Burke’s utterly baseless and divisive remarks

Dear Editor,
The Association of the People of African Descent (APAD) is compelled to address the utterly baseless and divisive remarks made by Mr. Rickford Burke concerning our upcoming Emancipation Day celebration. Mr. Burke’s attempts to mislead the public with his fearmongering and falsehoods are not only laughable, but are also detrimental to the unity of the Afro-Guyanese community.
To clarify for Mr. Burke and any other who may be confused: The Association of the People of African Descent (APAD) is a legitimate non-profit organization dedicated to empowering our community. Unlike some entities that seem to believe they have a monopoly on Afro-Guyanese issues, we do not seek to monopolize or politicize our shared heritage. We are here to foster unity, not division.
It is particularly ironic that a certain organization which claims to have the official emancipation event had previously sought financial assistance from the very Government it condemns, and claim exclusive rights over Emancipation Day celebrations. It is also notable that the organization charges exorbitant prices of its exhibitors and attendees, APAD paid Gy$140,000 to exhibit at ACDA’s 2023 event, and was deliberately placed at the back of the venue, where we were unable to connect with the Afro-Guyanese community.
The Caribbean Guyana Institute for Democracy (CGID) does not own Emancipation Day, nor does it possess any special authority to denounce or dismiss other organizations striving to make a positive impact on our community.
In contrast, APAD’s Emancipation Day event welcomes all attendees and exhibitors free of charge. As a nonprofit organization, our goal is solely to empower and uplift our community, without burdening them with unnecessary costs.
We do not seek approval from Mr. Burke or the Caribbean Guyana Institute for Democracy (CGID) to host our event. Our commitment to celebrating our history, honouring our ancestors, and promoting progress within the Afro-Guyanese community remains steadfast.
Our organization is steadfast in its aim to foster unity among all Afro-Guyanese. We believe in the strength that comes from standing together and working collaboratively to uplift our community. We reject any attempts to divide us, and will continue to promote unity and progress.

Best Regards,
Association
of the People of
African Descent