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Politicizing Race in Guyana

by

Roop Misir, PhD

Background

Our country prides itself in the motto: “The Land of Six Peoples”. To onlookers, the people of Guyana live harmoniously. They work side-by-side in villages where they toil in farms, rice fields and sugar estates. In factories and mills, they use their hands and talents to manufacture some of the finest goods. All of them are educated in schools that promote racial equality. And over the years, they have been noticeable signs of racial integration. All of which leads one to conclude: Guyanese have grown to understand fellow citizens.

But is this really true?

In the 1950s and 60s, our people struggled, and in 1966 finally won political independence from Britain. Just about that time, the façade of racial harmony gave way to racial pride. There was the recognition that black was beautiful, and that politics meant true power. Therefore Africans must take charge after the British left. Also, Indians weren’t returning to India as some were hoping. Rather, they would live as citizens and participate in building the independent nation. Perhaps this didn’t fare too well with the more assertive elements of the population. These new developments would set the stage to test the veneer of racial harmony.

Some may ask: Why?

Politicizing Race

With independence from Britain imminent, it became clear that the new country would inherit a winner-takes-all Westminster system of government. This meant that the party in power would also be in charge, and the losing party relegated to the opposition benches, effectively shutting them from power.

Since 1947, Dr. Cheddi B. Jagan worked tirelessly to unite the different races of the country. In 1953, the multiracial Peoples’ Progressive Party (PPP) won an overwhelming victory at the first General Elections under universal suffrage. However, the PPP soon splintered into a faction led by Mr. LFS Burnham whose group later became the Peoples’ National Congress (PNC). Its support base was mainly African Guianese. Despite its setback, the multiracial PPP continued to win every election until 1961. Then a new electoral system of Proportional Representation (RP) was introduced to replace the traditional first past the post system. Not surprisingly, at the next General Election in 1964, the PPP received the largest number of seats but failed to secure more than 50% of the total votes cast. The PPP claimed that it was “Cheated not Defeated”.

Cold War and Communism

In those days of the Cold War, PR was perhaps as one peaceful way to defeat the pro-Communist PPP. Yet there was much violence against the PPP and their Indian supporters the early 60’s. With this party defeated and morally weakened, the pro-African PNC formed a coalition with the pro-business United Force (UF) under the leadership of popular Portuguese Guyanese businessman Mr. Peter D’Aguiar. This coalition was invited by the Governor to form the new government.

Thus for the first time ever, race did affect the balance of power in Guyana. For the PNC at least, the racial polarization helped them secure votes and political power in the newly independent Guyana. Here again as elsewhere, the colonial time-tested strategy of “divide and rule” worked well. The “socialist” PNC was in charge, and the pro-communist PPP booted out. A few years later the UF left the coalition, leaving the PNC alone in charge. It was like a dream come true. The PNC then established the Cooperative Republic, which controlled almost every sector of the economy. With few checks and fewer balances, the PNC dished out goodies to their supporters, mainly African Guyanese. Only token crumbs managed to reach other races.

As Indian Guyanese became increasingly marginalized, many had no alternative but to depart to any foreign country willing to take them. With no place for them in the power structure, they were effectively shut out of government.

For twenty-eight long years, the African-dominated PNC ruled the country an iron hand. President-for-life 

LFS Burnham reigned supreme as the “Kabaka” (King). Under his leadership, with the help of security forces the rigging of Guyanese elections was perfected into a fine art. As the country’s economy spiraled downward and life became brutish and unbearable, was it any wonder that PNC supporters became disenchanted? Since the Kabaka’s victory at the polls was never in doubt, even Mr. Burnham’s own supporters lost interest in voting. For example, at a subsequent General Election, only 3% of those registered bothered to vote. But yet, the PNC secured a whopping 95% of the votes cast to secure a stunning victory! Was it to anyone’s surprise that as time went on, the work of Parliament was reduced to a farce? Or as one prominent opposition MP echoed, was it a “rass”? Long live the Kabaka!

Restoration of Democracy

Apparently, everything eventually comes to an end. Guyanese were more than fed up with the dictatorial racist PNC regime and demanded change. Thanks to agitation from Guyanese (of all races) both at home and abroad, this undemocratic black dictatorship finally came to an end in 1992. The election brought to office the PPP/C, a multiracial coalition with the PPP being the major partner. As expected, there were unbridled euphoria and tremendous excitement at the defeat of the incompetent and self-serving PNC regime. The days of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, the PNC’s stranglehold on the national economy and the universally hated National Service all came to an abrupt end. After what they’d gone through, Guyanese expected changes for the better. But by then, more Guyanese had already been settled abroad than those living at home. Therefore, one result was that our country was deprived of their talents and capital. Thus, it would take time for this debt-laden country to get back on its financial feet. However, a few years later, the passing of the much loved and highly respected President and Father of the Nation, Dr. Cheddi Jagan was a loss to the country. Not unexpectedly, the honeymoon for the PPP/C period faded quickly.

Guyana at the Crossroads

Many of us may wish to interpret these changes as signs of better times to come. However, after nearly forty-two years of independence from Britain, are we currently witnessing an unraveling of the fabric of racial cohesion in our country? Is the other motto: “One People, One Nation, One Destiny” quickly losing its relevance?

Perhaps a look at recent events may be of interest.

Only last month, most Guyanese were appalled by cold-blooded massacres—first at Lusignan where people of Indian origin were targeted. Then one week later came the Bartica massacre where Guyanese of many races lost their lives. As usual, the PPP/C government attributed these incidents to the work of criminal elements and bandits. Of course, not everyone shares this view.

Who may be behind the crimes and the massacres? Sure the Police often make token arrests to allay public fears, but only to release those arrested for the lack of evidence.

Are these and other criminal acts random or are they centrally directed? Are these acts the work of career criminals? Or are these the work of those who refuse to accept the outcome in democratic elections for Parliament, and now choose the bullet to the ballot?

This much we do know:

Shortly after 1992 General Elections, the defeated PNC President Desmond Hoyte wasn’t happy with the results. He then became a critic of the “Indo-Guyanese political establishment”, symbolized by Dr. Cheddi B. Jagan and his American-born wife, Janet, who succeeded him as President in 1998. Opponents often accused Mr. Hoyte of trying to make Guyana ungovernable through protests over the supposed exclusion of Afro-Guyanese from important political posts. (http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9806E6D8163FF93AA15751C1A9649C8B63).

As the situation has developed ever since, fears of “more fire” and “slow fire” haven’t been exaggerated!

Violence against Indians

Those of us who lived through the 1960’s can attest to those turbulent years when a single day seemed like an age! For the younger generation, a review of history books suggests that attacks on Indians were nothing new. During the 1964 Wismar “disturbances”, Indians were killed and others forced to leave the Mackenzie-Wismar (Linden) area. Was this massacre and the forced departure of survivors a classic example of “ethnic cleansing”? And was it an organized plan to drive Indians away from an “African” stronghold? Certainly, Guyana is becoming infamous for many things. Since 1998, violence against Indians has been on the rise. Can we expect more politically motivated acts of violence?

Africans the Rightful Heirs?

Are acts of violence against Indians in Guyana of recent origins? Not really. This time though the violence may be politicized. Starting in the middle of the last century and more recent times in Lusignan, the continuing violence targeting Indians suggests a political motive for the violence: the idea that Africans are the rightful inheritors of the country after British, and that they are being “dispossessed” of their inheritance by Indians. Some elements apparently still view Indians as aliens or, and at best should be second-class citizens, with no right to govern a Guyana that rightfully belongs to Africans. True, politicians of Indian ancestry are in the ruling multiracial PPP/C, but this party seems to be in office only, and not necessarily wielding real power. Thanks to those with a racial mindset that refuses to accept the results of democratic elections?

The fact of the matter is that despite the continuing exodus, the numerical superiority of Indians coupled with free and fair elections all present a threat to those Africans who dream of dominating Guyana as in the “Kabaka” days. But really, are violent acts against Indians helping their cause?

The dilemma facing Indians has been in the making for 170 years now. Racial cohesion and superficial harmony are being tested in the “Land of Six Peoples”. As Guyanese share the same space and country, are there valid reasons for us all to work towards the ideal of “One People, One Nation, One Destiny?

Is the present unitary state still practical? Or a federated one a more viable option? If not, should our leaders look at a more inclusive form of governance?

Indeed, what our country desperately needs are leaders with a vision for the future survival of the Guyana as a viable nation.

Incidentally, it was Mr. Burnham who adopted the constitution that made himself executive president in 1980.

Since than, many of us have been asking: Quo vadis? Where are we headed?

[Dr. Roop Misir is an Indo-Guyanese Canadian Teacher with the Toronto District School Board. You may contact him at roop.misir@gmail.com].

You are invited to a Bhagawad Gita  Course at the Chinmaya Ashram

by Swami Prakasahananda, Resident Acharya at the Chinmaya Mission,
Trinidad and Tobago starting on Sunday 9^th March.  Swamiji will start with

the Gita Dhyanam and will progressively cover the entire text.  He will give

Translations and commentaries on the text including the commentaries

AdiShankaracharya and others.

Please invite all you friends and relatives as well.

Start Date:          9^th March 2008

Class Days:          Every Sunday

Class Time:          8:00 a.m.  to 9:00 a.m. (the class starts after morning puja, which starts at 7:30 a.m., is completed)

Course Duration:              Indefinite, until completion of the text.

Course Fees:      No charge.  Donation are accepted gratefully

Location:              Chinmaya Ashram

                               #1 Swami Chinmayananda Drive, Calcutta #1, Mc Bean, 
                              Couva. TRINIDAD

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INDOCARIBBEAN TIMES – Current issue is available here:
http://www.esnips.com/web/Indo-CaribbeanTimes

 

BOLLYWOOD plays HOLI:
Hema Malini in SHOLAY (above)

Dharmendra and Waheeda Rahman in PHAGUN (below)

FREE ONLINE RADIO from TRINIDAD
RADIO SHAKTI & MASSALA Radio
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FREE ONLINE RADIO from FIJI
Radio Fiji Two
Radio Mirchi
http://www.radiofiji.com.fj

 ~~~~~~~
HINDU WISDOM

As an eagle, weary after soaring in the sky, folds its wings and flies down to rest in its nest, so does the shining Self enter the state of dreamless sleep, where one is freed from all desires.
-Brihadaranyaka Upanishad

Prayer is not asking. It is a longing of the soul. It is daily admission of one’s weakness. It is better in prayer to have a heart without words than words without a heart.
-Mahatma Gandhi, 1930

Brahman creates the game of life by breaking Himself into parts that undergo transformation and extinction.
Yet while he takes on all the roles required by the game, He also always remains free of the game and intact as Brahman.
-Abhinavagupta
  ~~~~~~~~~

V S NAIPAUL: A Tribute
http://www.jahajeedesi.com/forums/index.php?showforum=56

An Agent, a Green Card, and a Demand for Sex

No problems so far, the immigration agent told the American citizen and his 22-year-old Colombian wife at her green card interview in December. After he stapled one of their wedding photos to her application for legal permanent residency, he had just one more question: What was her cellphone number?

 

A Secret Recording

The calls from the agent started three days later. He hinted, she said, at his power to derail her life and deport her relatives, alluding to a brush she had with the law before her marriage. He summoned her to a private meeting. And at noon on Dec. 21, in a parked car on Queens Boulevard, he named his price — not realizing that she was recording everything on the cellphone in her purse.

“I want sex,” he said on the recording. “One or two times. That’s all. You get your green card. You won’t have to see me anymore.”

She reluctantly agreed to a future meeting. But when she tried to leave his car, he demanded oral sex “now,” to “know that you’re serious.” And despite her protests, she said, he got his way.

The 16-minute recording, which the woman first took to The New York Times and then to the Queens district attorney, suggests the vast power of low-level immigration law enforcers, and a growing desperation on the part of immigrants seeking legal status. The aftermath, which included the arrest of an immigration agent last week, underscores the difficulty and danger of making a complaint, even in the rare case when abuse of power may have been caught on tape.

No one knows how widespread sexual blackmail is, but the case echoes other instances of sexual coercion that have surfaced in recent years, including agents criminally charged in Atlanta, Miami and Santa Ana, Calif. And it raises broader questions about the system’s vulnerability to corruption at a time when millions of noncitizens live in a kind of legal no-man’s land, increasingly fearful of seeking the law’s protection.

The agent arrested last week, Isaac R. Baichu, 46, himself an immigrant from Guyana, handled some 8,000 green card applications during his three years as an adjudicator in the Garden City, N.Y., office of United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, part of the federal Department of Homeland Security. He pleaded not guilty to felony and misdemeanor charges of coercing the young woman to perform oral sex, and of promising to help her secure immigration papers in exchange for further sexual favors. If convicted, he will face up to seven years in prison.

His agency has suspended him with pay, and the inspector general of Homeland Security is reviewing his other cases, a spokesman said Wednesday. Prosecutors, who say they recorded a meeting between Mr. Baichu and the woman on March 11 at which he made similar demands for sex, urge any other victims to come forward.

Money, not sex, is the more common currency of corruption in immigration, but according to Congressional testimony in 2006 by Michael Maxwell, former director of the agency’s internal investigations, more than 3,000 backlogged complaints of employee misconduct had gone uninvestigated for lack of staff, including 528 involving criminal allegations.

The agency says it has tripled its investigative staff since then, and counts only 165 serious complaints pending. But it stopped posting an e-mail address and phone number for such complaints last year, said Jan Lane, chief of security and integrity, because it lacks the staff to cull the thousands of mostly irrelevant messages that resulted. Immigrants, she advised, should report wrongdoing to any law enforcement agency they trust.

The young woman in Queens, whose name is being withheld because the authorities consider her the victim of a sex crime, did not even tell her husband what had happened. Two weeks after the meeting in the car, finding no way to make a confidential complaint to the immigration agency and afraid to go to the police, she and two older female relatives took the recording to The Times…. continued at:

http://jahajeedesi.blogspot.com/ 

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/21/nyregion/21immigrant.html

FREE TIBET, Now!   Stop CHINESE BRUTALITY
Dear Friends:
China has denied entry to the media but reports emanating from Lhasa and other parts of Tibet describe Chinese brutality and violent repression of the Tibetan monks and people of Tibet.  The fact that the government in Beijing can do so freely, with relative impunity, is absolutely galling, and a shameless indictment against nations who trade with China.  Here is Amnesty International’s latest report:

China: Concern grows over crackdown on Tibetan protesters
Amnesty International today condemned the harsh crackdown on peaceful protesters in the Tibetan capital, Lhasa. According to eyewitness reports, on 11 March, Chinese police used teargas and electric prods to disperse 500 demonstrators, who were seeking the release of fellow monks held after the previous day’s protests.

On 10 March, it was reported that 11 protesters, including nine monks, were severely beaten and detained outside Tsuklakhang cathedral in central Lhasa. They had been demonstrating to mark the 49th anniversary of the Dalai Lama’s flight from Tibet after his failed rebellion against Chinese rule. Some 50 monks have also been detained across the capital.

“Demonstrators have a right to protest peacefully. China violates international human rights standards in denying their freedom of assembly and freedom of expression,” said Amnesty International’s Asia-Pacific Deputy Program Director Tim Parritt.

“Amnesty International condemns human rights abuses wherever they occur: on the streets of Beijing or the mountains of Tibet.”

Amnesty International calls on China to release immediately all those detained for peacefully exercising their rights.

http://www.amnesty.org/en/for-media/press-releases/china-concern-grows-over-crackdown-tibetan-protesters-20080312

To remind everyone: Tibet is not a part of China. China has occupied Tibet since 1959, when the Communists invaded the country in order to seize control of it’s vast natural resources. Over the course of the last 49 years, China has ruled Tibet with an iron thumb, depriving its citizens of basic civil rights, while settling ethnic Chinese in the country.

Western nations should feel ashamed that they continue to legitimate China’s occupation of Tibet by continuing to do business with it. We should freeze China’s assets, and refuse to purchase products made in China in response to it’s illegal and undemocratic colonial administration of Tibet. It’s time to boycott Beijing, even if it hurts our economy to do so. China is another apartheid state like the former South African regime, or its client state of Myanmar today.

It’s time the West forced it to start playing by the rules, so that it behaved like a real democracy. If China wants to become a member of the family of nations, it has to start behaving like one. As the Dalai Lama has repeatedly said, nothing else will do.

BOYCOTT CHINESE GOODS and THE SUMMER OLYMPICS in China. 

China must be treated as a pariah nation unless Tibetans are allowed freedom and independence. Get involved and participate in protests and demonstrations against China throughout the world.

http://tibet97.blogspot.com/

Deosaran Bisnath,
Member,
Amnesty International

Webpages and Forum dedicated to the NOBLE LAUREATE
http://www.jahajeedesi.com/index.php?page=laureatevsnaipaul

Trinidad National Archives Online
Indian Immigration Page:
http://www.natt.gov.tt/ViewArchiveSearchResults.aspx?ArchiveID=TT+NATT+IM+2

Stop misleading the world
The Stabroek News reprinted in its issue of Thursday, March 13, 2008, an editorial from the Trinidad Express with the caption: “Will Guyana ever truly be free?” no doubt on the urging of the Stabroek.

But let me say in response to the caption that Guyana will really truly be free, when that very freedom which is so cherished and is currently being enjoyed, experienced and propagated by the PPP/C Government, stops being abused by newspapers like the Stabroek News, to mislead the world that freedom of the press is being suppressed in our Guyana.

Has it not yet occurred to the Stabroek News that their chances of being reprieved on the issue of placement of advertisements are for them to withdraw their false and wicked allegations against the government?
DAVID DE GROOT

Premier of Ontario, Canada, Asks For a More Comprehensive Prayer

http://www.hinduismtoday.com/hpi/2008/3/19#3.shtml

TORONTO, CANADA, March 19, 2008: (Via Religion News Service) The premier of Ontario has dropped a political hot potato with his recent announcement that the daily recitation of the Lord’s Prayer in the provincial legislature should be dropped. “It’s time for us to ensure that we have a prayer that better reflects our diversity,” Dalton McGuinty, a Liberal Party member, said last month. “The members of the Ontario Legislature reflect the diversity of Ontario — be it Christian, Jewish, Hindu, Muslim, Sikh or agnostic. It is time for our practices to do the same.”

Canadian leaders have been increasingly more supportive of religious pluralism. In 2007, at the opening of the Swaminarayan Mandir in Toronto, McGuinty said “Toronto is a place where people from all over the world can come together to create something beautiful — a strong and diverse society.” At the same event, Canada’s Prime Minister Stephen Harper said “Today we celebrate one of our country’s greatest strengths–its commitment to pluralism.”

McGuinty’s proposal has touched off a decidedly religious debate in largely secular Canada, and one that echoes similar fights south of the border over the proper role of religion in civic spheres.

he U.S. debate, for the most part, has not centered on the Lord’s Prayer but on other references to the divine — specifically, whether civic councils can open with prayers that end “in Jesus’ name.” That’s the fight playing out in a federal appeals court in Richmond, Va.

Inspiration

http://www.jahajeedesi.com/forums/index.php?showforum=10

What is Dharma? Dharma is that which lifts up the falling man and
enables him to reach God. Dharma in reality is no other than
unflinching devotion to God. What is called Dharma for achieving
worldly ends, such as health, wealth, or progeny, is not really
Dharma; it is Dharma only in a secondary sense.

Who Can Give Peace? Only he who knows the will of God can give peace to another. When Dharmaputra was feeling dejected that he had killed so many people in war, any amount of advice given by learned and wise Rishis who did not know the will of God, proved to be of no avail. Dharmaputra continued to be sad; he did not get peace of mind till he had his doubts cleared by the Sage Bhishma.
- Sri Swami Sivananda

 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CaribbeanHindus/
http://www.jahajeedesi.com/forums/index.php?showforum=10

Word of the Week

PICHAKAAREE, noun:  shiny brass instrument which looks like a large syringe. It is traditionally used in Phagwa to squirt abeer – coloured water - on participants at phagwa celebrations.

The word pichakaaree is often used in many phagwa songs to record the playful aggression re enacted by in phagwa as the participants shoot abeer on each other. The lyrics the most popular phagwa song, ‘Holi kheka Raghubeera,’ which is often looked upon as the anthem of phagwa holds, ‘Rama ke haathe kanak pichakaaree – Rama holds in His had a golden pichakaaree.”

The abeer is made up of a vegetable crystal which is prepared by boiling the chrystals in water. Abeer is transported in large tins and containers to the venues of ‘play’. Locally pichakaarees are made out of PVC pipes and plastic bottles.

HOW THE SONGS CAME TO BE CALLED ‘PICHAKAAREE’

The original name of the song was Local Phagwa Composition. Many factors contributed to the naming of the songs as Pichakaaree.

1. Kendra Phagwa Festival continues to cherish the traditional songs called chowtaal. The lyrics of chowtal communicated ideas and moods of India. It also provides the community with a source for information on the religion and couture.
2. The jahajee community originally possessed almost ten languages eventully lost – all these languages.
3. Songs had to be composed in the language which they now possessed; English.
4. In order to preserve at least words and phrases through this new form, rules were laid to ensure that composers use Indian words.

1. The need which inspired the naming of this genre of songs as’pichakaaree’ came from the need to address through songs, the need for recording for posterity the experiences of the community as it addresses life in the context of its present space an time; modern day Trinidad and Tobago and the wider Caribbean.

1. A common image visible in all phagwa celebration inspired the naming of pichakaaree;

The nozzle of the pichakaaree is placed in a container of abeer located where one is standing. The player draws in the abeer into the belly of the pichakaaree, points it at a target and squirts out the warm, colourful liquid.

Out of purity and silence come words of power.
Swami Chinmayananda (1916-1993), founder of Chinmaya Mission

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 ‘jahaj’ = ship; ‘desi’ = Indian
‘JahajeeDesi’ = The Indians who crossed the Kala Pani by ship,
the Indentured Indian Immigrants, and their descendents.
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