GUYANA | Ali Gov't unmindful of the objectives of the Decade for the people of African descent

April 26, 2024
Dear Editor

For approximately two years now, IDPADA-G and the Government of Guyana have been relentlessly and publicly trading accusations and rebuttals.

The Government, though shifting its accusation from personal wrong-doing by IDPADA-G`s officials to mismanagement, over time, has maintained that the core issue is financial accountability.

Although they have maliciously misrepresented the output of the audit report; never providing concrete evidence of financial impropriety, nor have they formally required IDPADA-G to answer to their accusations  or charges.

While refuting the accusation, IDPADA-G has identified the Government's reluctance to fulfill the objectives of the Decade for the people of African descent as the reason for the Government`s onslaught on, and determination to decimate, IDPADA-G.

This is because  IDPADA-G exposes the Government`s ill-will and continues to advocate for the Government to commit to, and provide for, the attainment of the goals of the Resolution that embodies the rationale, objectives, programme of activities, and the expected outcomes of the Decade.

As simply put in the resolution, the Decade is intended to provide an opportunity for States to “take concrete steps through the adoption and effective implementation of *national and international legal frameworks, policies and programmes to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance faced by the people of African descent, taking into account the particular situation of women, girls and young males, by, inter alia, the activities described below.”(*author's emphasis)

The activities referred to as those “described below” are provided for under the following headings:

1. Recognition
(a)  Right to equality and non-discrimination
(b)  Education on equality and awareness-raising
(c)   Information-gathering; and
(d)  Participation and inclusion

2. Justice
(a)  Access to justice; and
(b)  Special measures

3. Development
(a)  Right to development and measures against poverty
(b)  Education
(c)   Employment
(d)  Health
(e)  Housing

4. Multiple or aggravated discrimination

States should adopt and implement policies and programmes that provide effective protection for, and review and repeal all policies and laws that could discriminate against, people of African descent facing multiple, aggravated or intersecting forms of discriminating.

Irrespective of what one`s view may be about IDPADA-G`s accountability, what is pellucid and irrefutable is:

1. The Government`s failure of, and resistance to, a programmatic, legislative responses to the issues that the Resolution identify as warranting attention, especially at this time when much more revenue is, and can be made, available from the oil revenue.

2. The Government`s insistence that since Guyana`s legal framework has the requisite provisions for equal treatment of its citizens, there is no need for special attention for the People of African descent.

These dispositions are manifested in the absence of a programme to provide for the attainment of the goals of the Decade; the non-submission, to the United Nations, of a report on a programme of activities for the Decade; and the Government`s refusal to entertain discussions with IDPADA-G about its operations (accountability) and the articulation of a national programme for the Decade, as is proposed in the UN Resolution, to which the Government signed on, and verbalizes its commit.   

Much of the aforementioned, may seem to be esoteric, however if applied, to the recently declared attempt to remove the vendors from the sea wall embankment, can exemplify the relevance and application of the United Nation`s Resolution to the Guyana situation.    

Most of the affected vendors are females of African descent.

They are pursuing their livelihood through entrepreneurial activities with little or no support, although they are stereotyped as not being entrepreneurial.

The legal regime (laws) and institutional arrangements (machinery for administering the presence of the vendors) that are in place, do not provide for the facilitation of their development. There is no attempt or mechanism to facilitate and incentivize their honest pursuit of a living.

There is a legalistic (positivist) approach to their well-being rather than a paternalistic and sociological approach. They are to serve the law rather than the law serve them. 

The old laws and institutions that have been in place to control and oppress are being invoked rather the creation of pro-people, pro-developmental institutional and legal arrangements. 

There has been the perpetuation of privilege as is manifest in the development north of Camp Rd. Caste and class have trumped poor people's development.

Wealth creation for the already wealthy is trumping poverty alleviation for the poor. 

Why can't they have permanent structures, when a stone throw away the Government has erected permanent structures, for the favoured, that are in the same latitudinal equivalence to the sea wall?

Why can't the vendors be chaperoned by the Government, which has articulated its intent to convert the said area into a boardwalk, inclusive of frontage for the proposed hotels on CARIFESTA avenue, rather than destroy their infrastructure and businesses.   

Clearly the Government is unmindful of the objectives of the Decade for the people of African descent. The institutions and oppressive laws remain the same and those who should benefit from new arrangements are victimized, and those who advocate for change are demonized.

Let it not be claimed that the IDPADA-G members have been given grants, and that that is a fulfillment of the obligations committed under the Resolution. 

While IDPADA-G has not discouraged its members from accessing the grants, which they are in dire need of, we are well aware that only in the complementary situation where the environment for development is created can those grants impact, in a sustainable manner, the lives of the people of African descent. 

Not to mention, that this acclaimed $100,000,000 per year and $500,000,000 all toll, to date, is a pittance and disrespectful given 9 billion dollars annually for the Amerindians,           7 billion dollars for activities in agriculture and the promotion of manufacturing all of which are populated essentially by Indo-Guyanese. 

The point is not how much the Indigenous people and the Indo-Guyanese get. It is the subterfuge manner in which one community is dealt with in comparison to others.

The issue of accountability is really but a red herring in the Government`s attempt to divert attention from its refusal to accept its responsibility to the people of African descent, for equitable treatment to off-set the residual consequences of the ills experienced after the abolition of slavery. 

In that regard, the highlighting of reparations is intended to create a façade. The reparations being touted has nothing to do with the contemporary state of things that need to be addressed by the Government separate and apart from any reparations for the period of enslavement.  

Yours truly,

Vincent Alexander