GUYANA | Manickchand's ignorance and contempt for African religions, Right to free expression

GEORGETOWN, Guyana, Feb 18, 2024 - I am concerned what knowledge and practice of obeah does Minister Priya Manickchand understand and know that led her to believe and state that the actions of a person last Thursday (February 15, 2024) in front of the Ministry of Education was an obeah act? Is she more familiar with obeah and in tune with its various actions than we know?

On the day in question the following words were posted on her Facebook page: “Obeah in 2024. Done by the APNU (disguised as GTU) in front of my office, Ministry of Education. Do the teachers believe in this? Is this what we are modeling for children in modern day Guyana?”

Such primitive thought coming from the nation’s chief education policy maker is downright disrespectful to all Guyanese, whether or not they believe in or practice the culture of obeah, which is practiced by many, and recognised among our historical diversities.

Manickchand’s comments are no less racist in overtones than those of the colonisers who criminalised obeah to dilute its perceived ability to fuel the spiritual power of the African slaves resistance and strength. 

Whereas Africans themselves have been taught to see obeah in a negative light and the majority have embraced and adapted to other cultures and spiritual practices of their colonisers.

Today, Mackinchand mimics the divisive attacks of the colonial masters against the descendants of slaves, knowing fully well that she and many others like her have no historical match to the horrors of slavery, the disruption of African culture. 

They, unlike Africans, have not suffered similar criminalisation of their culture.

Further, the minister must be told her words violate citizens’ right to ‘Protection of freedom of conscience’ as guaranteed in Article 145 (1) of the Constitution of Guyana which expressly states “Except with his or her own consent, no person shall be hindered in the enjoyment of his or her freedom of conscience, and for the purposes of this article the said freedom includes freedom of thought and of religion…” How dare her seek to denigrate a right believers of this faith are guaranteed!

Africans and all Guyanese must be aware that the practice of obeah is a component of African traditional culture. 

It is no different in practice of other groups, races and cultures, and such practice transcends all religions in various forms and fashions, using various elements, whether it is blood, rice, flowers, incense, oils, eggs, animals etc. in their houses, religious places, waterfront or other.

Manickchand should know better. Rather than engaging in stoking the flames of ethnic and cultural intolerance and seeking to create divisions, her time would be more productively spent leading this nation to respect the richness of our culture and the right of everyone to non-violent self-expression. 

Such actions and promotions would be in keeping with our national motto “One People One Nation One Destiny,” and the rich cultural tapestry that  is  the amalgam of Guyana.

These are to be understood, promoted, celebrated, and given free expression in our aspiration of building a united country. It is most unfortunate Manickchand, who has the responsibility in influencing such aspiration, through the minds of our children, knows not nor cares not.

To cast negative aspersions on the practice of obeah in these enlightened and liberated tines and using the same in an old customary colonial fashion, to suggest wrongdoing and divide the teachers who come from various cultures and backgrounds, is insensitive and disingenuous. 

One wonders if the Minister understands or cares that Her comments may also be personally offensive to some.  It is clearly evident she and her regime does not, and they are bent on denigrating African Guyanese in this multi-ethnic, multi-cultural society.

Her ready acceptance that a dark-skinned person draped in A Partnership of National Unity (APNU) flag and colours is operating in the interest of the APNU or the teachers is simplistic at best.  

We the people of Guyana must not forget that over the years the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) is known for using and paying select black people to act in ways that allow the party/government to point fingers at the opposition and others who engage in expressions that signal dissatisfaction with any aspect of their governance.

The minister’s conduct is another representation of her regime’s ‘one Guyana’; that is one dominant ethnic culture, one dominant race, one dominant way of interpreting reality as formulated by the PPP and serving their purpose not nation building.

Even more assiduous is the minister, during working hours, finding time to be on social media stoking public mischief rather than seeking ways to resolve the teachers industrial action, resulting from the regime’s intransigence to respect the workers’ right to collective bargaining and obligation of the employer under the law to treat with the Guyana Teachers Union in good faith.

All Guyanese, in this multicultural society who believe in respect for cultural diversity and inclusion must condemn Manickchand’s attack on African traditions.  Our educators must lead the way in this regard in a sensitive and constructive manner.

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