Pres Ali urges Guyanese to resist racism, denounce discrimination

Urging the people of Guyana to resist racism and denounce discrimination, President Dr Irfaan Ali at an Emancipation Dinner at State House on Sunday urged Guyanese to come together as one and rebuff those who would try to divide the people.

President Ali (centre) in conversation with members of the visiting African Royal delegation

During a dinner and celebration he hosted at State House on Sunday evening, President Ali made an impassioned call for Guyanese to resist racism. According to the President, racism and discrimination have no place in society and must be rooted out.
“Today we must honour the sacrifice by resisting any attempt to alter the fullness of the freedom we struggled for. Whether it’s here in Guyana, the Caribbean or elsewhere in the world, we have to honour that struggle.”
“In the fullness of the struggle. Today, we must respect that sacrifice by resisting racism, denouncing hate and embracing human dignity. We must affirm the oneness of our humanity. And in Guyana we are working and I’m telling you, with deep conviction, that the cause is just,” the President said.
The President also expressed solidarity with the African struggle for emancipation, noting that at its core it’s a struggle for human rights.
“This struggle is an evolving struggle. But the struggle has different forms and different shapes. The struggle underpins the importance and power of democracy, rule of law and the upliftment of all the people. We will do a great injustice, to those who fought so hard for the freedom we enjoy, if we believe we can work in an undemocratic environment and the rule of law does not exist.”

Importance
Speaking about the importance of Emancipation, President Ali noted that Emancipation ushered in social change and transformation. And in expressing the need for One Guyana, he said that this is essential if the country is to progress.
“It is those of us, who seek to fracture the family of humanity, using different models and mode, that are not doing justice to the family of humanity and the ultimate sacrifices made in removing slavery and removing hardship and allowing freedom to come to the world.”
“We must affirm the oneness of our humanity. And in Guyana, we are working and I’m telling you with deep conviction that the cause is just and win we must, in building the oneness of humanity in creating the one Guyana that will uplift us all,” the President said.
The dinner at State House saw hundreds in attendance, including dignitaries and Ministers of Government. Also present was a visiting African Royal Delegation from South Africa and the Kingdom of Lesotho. The delegation is in Guyana for Emancipation celebrations 2022, where they joined the Head of State and guests.
His Highness Paul Jones Eganda led the African envoy, which included Her Royal Majesty Queen Cynthia Khamulo Mzilikazi III; Her Royal Highness Queen Ameenata Asaleh II; Her Royal Highness Princess Precious Lindiwe Nthibogelang; Her Royal Highness Princess Tshepi Motloung and Lady Mpho Dindi among other members. (G3)