Dear Editor,
I do not believe in the philosophy, ideas and the sentiments of anything that is divisive or could cause Guyanese to think in a manner that will create a sort of internecine, tribal division in our nation. I am someone who does not know what racism is, I do not like it, I do not believe in it and I do not tolerate it. However, I believe that an organisation like the African Business Chamber for whatever reason and whoever decided to form it did not go far enough to realise that in Guyana we have a multi-ethnic society and in Guyana everyone has the right to go into business.
To form an afro-centric business chamber to me, personally, is a regressive action. Some other people may not be as outspoken as I am to come out and to say this but it must be said. So I give my message to the media, the editors and the public that I strongly disagree with this move.
The African Chamber of Commerce has been applauded by the Government and that is within their power to do so, although I disagree. To be fair, I do recall His Excellency David A Granger calling for growth and development among the African culture and business and so forth, but I believe that encouraging such segregation could be dangerous. I also read that the Opposition Leader, Former President Bharrat Jagdeo, wisely critiqued its formation and brought out his thoughts nationalistically, stating that it could lead to the destruction of other businesses. I believe that this will also create a widening of ethnic chambers of commerce in Guyana. Will it be wise for the Indian businesses to form an Indian Business Chamber? Will it be wise for the ‘Dougla’ to form a Dougla Chamber of Commerce? Would it be a wise decision if our Amerindian brothers and sisters in business formed an Amerindian Business Chamber? It could be justified since they are probably the most abused and mistreated people in the history of Guyana. Should the Chinese then call for a Chamber of their own? Can the Europeans here form one also? I view having a chamber strictly for a particular race as degenerating.
I know that some of my African brothers and sisters will be upset and annoyed with me, but the ones who are intellectual will see the repercussions of this development. If Africans are to keep the business of Africans within their community then the other races may think the same way. If this happens, then there will be no need for a regional or national chamber of commerce.
My philosophy is one of unity and goodwill and I believe that all must be given opportunities. The goal which we all hope to achieve together is social cohesion and I further believe that this African chamber will cause paranoia amongst the other races and they may want to marginalise the Africans and vice-versa. Once we go this direction, it is kind of an apartheid mentality which isn’t being created by the Government but by the people themselves. The African people are one of the world’s most dynamic, powerful and industrious groups and they do not need to be segregated to make economic gains in this country. I sincerely hope that this African Business Chamber does not add to the racial polarising of groups of Guyanese. We know that some Indians discriminate against certain groups of Indians, also some Africans discriminate against their fellow Africans for example, light skin versus darker skin, the Chinese and the mandarins versus the others; this brothers and sisters, is human nature but we must evolve. So are we going to have several different kinds of tribal organisations within the country? Our first 50 years as an independent nation has been riddled with racial and political chaos, let us make the next 50 years an example to the world on how to live harmoniously in a plural society.
Yours sincerely,
Roshan Khan
