Proven knowledge must be a guide in any crisis, and we are now in one…

Dear Editor,

I write this letter on the premise of what l have experienced, witnessed and know. I have functioned in the media for over 40 years, and l am rooted in my community, l am an artist, writer, folklorist, a founder member of Acda and the representative of afro-guyanese groups on the erc, l do not write this letter from the premise of the latter.

This is from ‘me’. This letter will be sent to all print media l do expect that it will be treated as previous letters and not be published. I particularly address its contents to my fellow citizens of Gecom. This elections of 2020 has become contaminated with contentions, of late some very convincing, there have been an attempt to even promote an ethnic terror wave, this failed because off on the ground activists who have prevailed successfully to prevent the attacked from retaliating, the attacks are now viral on social media.

We watch the wasp supremacy actions of the republican administration in the US of the continuous deaths of Afro-Americans and the reluctance to alleviate it, even as we greatly admire the collective support for change across the racial divide in that country. In this country there is an unchanged cultural and ethnic polarisation, keep that way for political reasons, not by all political parties, but one predominantly. What there is undoubtedly is an unabated negative stereotypical subliminal and vocal narrative directed at the Afro-Guyanese community that has become almost innate.

Going forward with the 2020 elections how will any of what is before us, in the public consciousness be reconciled, in good faith by all. The opposition has its media houses who are relentlessly promoting its mandate; the alternative fact finding for the government supporters is singularly the chronicle. This is a social hand-grenade, how it is managed based on the facts l have related will determine the nature of the future. I implore you; manage the pin sensibly and with courage.

Barrington Braithwaite,
Artist /writer, social activist