Exposing hypocrisy on allegation of racism on Cultural Center

Dear Editor,
In a retort to a letter I penned, Mr Nigel Bacchus, in another media, appealed, “We must reject the demons of racism” (Nov 28). Who would disagree? But his letter has evidence of shades of racism (against Indians) and is therefore hypocritical.
While I cannot instruct the letters editor of any media on how to do his or her job, or what to publish; and while I do support absolute freedom of the press; greater care should be taken in editing and publishing nonsense.
Bacchus’s letter was very confusing. It is barren of substance. One has to make sense of the nonsense in this message, which raises the question of why it was published. His attack is an old, worn-out, partisan tactic: when your argument lacks substance and merit, go on the attack and call them racist!
Bacchus states he travels quite a bit, but offers no relationship of demons of racism with his travels. He writes he is saddened “in Bisram’s letter and in attending meetings at Hamilton Green’s compound”, but does not say how and why.
He said he learned a lot of history from Green. It is curious why a Mixed African-Indian person goes to an African nationalist to learn Guyanese history of the tragic period from the 1950s onwards. Why not an Indian like Pat Dial, the most respected historian in the country, a man of impeccable integrity and incorruptible honesty? Or why not another respected person like Eusi Kwayana?
It is widely known that Green was, and remains, a controversial and racially divisive figure in Guyanese politics and in the rise of the dictatorship. His name was associated with a lot of anti-Indian violence that is well documented in countless publications. He is also linked to the attempts to derail democratic elections in 1992 and 2020. He told Hoyte not to accept Jimmy Carter’s advice and concede defeat. He urged President Granger to disregard the 2020 election, ignore comments from America, and essentially declare a state of emergency.
Bacchus accuses me of trying to divide the country by merely mentioning the names of Indian villages in a retort. What stretch of imagination, logic and reasoning can be invoked to reach such an absurd conclusion? This selective critique of my writing out of context perpetuates racism, rather than addresses it.
He said he was told by Green that the names of Ankerville, Leonora, Bath, and other villages led to a “call for partition”. Can he cite literature substantiating that contention? Who called for partition, when, where, and why? My readings referenced one Sydney King suggesting ‘partition’ if the leaders of two main races and the followers could not agree on governance and power sharing. I didn’t call for partition.
And contrary to what Bacchus pens, I didn’t introduce the demon of racism. I have campaigned against racism. It was Green who miniaturised the contribution of Indians in the construction of the National Cultural Center. That is an example of a demon of racism, and not what I penned. Gem Madhoo-Nascimento and many before her, in missives in SN, supported the claim that the Indian Immigrant Fund was used to construct the NCC. Ravi Dev, in GT Dec 1, cited figures showing the fund could build the NCC with money being left over.
Bacchus conveniently ignored the writings of Green. By making an unsubstantiated allegation against me, and not condemning Green’s miniaturization of Indian contributions to culture, Bacchus’s letter undermines his appeal to reject the demons of racism. His reliance on Green to know history serves to entrench divisions and alienate the very public to which he appealed to reject demons of racism. Bacchus undermines his own appeal by not holding Green to the same standards that he seeks from others.
I call on Bacchus to join me in condemning the racist comments that the Indian Immigrant Fund was negligible in the cost of construction of the National Cultural Center. As a person of mixed African-Indian descent, he should excoriate Green for minimizing the contributions of Indians. Critiques must foster mutual accountability among all writers.
It would be hypocritical to call on the nation to reject demons of racism if one subscribes to, and harbours, shades of racism.

Yours truly,
Dr Vishnu Bisram