Dear Editor,
Ms Akola Thompson makes a studied and important contribution to the ongoing discussion about race and racism in Guyana’s context. (SN November 8, 2019: Towards a post-racial future)
I and other Indian Guyanese – Mr Ravi Dev, Swami Aksharananda, et al – have been making similar observations and comments from our perspectives for some 20 years without, it would appear, making any inroads to the persistence of the “illusory truth of togetherness” as Ms Thompson so eloquently puts it. Without the difficult conversations about race and the history that has brought us to this impasse, as Ms Thompson recommends, we continue to live in a volatile environment where race dominates and divides us on social, cultural, economic and political fronts. To get to a post-racial future, the difficult conversations will have to be built on the expectation that everyone will speak the truth and will take responsibility for their part in the events of our post-colonial history thus far.
This is not about giving or taking blame. This is about maturity; and even a cursory glance at our current political leadership shows that we are not there yet.
The coming oil wealth will only exacerbate the situation since with our politics being divided along racial lines, the side that is out of power will have reason – real or imagined – to feel disenfranchised.
There are many calls for some kind of shared government arrangement which many see as the best remedy since it will not only allow for more fairness and more equitable distribution of resources but for the perception of such fairness and equity. This perception could go a long way to calming fears, lifting suspicions and building trust.
However, developing and agreeing on a shared arrangement hangs on the admittance by our political leadership that there is a race/ethnic divide and that it is the stumbling block to achieving peace, prosperity and development for all the peoples of Guyana.
In the upcoming election campaign we will all be exhorted to join hands and jig about merrily to the mindless “all awe ah wan family” jingle that will blare from every party platform. Our post-colonial politics is littered with the debris of “love and unity” coalitions yet our politicians continue to embolden and empower the very lie that is strangling us. This being the truth of the situation, there is little hope of a post-racial future for Guyana any time soon.
Yours faithfully,
Ryhaan Shah
