Dear Editor,
There is a need for an institutionalised approach to linkages via a diaspora centre with diverse Guyanese diaspora spread out in several countries. There could be a formal diaspora department out of the office of the President or Ministry of Foreign Affairs or a separate ministry to engage the diaspora that is much larger than the population of Guyana itself. Many countries have such formal linkages (centre or department).
I worked with groups that helped establish such formal linkages for India with her large diaspora of 32 million. And I helped with the establishment of diaspora centres in several countries. The resources and wealth of the diaspora, just in America alone, is significantly higher than the annual budget of Guyana and can contribute enormous capital and technology for the rapid development of Guyana whether in housing, infrastructure, telecom, power generation, gas and oil industries, etc.
The terms Guyanese diaspora and Indian diaspora were introduced in the 1980s by a few of us (like Ravi Dev, Baytoram, Ramharack, Vassan Ramracha, among others) in New York who were deeply involved in the struggle for the restoration of democracy in Guyana. We worked closely with groups from India to open political doors in Washington that put pressure on the Burnham/Hoyte dictatorship to restore democratic governance in Guyana.
It would be ungrateful not to recognise the significant contributions of Indian nationals in making it possible for Guyanese freedom fighters, including Dr Jagan, to meet officials of the Reagan/Bush Administrations, Members of Congress, the Carter Center, academics and influential figures like Arthur Schlesinger, in that long struggle for the restoration of democracy in the homeland.
In NY, a small group of us planned and implemented conferences pertaining to Guyanese in America and on Guyana and on overseas Indians and in so doing birthed the terms Guyanese and Indian diasporas that would become institutionalised in India and Guyana and among overseas individuals who trace their ancestry to those countries.
The group of us also proposed the establishment of Guyanese diaspora centres in countries like the US, Canada, UK, Surinam, Trinidad, St Lucia, Antigua, St, Marteen, etc where there were/are large numbers of Guyanese because of the enormous amount of resources that would redound from the formal linkage between the diaspora and the homeland. But these calls were largely ignored except for a half-hearted attempt in 2012 by the Ramotar Administration with no follow-up.
It is hoped that the President Irfaan Ali-led Administration would see the importance (like the enormous flow of human and capital resources for development) of diaspora centres. There should at a minimum be a Government-funded diaspora centre in Guyana if not also branches in the major Guyanese population centres abroad for formal connectivity and engagement. Separately, there should also be a funded (but independent from Government control) Centre for Diaspora Studies in Guyana as a group of us proposed after the restoration of democracy in October 1992.
There have been no takers by successive Governments in Guyana. I am currently working with two professors in preparing a proposal, now in final stages, for a diaspora centre (that would also address issues pertaining to Guyanese) at the Benaras Hindu University in Varanasi. It would be up and running within weeks.
Separately, I worked with peers to establish diaspora centres in Delhi and in Lucknow (capital of Uttar Pradesh state), India.
Since the 1990s, a few Guyanese, including myself, were connected with the establishment of Indian diaspora centres and organisations in several countries including Fiji, Mauritius, India, New York, Australia, and Trinidad. We organised diaspora conferences in all of them (last one in Fiji a year ago and several on Zoom since the COVID outbreak) addressing issues relating to the diaspora, the ancestral homeland, and countries of residence
In November 1992, at a meeting in Jamaica, Queens, hosted by Ray Sundar (at the time President of Indo-Caribbean Federation of Associations of North America) of Port Mourant at his real estate office, I floated the idea of a Guyanese diaspora centre.
I proposed the idea of an office or centre to coordinate international aid for Guyana with coordinator located in Guyana or NY. Sundar supported it and in fact collected a lot of material assistance for Guyana that was sent to schools and religious institutions for distribution. I approached Dr Jagan with the idea. Although he endorsed it, he said the country could not afford to pay anyone or for an office. He suggested instead that I teach at UG and volunteer my time to head the international aid effort for Guyana. I politely declined his counter offer.
Since around 2004, Ashok Ramsaran of Whim, Deo Gosine of Trinidad, and myself have closely engaged the Indian Government on diaspora affairs especially relating to Guyana and the Caribbean. Ramsaran and I communicated with and exchanged ideas almost daily on diaspora matters (of India, Guyana, Trinidad). We issued several reports on the diaspora to the Indian Government that appreciated our efforts.
The Indian Government implemented several of our ideas. In fact, Ramsaran and I were invited to India for formal discussions with Government people. A lot of resources poured into India as a result of our engagements and also to Guyana and the Caribbean as a result of our requests to the Government of India to increase aid. Ramsaran was subsequently approached by groups in El Salvador to assist in that country’s engagement with the El Salvador diaspora in America.
A formal diaspora centre (linkage) would bring Guyanese together to better relate with one another, celebrate festivals, promote culture, address common concerns, coordinate diaspora public activities, and provide support services.
It would be the eye, ear and voice of the community and promote Guyana to tourists and investors. It would be the advocate for the homeland in Washington and other political capitals lobbying for our interests. It would seek assistance from abroad to protect and strengthen democracy. It would be an asset for the development of the homeland.
Yours truly,
Dr Vishnu Bisram
