Dear Editor,
The call for ethnic balance in the Public Service and its agencies has provided provoking, perplexing and petrifying responses, especially since a “What Guyana looks like” term has been introduced. Commissioner of Enquiries, pre-colonial and post-colonial periods, have all found and recommended the need for equating the imbalances. To date, there has commenced no serious approach adhering to this recommendation, and the issue has survived to this day unresolved.
The conversation recently revolved around GECOM’s staff, which comprises over 75% of one ethnicity. Incidentally, this is a reflection of most other agencies, and of the Public Service. The demographics of Guyana show the following: Indian Descent – 39%; African Descent – 29%; Mixed – 20%; Amerindians – 11%; and others – 1% (Portuguese, Chinese and White).
Social media is the electronic medium, engineering-variable platform to pour and spill grievances, opinions, remarks, complaints, news, views, interviews and nuanced innuendoes. At the tip of a finger, the world congregates to accommodate the flash of a reflection or deflection, whether accurate or inaccurate, and a response, whether appropriate or inappropriate.
Many took to Facebook to express their endorsement of the subject of ethnic imbalances. Some questioned the meaning of the induced terminology, and a few are disgruntled over the uncomfortable topic, while others are annoyed with the discussion. One contributor suggested hiring more individuals from the minority composition. This idea was received with immediate rebuttal with a “that’s how you get One Guyana? By firing Afro-Guyanese parents? Most of you don’t realize how one-sided you are. That means you can only see things from your perspective, due to lack of empathy. The Public Service had more Afro-Guyanese during British rule than it has now. Being mostly Afro-Guyanese is NOT the cause of the PNC. You need to learn Guyanese history.”
A walk down memory lane will show that the period 1964 to 1992 and 2015 to 2020 saw the impetus of PNC card holders (in particular of one race) dominating and domineering the employment of Public Servants and Government agencies, especially in the 70s and 80s. Employment was primarily based on race, face, party membership, one’s religion and one’s English name. The educational qualification became subservient, and played second fiddle.
As it is currently, it’s not a process of wanting to fire anyone with a replacement, but going forward and implementing a balanced system to employ those who have been denied for generations, to make it look more like a “true Guyanese representation, and not a one-faced Guyana.”
Guyanese history cannot be rewritten to change the course of history. Rather, history has engrained the sad, diabolical and damaging effects of the Burnham era, which has left devastating and demonic repercussions, most of which many are ashamed to acknowledge and accept because of their atrocities and monstrous nature. Historians have already captured and recorded who have been really and truly biased, unilateral, prejudiced; ill-conceived, conceited, discriminatory, violent; those who have rigged elections; those who are fraudsters, raped the Treasury; those who have indulged in corruption and crime; those who have mismanaged the economy to lead the country to bankruptcy; those who have squandered funds; those who are guilty of being suppressors, oppressors, depressors and dictators; those who have violated law and order; those who have disobeyed rules and regulations; those who have disregarded the Constitution; those who have used the state machinery for party, personal and private use; those who have abused power; those who have created poverty and misery; those who have deliberately caused dishonesty, deception and degradation to derail the moral dignity of Guyana.
Again, on the contrary, historians do provide glowing records of the men, women and children who have uplifted Guyanese from the bottom of the pit to emerge on the pedestal of pride once again and enjoy the freedom of independence to lavish in peace, progress and prosperity.
Guyanese are no longer put to shame, and history is being made to show the world that in the annals of the library, it is people of dignity and honour who are responsible for lifting this nation and its people to highlight the worth of Guyana and Guyanese in the true text and nature of the greatness of this land. History will reflect that the national, regional and international communities are in advocacy and agreement with those who have been elected, and not selected to legally govern this land legitimately, effectively and efficiently.
The continuous outpour of support and the perpetual injection of investors from overseas is overwhelming. This confirms the confidence of the risk-bearers, and the belief that management of Guyana is in the right and capable hands.
The harsh reality of truth is always difficult to face, and even more strenuous to swallow.
Yours respectfully,
Jai Lall
