancipation Day Message.
The party noted that as Guyanese observe Emancipa-tion Day, they “cannot fail to recognize that blatant attempts are still being made by a few who have cloaked themselves with political power and now seek to deprive members of our society of their individual rights and freedoms and subject them to torture and brutality, both of mind and body.”
The intention, the AFC asserted, appears to be to introduce a new form of subjugation and bondage and that suggests that such practices by the State are meant to be lessons to others who continue to demand, and struggle for the rights and freedom of all that they should abort such pursuits.
However, the party acknowledged that “the struggles of our ancestors did result in changes to the social, economic and political systems,” but noted that this “has not diminished the thirst for power of the ruling class to want to impose their authority over those who have entrusted them with the role of government here in Guyana.”
“Daily, we are witness to government policies, programmes and actions by which the basic rights and freedom of citizens are being violated by draconian laws and the brutality of the security forces. It is time for all peace loving Guyanese to take a stand, it is time for change,” the AFC declared.
And on this the 171st Anniversary of the emancipation of slaves from slavery, the AFC called for more vigilance than ever before so that “the ugly, monstrous head of racism and domination is not allowed to flourish in Guyana.”
