BEYOND THE HORIZON-Ravi Dev and Vincent Alexander

 All leadership encourages their followers to aspire towards progress and in many cases coin the phrase, "Beyond the Horizon." meaning, in the effort of a better future.

Ravi Dev referred to the phrase pertaining to President Desmond Hugh Hoyte and Barama, the Korean Plyboard Company. The title of his speech to the nation of Guyana.

Pre-Independence British Guiana work force were held to the highest standards and those who worked for the Colonial government and Bookers undertook their tasks with diligence. And almost the entire colony worked in that discipline. 

All of that culture disappeared in just four years after independent Guyana.

By the time Barama set up in Guyana, the country was psychologically affected. Any and everything was in demand in Guyana, people stole anything. No matter what it was, there was money to be made. Because someone needed it. The purchasers did not care where it came from, clothes on clothe lines disappeared, pots, pans, bicycles, cutlasses and every item that wasn't anchored into concrete, at least couple of feet deep.

Cutlasses were considered a weapon, needed at least three signatures of PNC authorities to purchase one.

The moral of many Indians were low, they drank to the point of intoxication and danced away to the sounds of Babla and Kanchan. 

All the gifts of Chinese factories given to Guyana to maintain employment of its citizens eventually became derelict. Buses given to Guyana by the Indian Government, driven recklessly and discarded after a few years.

Certainly, Burnham did not work in those factories neither did he drive the buses. We the people did, the citizens. And the prejudices that prevailed then and now, initiated by we the people.

No politician can make citizens hate one another. As gods they live away from us, the common people.

Ravi Dev: 

Barama had problems in maintaining production on the weekend. Friday nights, Saturdays and Sundays, many workers were absent. That attitudes still exists today, in both racial groups. Weddings and partying would take preferences over work.

 During the twenty eight years of PNC governance, the Guyana Agricultural Bank did loan Afro-Guyanese sums of money to create venturers. The Bank at its closure reported huge losses. Money never repaid.

The Rice Industry was res-structured. Production fell due to the lack of incentives to grow the crop.

The Sugar Industry was indeed entirely managed by Afro-Guyanese. Many graduates from Bookers Training Centre. Educated as technicians and not managers. The industry almost collapsed until the managing group of Booker Tate took it over.

No manner of shout down will ever discard these historical events in Guyana. I think that is what two of the panelist is attempting to do. Don't want Black People to hear of it.

Vincent Alexander:

Indians did work at the Demerara Bauxite Company. In nineteen Sixty Four, close to 3000 Indians had to evacuated from Wismar and neighboring districts. Referring to the Wismar Massacre.

When PAYE was introduced in the country, every citizen working for a reputable company had the taxes deducted from their wages. Both coolie and black people. And both these races working in the underground economy never paid taxes, even unto dis day.

At emancipation, African villages had to pay taxes, that is true. But you claimed, Indians were living in nuclear villages and never paid taxes. I am sure you are aware of the history of that arrangement. Your discussions are well prepared, that tells me you know but some how not perceived the way an Indian would. So please indulge me.

Indians when they moved off the plantations, lived in many Black villages. Villages, close by Sugar Factories, they continued to work. On the Settlements, the Sugar Company developed, were ran by the Sugar Welfare Fund for their workers. And Bookers paid the government its taxes, colonial and  Independent Guyana Government. Services to these settlements were not administered by any government, done by the Sugar Welfare Fund. 

I worked at Blairmont Sugar Estate in 1960, the period when Bookers decided to treat its workers a little bit decent. My forefathers must have been happy, considering they worked for one shilling per day from 1838 to 1922. That was a paid sacrifice. Once for All Bonus was extra money to do the thing one hoped to do. I bought a blue tyrlene shirt and a pair of Classic shoe. If yuh old like me, you would know it wasn't cheap. 

On the topic of caste, many Indians are Christians and those who are Hindus doan even know or consider castes in their daily lives in Guyana. If anything, the privilege Indians have the mentality as of the Brahmins, similar to your Colored People of Guyana, a full blooded Negro would know of their contempt back then. 

On the topic of rice. The internet and YouTube can settle any difference of opinions. It is all right there for us to see. Sam Hinds on a Talk Program said, several Afro-Guyanese in Maichony planted rice and the crop was unpredictable as for yields.  

Burma was a plant setup by the PNC government to mill rice, paddy supplied by the rice farmers. And the Indians grumbled about the price of paddy. Eventually, the crop production reduced. The country had limited foreign exchange, so rice was sacrificed.

On the question of land. Nothing stays the same. At emancipation, things were one way and by 1917, the colony had arrived at a different plan, a colonial directive. Sugar increased production, more lands were cultivated. Independent plantations became fewer with larger conglomerates. The British were developing sugar since 1838 to be greater production. That is why there were 80, 000 Africans to 239,000 Indians in the colony. The British owned the place, dey duh wah dey want. Forbes nationalized Bookers and never separated the vast amounts of land owned. Onto this day the government has the lands. Forbes too busy ignoring the Indian People, he nice to dem alrite but his interest were with the Afro-sympathy for enslavement. Despite being overlooked, once the opportunity availed itself, Indians went about working the land without any malice. The world had changed but the British stayed the course and sold Amerindian lands as they wished. Since Ancient times, Indians worked the land in India. It is in their veins, it is what they hoped for. The upper castes are few in comparison to the underprivilege castes who are hundreds of millions whose lands were confiscated by the invading Hindus delegating them as Shudras, Chamars and untouchables. Many who came to British Guiana were slaving to the Brahmins who never held a plough in their hands

BEING SAD

Wished I was a creative writer so that I can transfer my sadness to you the reader, through words. 

But I am not prolific enough.

Social media in inundated with commentaries, Guyanese of all races, men and women. 

On every topic.

All of it very serious and interesting, some comedic.

There has been many commentaries on the progress of Black Guyanese, as the commentators puts it.

Overwhelmed with sadness, as it pervaded my inner being, after listening to David Hinds, Vincent Alexander, Nigel Hughes and Olive Sampson. What was said had no distortions or untruths. However, I gathered the panelists were not keen on solutions. 

The question begged to be asked, "Is it expected of the Indians to discipline Bharrat Jagdeo?"

If the panelist have been paying attention, since the Jagans coronate Bharrat Jagdeo, he has basically controlled the Peoples Progressive Party. He has dominated the Presidency of Sam Hinds, Donald Ramotar and Irfaan Ali. It is treasonous to pretend to be the President of Guyana. Even David Granger gave the honor to Joseph Harmon.

We've had men who are not politicians, not even opportunists, but simply lacks the will to do the right thing for the whole country. Instead, they feared a system that penalized.

Dominance by race seems to be an approval for Progressiveness.

The PPP is guilty of it, but the PNC has too. Forbes twenty eight years of it made it appeared Guyana had no Indians beyond those in his association. Then there was the APNU/AFC, at a meeting in Toronto, Indians welcome Granger and their high expectations. Granger smiled and made his speech. After elected, the administration did the worst. I look back and wondered if the thought was, "Typical Coolie Greed." 

So we appeared to be lost with only Bharrat Jagdeo as the most dominant force in the political landscape along with the crop of cronies.

No malice intended, I have followed these issues for a very long time.

Now, let  take David Hinds, he says, "only Black people muss talk bout Black people issues."

Then there is Vincent Alexander, highly theoretical on the history of Black people. Show some entrepreneurial initiative to the impoverished, they need the help, Show the way.

Mr, Nigel Hughes, has all the data for the transgressions of the State. I believe him. Coolie people can be very vindictive even to another Indian. How can there be a correction to a society, one that only acess the merits of a leadership? We have lost trust in Indian leadership and Black leadership likewise. The country needs need leadership. Perhaps, you should be a contender. But, I am concerned about the way you sound. It is wrong what the PPP is doing. Your commentary must be in a tone that is just regardless of the opponent.

Ms. Olive Sampson, Berbice and the Combined Colonies of Essequibo and Demerara have a history. British Guiana have a history. Unfortuneate, the PNC never bothered to implement history in schools. The PPP on other hand preferrs stage performances rather than building libraries stacked with books. PPP Presidents love to bump and grind on stage, they are on video doing it. Books is not their thing, but Books are a Black people thing. And Forbes, highly intelligent, did not impress the minds of our generation. We have a Guianese known for his intelligence, Ivan Van Sertima. In his novel of the 1930s, he gave us a glimpse of our history. He wrote of the coloreds mainly mulatto and creole, putagees, negroes and coolies. He painted a picture with words, prejudices of the city. Basically, coolies were treated as stray dogs, pelted with bricks as fun. I think WE GUYANESE are a hateful people. Our history demonstrates that behavior.

I PLAN TO ADD MORE from time to time.

After the Deluge:GUYANA

After the great flood, from the three sons of one man all the nations were created.

Guyana is not a homogeneous country. We have people of great mixtures as it was in Biblical PLAINS OF SHINAR. And we came to Guyana from different continents.

When the Most High assigned lands to the nations, when he divided up the human race, He established the boundaries of the peoples according to the number in His heavenly court, angels. They were the sons of God assigned to the ancient races of people to watch and protect them. According to Deuteronomy 32:8.

Guyana would have been one of such places of Devine selection for all tribes of the Native Peoples of Guyana which they named Guiana

All beneath the earth and on the earth is their rightful inheritances.   

In the rhetoric of wealth distribution, the  State must keep in mind whose inheritance they are managing.

Biblically, the managers of the State are shepherds of the sheep and are judged harshly for the punishment of those they tend to. In Guyana, it is considered nonsense

They shall find out when the trumpet blows.

The Native people must be financially rewarded to keep their culture and language alive. 

The managers of the State act as the Colonizers towards the people that Columbus and Spain stripped of their Civilization.

A Contender

Listening to the call ins on the The Gildarie-Freddie Kissoon Show, callers lament failures in their villages, towns and the City of Georgetown. Housing Development without roads, water and other amenities guaranteeing decent living in the land of their birth for generations. Salaries for work performed is not honored, both in public and private circles.

Who manages Guyana? 

All countries have pillars that sustain law, order, respect and dignity. It appears, those pillars have been eroded over the decades of an independent Guyana. Disappeared also are its foundations. 

Guyana operates in neglect. 

What does the government do? 

I am saddened by the hardships of life in Guyana for the poor. There is so much hope for a better life,  elusive, because the electorate continually chooses the wrong politicians to raise them up.

We live in an aggressive political climate. After a night of slumber, Guyanese awoke February 13, 1955 to this reality. It has consumed generations of citizens since the event known as "The Split." 

Renaissance

 

I have written over the years of the Alternative and The Third Force, these political groups did came forth in the country. Unfortunately, they only sought membership from a list of old acquaintances. It was evident from the onset that they would be no different than the Peoples National Congress or the Peoples Progressive Party. They came out of political systems that were not creative in the governance of the country. And they got tarnished in corruption just as their mentors.

Disillusioned, I sought a new path-it was the Peoples Movement. With the No Confidence Vote, racism became the driving force which numbed the country. The Peoples Movement never got the attention of the country.

Our history has been a troubling one. Today, the society is quietly fashioned. Citizens of Guyana will find themselves perplexed as to how it was possible to lose a country. I guess some Afro-Guyanese asking the same question of  a heritage. 

This land has to be recued by those who are not diehard supporters of the major political groups. Only by a  majority of citizens of a nationalistic and patriotic fervor.

Guyanese will have to regain their history of One Nation One People One Destiny. It is not achievable under our present state of governance, but it is a nationalistic dream. There is hope in the words for the better days of our country. Now, there are only patriots with personal agendas.

So the need to provide another kind of leadership is most urgent as always. As the saying goes, "in the absence of a possible solution, even the ridiculous idea has the possibility as a plausible one."

The current political system is primed with distrust, corruption and deceit.  It breathes poverty for the masses. And the pundits say, it is the parent of revolution and crime. Crimes we already have, revolution was more like ethnic cleansing in Wismar and the years of disturbances in our towns and villages.. 

For those, at the eve of their lives and were politically involved in the state of affairs of this nation, surely must remember what this colony was like seven decades ago. We were young and free and free of  political schemes in our teenage years. Unlike our forefathers, we grew up in an era of self-determination plague by the Cold War. Our leaders failed the generations that came after us, for we are locked in a Gordian Knot. You could help unravel the bind we are in as a nation with the years of your wisdom. Leave this dear land with a Guyanese Brand, not a Russian or American or Chinese Brand as our leaders sought and seek for us as a fledgling nation. Give Guyanese your words of wisdom for the future-for we must build and continue to build this land as the first day the enslaved African dug his hand in this nameless track of land identified as the Wild Coast. They gave us a country. It took four centuries for us to inherit it as Guyana. Those four centuries has diversified us. We must be tolerant. And we can be. 

On social media, the educated claim they speak for Afro-Guyanese, they are the elites. Whilst a few of the common folk of the major races vent on racism. Both with an opinion never to accommodate each other. I believe  the majority are real quiet and go about trying to survive the difficulties of life in Guyana.  

We emerged as an independent nation divided on ethnicity, a dilemma that is fed daily and the rhetoric cannot be escaped. Can there be a perfect moment? The country awaits.

 

Pivot- A new Balance

"The sons of Adam are limbs of each other having been created of one essence.

When the calamity of time affects one limb the other limbs cannot remain at rest.

If thou hast no sympathy for the troubles of others thou are unworthy to be called by the name of a human."

Written some eight centuries ago by the Persian poet Sa'adi, now adorns the entrance of the United Nations Building in New York.

World leaders passes by those words as they confer on world matters, mainly the human rights of the peoples of the planet.

My country, Guyana is not unknown for its breaches of human values, its calamity of time is about sixty five years. Almost seven decades. Certainly, enough time to awake towards progress and prosperity.

The upcoming Congress of the Peoples National Congress is a moment in time for a new direction for Guyana.

A Paradigm Shift- An advancement in knowledge that has large scale impact.

In my country, life is not easy. Foreigners willing to usher peaceful co-existence find themselves departing with,  "Guyana is not for the faint of heart." It is a Prison House of Nations and Nationalities, because that's what we are. Freedom is not given to all citizens universally, each Nation and Nationality feels freedom must be taken. There has been fifty six years of attempts at it.

Respect and tolerance is non existent in our political systems, one is an alien to the other.  

A Change Must Come.

There must be an attempt to align the People National Congress on a trajectory of economic governance. 

Whatever is taking place today will be questioned in the future by the children of today, that are now witnesses, right across the country. Much is being said on social media also are the political commentators.  

It is like a norm among generations and ethnicities, PNC is Afro-Guyanese. Likewise the PPP is Indo-Guyanese. For those ethnics who find themselves in these organizations are considered Tokenism.

There must be integral participation, those ethnicities must be listened to.

In the creation of the Peoples National Congress, both Afroes and Indoes were involved. It was separation of  moderates of the nineteen fifty three confrontational political system. In the entire history of the PNC, Indians were members of the party. Over the years, they became only faces with no voices. 

That must change.

Many have tried to be The Third Force or The Alternative, citizens have preferred to maintain the PNC and the PPP.  As a citizen, it is expected to having a worthy and worthwhile alternative. The PPP will never bring in a government that is respectful of the Opposition.

They need to be shown the way. Their rise to power makes them unreasonable.

As it stands, the current PNC allows the government a free hand without any attempts of being the respectful Opposition, one that is capable of speaking to the citizens. There is enough swing votes to add to  the PNC secured seats. The 2015 elections has proven that. Those voters were betrayed by the visionless leadership in the People's National Congress.

The PNC needs to be the political organization that recognizes the path to governance lies with the voters. It is a competition for the citizen's basic and only right, their single vote in the hope that their inheritance will be well managed.

I cannot see how the PNC can increase their seats in parliament to the majority unless they give some serious attention to the Indian voters.

This must be a serious consideration for the new leader. A plan must be designed as guarantees to the Indian votes. 

If norm is adhered to, possibly a PNC victory may have an Indo Prime Minister. Hopefully, not one as the PNC dictated to Moses Nagamoottoo. Instead, a Prime Minister with enough responsibilities to be regarded with great respect.

The task ahead is to shed the image of the PNC years as the government-those years were terrible for the nation. Unless the PNC remakes itself as viable option, then we will inherit the PPP years, when analyzed will be terrible years as well for the lack of a credible alternative. 

I wish to make the case for the possibilty of the Indian vote. 

Both main ethnic groups do not care to know much of each other. Very few would know of Guyanese history which encompasses all nations and nationalities. I suspect, the main groups prefers their own separate accounts. For Afro-Guyanese, no nation can experience their pains during slavery and as such, no one, other than an Afro-Guyanese has the authority to speak of it. For the Indo-Guyanese, they wish to tell of their sufferings as if sufferings has different levels. There has been this competition for punishment. 

Side tracked by distrust and division, both of these groups loose out on prosperity. Their actions dominates the lives of Amerindians and the other three nations of people that came to British Guiana.

 The Emancipated African of the British Colony was involved in all aspects of the colony. They were teachers, midwives, stevedores, shopperkeepers, tradesmen, farmers and much more-they were everything to the colony. They alone sustained a country.

As the Indentureds left the Sugar Plantations, the African found himself in competition. When competition becomes noticeable, it breathes contempt. It began with the Portuguese, they took over the stalls at Stabroek Market, then the Indians took over from them. As the economy grew, indentureds rose up the ladder and every thing became very competitive.

For the decades that followed, contempt was in the land. It was fertile for men with destructive points of view.

Fortunately, today, we have wealth. Enough to grow our economy for a better life with more than enough jobs. Unless, the PNC of ths moment sustains this country we would have surrendered the dreams and aspirations of an entire nation to poverty. When men makes dicisions with no contemplations. Corruption prevails, similar to nations with wealth as ours.    

An incident took place sometime around the latter part of 1838. I have always considered it to be very significant for Guyana as a  young developing country.

As the poet wrote, " When the calamity of time affects one limb the other limbs cannot remain at rest." Emancipated Afrcans in their testmonies spoke of the sufferings of the 1838 group of Indians. The poor diet, hours work, unhealthy living conditions, leg irons for escaping and the whip. It was the Emancipated African nurses that tended to wounds of the whip lash. An African Headmaster who documented the harsh treatment to the Anti-Slavery Society. It was the actions of the Emancipated Africans who made a difference in our eastablishment in Guyana-they were responsilbe for the humane system we were indentured to. One they never had for centuries for themmselves.

Did the Emancipated African saw Indians?  I doubt it. He saw a fellow impoverished human, being treated horribly-a treatment that was repeated in their ordeals. Some six centures after the poet's words, the Emancipated African, just freed from Slavery would express his humanity as written by Sa'adi,  "When the calamity of time affects one limb the other limbs cannot remain at rest." 

They did not remain at rest.

The heart is capable of much compassion and hate. My appeal to the People's National Congress, allow compassion to prevail and choose a system that pacifies the extremists among you. May the moderate voices be thunderous. 

The salvation of this human world lies nowhere else than in the human heart, in the human power to reflect, in the human meekness and human responsibility. The Persian Poet expressed these sentiments in the thirteenth century. But, it was The Christ who would record for humanity the realationship of brothers as rightly stated by the poet-the sons of Adam.  The Scriptures tells us, "And just as you desire people to do for you, do also for them."

We must discover and claim the God-given worth as people who have great potential for good.

Among the many quotes of Vaclav Havel there is, "We must live in truth."

History records truth, it has already happened, it is the past. The future is ours to design in reflection of our past. Our past is rich in diversity and our land is abundant. We must find the tolerance not quick to judge one another in malice.  

Indentureship, gave Guyana its uniqueness among the nations of the modern world. The Free African from America, Africa and Caribbean Islands, the Portuguese, the Chinese, the East Indians of 1838 are all part of the Guyanese landscape. During indentureship these people of humble nature departed from their shores in search of a better life. 

From all those races of people, along with the Natives who were here way before, the gift of life made the Mixed Races. A country of Six Peoples we are proud to proclaim.  

The system of Indentureship is an old one among the European nations. John Gladstone would draw  from the system where Englishmen, Scotsmen, Irishmen and Welshmen provided the labor for the lands in the New World of the British West Indies. In exchange for the right to live in economic freedom. 

Soon, the landless of the British Isles became landowners in the New World. Cultivation needed a labor force, not enough indentures from the home land, enslavement assured a labor force. The West African Coast was not unfamiliar to the Spaniards, Portuguese and the Dutch. Trading of commodities quickly switched to human cargo.   

For the 1838 group of East Indians to British Guiana, they would open up the colony to a stream of East Indian indenturers until 1917. People of humble nature departed from the shores of Calcutta. Broken physically, yet urged forward for the sake of survival. Tenacity of their spirit would place their foot prints in 1838 upon the fertile lands of British Guiana, its counties of Essequibo, Demerara and Berbice. 

Forbidden in beliefs of their ancient religion to venture beyond the scared rivers of the Brahmaputra, Indus and Ganges. A civilization that marvelled Alexander the Great, one that has no slaves. A system that catogarizes people in castes, lived and died for generations past, and all the future generations yet to be born. 

They would surrender old customs and traditions. Indo-Guyanese historians have concluded, many indentureds were from the lower Castes including the Untouchables.  

In the freedom of British Guiana, they developed, owned land, property and had their children educated. In India, never the possibility of such freedoms. In British Guiana, their children educated by African teachers. On the Plantations, the oppresive ways of the planters were slightly modified due to the testimony of the Emancipated African on the 1838 immigrants. When the time came to move off the plantations, the Indians would live among the established towns and villages of the Africans.

Quamina, his son Jack, Plantation Success, Plantation Le Ressouvenir, Rev. John Smith and John Gladstone. The names and places associated with a significant change in British Guiana-the journey towards the end of slavery in the British Empire. In 1807, Wilberforce was only able to get the British House of Commons to stop African Slavery by Britain. The struggles were to continue in the British Parliament. The campaign for better working conditions and education for slaves still on the Plantations of the British Empire. 

Rev. John Smith familiar with enacted laws pertaining to slaves on Planations arrived at Plantation Ressouvernir and began his work at the Chapel. No sooner, consultations with the Governor revealed Rev. Smith's familiarity of the few rights permitted to slaves on the planations. 

And he began. Each attempt at education was curtailed with complaints to the Governor. Eventually, teaching and reading was restricted to Biblical contents. His congregation grew beyond Plantation Le Ressoouvernir with worship services attended by slaves of every plantation on the East Coast of Demerara. 

Among the worshippers was Quamina, a slave of Plantation Success owned by John Cladstone. Some men have natural understanding of the scriptures. Quamina was such a person and he became a deacon in the church. 

On every plantation on the East Coast of Demerara, there was talk of Emancipation. There was excitemant back in 1807, but emancipation never came. In 1823, there was excitement again, now delivered by Jack, son of Quamina. Favored on Plantation Success for his trade of making barrels, he was free to move around the planations plying the trade. 

From Jack, the word would travel from House Slaves to Field Slaves on the plantations. Knowledgeable in words and sentences, house slaves read the correspondences from Britain. The raging debates in the House of Commons. 

Impatient, the slave insurrection took place. The punishment was horendous. The British public appalled at the barabrism of it all mounted an assisted campaign by the anti-slavery society of a boycott of West Indian sugar and commodities.

The British Parliament was demanded to end Slavery in the British Empire.

The great debate of property came into question, investments, sugar and the existence of the colony of British Guiana after slavery.

John Gladstone for his business survival and the survival of other Planters would follow the path of Indentureds from the Azores, Maderia, Africa, America, Caribbean, China and India. 

The commodities market took away the guarantees from Britain to its Plantation Owners in the British Empire. Competition meant cheaper labor costs, the only negotiable variable in any production.

Overwhelming circumstances in India of  devious higher castes, zamindars, British Raj, pursuit of Recruiters and famine would make available a few hundred thousand East Indians to the Plantations in the British West Indies. The masses would come to Demerara , directed by "DEMERARA" a sign on the loading dock at the Port of Calcutta, Garden Reach.

timehri@golden.net

Answers

 There is a difference with being aware and being able to analyze the awareness. The implications over ones selfish or self actualizing goals. Guyana is in danger from its adversarial approaches at the ethnic and political levels .

So much is in our favor, yet we would destroy it all. 

Guyana's destruction is the real danger.  

Once the articles have been introduced there is no turning back from the mayhem. This country has killed its fellow citizens for political motives since in the nineteen fifties. It may have been a little bit here and there. But today, if it were to happen again, it would be as the Rwanda Masscres. Over seventy years of pent up frustrations being burdened upon geneartions after generations. Many faults based on false impressions carried down from decades.

Perhaps, it is time for a new gasp of air.

A long time ago, Forbes attended a Commonwealth Conference in Montreal, before returning to Guyana he stopped by in Toronto. His interactions brought much excitement among his countrymen and women. He promised to maintain an association with the audience.

A few years later, there was a social event in Toronto sponsored by the Government of Guyana. I was invited. The group from the government comprised of several Afro-Guyanese and one lone Indo-Guyanese, Cammie Ramsaroop.

As the evening progressed,  Afroes gravitated to the Afro representatives of the government. Naturally, the Indoes congregated with Cammie Ramsaroop. The Consular-General, an Afro-Guyanese, being trained in diplomacy moved from group to group making sure everyone was having an enjoyable evening. He lingered to listen in.

With Cammie Ramsaroop, the Indoes entered confrontional conversations. Cammie, in his jovial demeanor would offer his opinions with Guyanese addage at the end of each comment.

There were phtographs taken, lots of it.

Soon after that event, I would visit Guyana. Upon entering my village and gathering with friends. I was asked, "since when you joined the Peoples National Congress". The PNC had published the photograph of the Indians present at the gathering. And I was deemed a PNCite from association. This was a time when overseas voting was allowed. And PNC activists supposedly voted for Indians living in Foreign Countries.

So far, I have not been a member of any Political Party. If anything I would be tempted to join a BRAND NEW GROUP with no baggages. I have tried with the PPP, PNC and the AFC to offer ideas of possible solutions to problems associated with communities. It is not easy dealing with Indoes and Afroes who has power. So, it is not like prejudices prevails. It is more like the lack of interests to do better for the impoverished.

Because I am a Guyanese, I have the interests of both the Peoples National Congress and Peoples Progressive Party. They comprised the government in the past and will for the future.

The big question, how can these organizations be shifted to the interest of the common man.

The Peoples Progressive Party has always been overly confident of forming a government in it entire history. From this position, changes to its policies and governance is not forthcoming. Their support base is rigid and perhaps intolerant-hostile to anyone who differs that being Indians.

The Peoples National Congress, definitely is an Ethnic Political Party. But, the accomodation of an Indian participation is strong with limiations-and has always been that way.

The creation of the Peoples National Congress in 1955 saw several Indians moving from the PPP into the Burnhamite PPP. They shared common views with Forbes and perhaps were the Moderates. The Extremists would remain with the Jaganite PPP, those who seriously challenged the Americans and British with a Soviet agenda. Interestingly, many Afroes with the PPP remained with the Jaganite PPP.  

The Indians politically involved with Forbes somehow never rose to the top of the PNC. Forbes continued over the years to garner support from individual prominent Indians but never from the rural communities. Those prominent Indians provided legality to his questionable governance. 

During this period, Africa was on the rise and its Indian populations were marginalized. 

Guyana took on Pan-Africanism. Forbes in this period leaned towards the Muslim Community,  Indian looking but not as the majority of Hindus. With the muslim populations of Kenya, Tanzania, Nigeria and others in Africa, perhaps, there was the acceptance. And then, the quest of diplomatic ties with  the Arabic World.   

With all that was perbetrated, a few Indians, as it is said, crossed the floor to the PNC side of the legislature. Two comes to mind, Vincent Teekah and Ranji Chandisingh.

My point, Indians always makes the effort of having a meaningful role in the governance of Guyana.    

The elections of 1992 placed the PNC in the position of never a hope to form the government again. For they have never fairly won an election. 

After 23 years of PPP governance and complaints from a portion of the electorate. The emergence of Alliance for Change would throw their support behind the PNC.

In 2014, at a gathering in Toronto, in the audience were more Indo-Guyanese than Afro-Guyanese. The Indians who made public comments to David Granger, all stated their joy to share in his vision of a united Guyana. 

Once again, Indians were going to take a chance for respectful governance of their country.

I briefly met David Granger at that meeting. If we were not interrupted, I would have said to him that his assent was due to the decades of prayers of the faithful.

I felt confident he was THE MAN. Because, he knew the battle was not against flesh and blood. 

The People National Congress has a solid support base of possibly thirty one seats. With that, on their own they cannot win. However, in Guyana's politics, there is that slim chance that atleast three seats are Guyanese and the other sixty two seats are compromised ethnically.

The APNU+AFC won in a slim election victory. Enough Indians had barely made it happened.

The inaugurations were like a Biblical Solomon taking the oath.

Indian participation waned from the inceptions.

Afro-Guyanese emerged with dominance. Indians were bypassed.

Indians of the AFC were not trusted. The AFC had become divided with Afro and Indo. Pro PPP and Pro-PNC.

Then the Presdient began his appointments, it was obvious it was a PNC regime again.

Not one Indian to be an Advisor he could not find. I concluded, the President does not know  Indians in Guyana. He has no associations with them.

And the President continued on his style of governance. Perhaps, the part of "against principalities" he has succumbed to. The Principalities are powerful.