Dear Editor,
THE way Minister Sarah Browne was attacked by Azruddin Mohamed and Odessa Primus of the WIN Party outside the Amerindian Hostel should trouble every decent Guyanese, but more so Indigenous Guyanese. This was a clear case of disrespect and intimidation of a female Indigenous Guyanese.
Minister Browne is no stranger to hard work nor sacrifice. She rose quietly through the ranks, from the grassroots, from the very communities that too often go unheard. She knows what service means. Her very story exemplifies Indigenous resilience. This is why it pains me to see the blatant disrespect meted out to a fellow Indigenous sister. Especially with the disrespect coming from a new political party leader now claiming to champion the Indigenous constituent.
The bullyism that Sarah faced is nothing new. Every Indigenous sister who has ever worked their way up from nothing would’ve identified with that moment deeply. Minister Browne represents the many who had to fight their way into spaces where others are simply born into privilege. While Azruddin Mohamed was born with a gold spoon in his mouth, Minister Sarah was staying in that very hostel. And while Mr. Mohamed had the luxury of being chauffeured from home to school, Sarah Browne simply used a canoe. Her calmness in that heated scene was more powerful than any argument. Why? Because she showed that she’s grounded in purpose, not pettiness. Quiet resilience over flagrant bullyism and intimidation. That is who she is.
Politics should never bring us to the gutter. Minister Browne’s composure reminded us that leadership is about holding your peace even when others try to derail it.
What we saw on display was the real Sarah Browne: A focused and undaunted Indigenous warrior, anchored in resilience throughout the noise.