Human rights and the national development of Guyana

Dr Bertrand Ramcharan, Ph.D. (LSE), Barrister-at-Law, is a former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Chancellor of the University of Guyana, Commissioner of the International Commission of Jurists, and Professor at the Geneva Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies. He is one of the founders of the newly established Guyana Institute of Public Policy, of which he is a Director. The Institute aims to generate thinking on issues that can help in the future cohesion and development of Guyana..

By Dr Bertie Ramcharan

Dr Bertrand Ramcharan
Dr Bertrand Ramcharan

At the present time the atmosphere is shrill on human rights issues in Guyana. It is probably the right moment to step back and to take a look at the role of human rights in the country’s national development and future.

In the early days of the then, united, PPP, one can read in Hansard statements by the late L.F.S. Burnham that the party sought the realisation for Guianese of the rights in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. One also finds in the records statements and representations by Dr Cheddi Jagan claiming basic human rights for the Guianese people. The claim for human rights and human dignity thus inspired the independence movement.

Even earlier, in the struggle of slaves for freedom and dignity, they claimed respect of their inalienable human rights. If one reads The Trial of the Rev. John Smith, one would see that he coached the slaves in Guyana that they had inalienable human rights, which they sought to exercise. In the Demerara slave rebellion of 1823 the claim of rights was a battle-cry of the freedom fighters. One sees this in Crowns of Glory, Tears of Blood, a remarkable account of the Demerara slave rebellion.

From its early days to the present time, the trade union movement has sought to vindicate the rights of workers. Ashton Chase’s history of trade unionism in Guyana brings this out vividly. The late President Janet Jagan was one of the pioneers for women’s rights in Guyana.

Against this background, one would have thought that Guyanese would pay the highest respect to those who struggle for human rights in Guyana. To the contrary, unfortunately, they are often vilified by those in power.

During the days of PNC rule, Dr Cheddi Jagan and the PPP made it one of their central campaigns to petition the United Nations for human rights in Guyana. As a human rights officer then in the United Nations secretariat, I have copies of correspondence from Dr Cheddi Jagan and from some of those now in government, petitioning the world body for rights. I read in the newspapers not long ago, a particularly vitriolic attack on human rights advocates by a senior member of the Government whose letters I have still when she was petitioning the United Nations. Sadness overcame me.

I recall the founding of the Guyana Human Rights Association and its request to me to give some public lectures at the Undercroft of St George’s Cathedral on the issue of economic and social rights – at a time when Guyanese experienced dire shortages of food. A prominent Guyanese academic sent me a note apologising for not being able to attend the lecture. He did not want governmental thugs to note down his car number and slash his tires. In those days, tires were had to come by!

The PNC leadership found the Guyana Human Rights Association most uncomfortable and there is an infamous statement by the then paramount leader, President Burnham  against those who ‘prattled’ about human rights. These are inconvenient truths. Now the leadership of the PPP rails against the Guyana Human Rights Association and one remembers those dark days.
One wonders how they could have forgotten that the late Dr Cheddi Jagan made a personal commitment to the ratification and application of the International Covenants on Human Rights. One wonders how they could have forgotten the dark days when human rights advocates were at their side – including during rigged elections.

I hold no brief for the Guyana Human Rights Association. I do not say that they are right on everything or that their judgment is always beyond question. But I have followed their work from the beginning and I know of their dedication and of their commitment to a Guyana of dignity and rights for all Guyanese. I have fond memories of the late Gordon Todd, one of its founding Co-Chairs. I know a little about national human rights associations, and the GHRA is one of the most professional I have seen anywhere in the world. When the history of Guyana comes to be written, the annual reports and archives of the Guyana Human Rights Association will represent a noble chapter in the struggle for dignity and rights for all Guyanese. And some of those who, in the past and at present, attack it will appear in history as the small-minded people they are.

I do not write this piece to waylay anyone. In the struggle for human rights there are many voices. There are those who seek to be objective and to speak truth to power. There are those who defend governments at all cost. There are those who used to be in Government and to violate human rights but now find it to their advantage to champion the cause. In the midst of all of this, the ordinary Guyanese has to know that those who honestly and conscientiously strive for human rights are doing a great service to Guyana. They are unsung heroes of Guyana.
For Guyana, a land of many peoples, needs human rights advocacy. International human rights norms can help us shape a national vision that embraces and inspires all of our people. Human rights norms can help us in the quest for justice for different parts of our population. Human rights norms can help in the prevention of negative practices and in the spread of a culture of respect and tolerance for all people. Human rights norms can inspire us to climb to higher ground in our aspirations as a people.

A strong, independent national human rights commission can serve our country greatly. Until now the heavy lifting has been done by the Guyana Human Rights Association. Instead of demonising it we should be honouring it. Its leaders should receive our highest national awards. That would show magnanimity in government.

And let us have an independent national human rights commission, with membership drawn from all walks of life,  that can take the lead in these matters. Our country needs this.
Let us honour those who strive selflessly for human rights in our dear land of Guyana.