Dear Editor,
Many Guyanese families have suffered from the events leading up to our country’s Independence. The date selected for Independence continues to stir up emotions and memories of violence between Indians and Africans. Unfortunately, no steps have been made over the years to ensure dialogue and reconciliation occur. Instead, there is denial or calls for everyone to move forward towards unity. This cannot be accomplished without dialogue and reconciliation around this very controversial part of our national history. The history books have ignored these events leading up to our Independence and as the years pass, the division in our country continues. On the surface, it may seem better but as seen during previous elections the division surfaces and it does so violently.
From the Indian perspective, there was a massacre that involved the military and police. This sentiment continues within the Indian community. Most military and police personnel continue to be predominantly African, and the trust for the police and military within the Indian community remains low. On the other hand, Africans believe that the killing of Indians was justified, or they deny that a massacre ever took place. They also continue to embrace the police and military as a symbol of their strength within the country.
These two differing perspectives have led to Indians boycotting Independence celebrations over the years, while Africans view the date of Independence as triumphant.
The PPP has tried to overcome the resulting division in the country by firstly embracing the weak Civic party of Hinds and secondly by placing Africans in the second most important position on the election ticket. Electoral tactics used by both major parties at the time was an attempt to lure voters from the opposing racial group. This occurred when Granger ran with Nagamootoo and Ramjattan to secure a win that would have otherwise been unattainable without the Indian crossover vote, and when Ali selected Phillips as a running mate.
The latter being important to help reduce the risk of a military coup and subdue any potential threat of an African uprising if victory was achieved. This proved important after a very controversial and divisive elections where the previous leader of the military attempted to hold onto power by unscrupulous means.
The theme of One Guyana was then invented as an attempt to bridge the racial divide and secure power for the incumbent party, and the recent 60-year celebration of Independence was also an effort to move past the pain and hurt which still lingers in both the Indian and African communities. The lure of wealth and power has also allowed for perceived progress in achieving unity, but when the ability to provide wealth ends the racial divide will resurface unless true reconciliation is achieved. Unfortunately, bypassing the reconciliation process and trying to sweep this part of our history under the proverbial carpet has resulted in added controversy. The problems of racial segregation, racial discrimination and racial violence must be dealt with. They can no longer be ignored if unity is to be achieved.
A recent book on the massacre has been published by an author who shares the Indian perspective, and a recent letter by the leader of the PNC & APNU has once again pushed the narrative of denial. As a nation, we can no longer afford to let the events leading up to our Independence remain in the closet. We must have the courage to engage in civil discourse and embrace a transparent and public reconciliation process, so our young Nation has an opportunity to heal itself. Otherwise, the racial divide will continue, and anger will be allowed to fester and grow beneath the surface. An anger so intense that it surfaces during elections in the form of violence and hate. Not too long ago both communities were in the streets burning tires and issuing threats to each other with cutlasses in hand.
People were killed and some areas were too dangerous to go if you were from a different race. Those within the National Assembly must have the courage to support the reconciliation process and move past the historic tensions that have prevented cooperation, shared perspective, and true understanding of each other’s past. The combative and emotional nature of the discourse in the House of Parliament is representative of the anger felt within the larger community and their respective constituents. Do we truly want unity or division? The answer will reveal itself in whether reconciliation is achievable.