Nothing will come out of this conversation on race

Dear Editor,

I read the reports in the three more popular dailies regarding the “National Conversation on Ethnic Relations”.

Stabroek News’ entire report was dedicated to what was said by attorney Nigel Hughes who spoke, I believe, as an African Guyanese.

“Kaieteur News” published points made by Mr Hughes and by Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon.

To get anything on what was said by the Indian Guyanese representative, former MP Ravi Dev, you would have had to pick up a copy of the “Guyana Times”. The Times report included remarks made by both Messrs. Dev and Hughes.

Are Guyana’s media then part of the problem rather than the solution?

I was asked to participate in this engagement and declined. As President of the now defunct GIHA (Guyana Indian Heritage Association), I and leaders of other ethnic/cultural groups participated in a similar though more private discussion sponsored by the ERC and the UN some 20 years ago.

Not a single positive thing came out of that engagement and nothing will come out of this one either what with the usual suspects gathered once again to go through the usual blather and superficialities that are accepted as a national conversation on race.

I have often referenced the UN Human Rights Charter which provides protection for the human race’s various ethnicities, races, cultures, religions, etc., as my defence against the push for a one-dimensional Guyanese identity and I am hopeful that with a UN representative on the panel, there will, at least, be the recognition that Guyana’s ethnic/cultural plurality must be accepted and respected.

There is, as yet, no courage to deal with the truths and facts about Guyana’s race relations, and no political will or reason to change the status quo. From time to time, however, there seems to be a need to pretend that something is being done about this most critical issue.

Yours faithfully,

Ryhaan Shah