O.P.P.R.E.S.S.I.O.N- its root is Latin oppressus. Literally it means to press down. (Oxford) A somewhat complex concept that takes many forms. Loosely speaking and in the case to which I am applying the concept, to wit the 83,000 square miles that belongs to the Guyanese people and not the ruling PPP, its cohorts, party supporters and soup drinkers. Where my "nabel" string is buried. It is the placing of restrictions on a particular group of people there. Do not think solely restrictions in the strictest sense of the word. Rather, it is of the more insidious systemic ilk. That is by way of privilege, access to jobs, bank loans, the unfair distribution of resources, the awarding of multiple contracts to certain people and other economic means that a group of people, namely Afro-Guyanese are denied. Oppression takes various forms which also include systematically quashing a people politically, and economically. Social and cultural degradation by way of "the stink and dutty" shows sanctioned by the Department of Culture no less. It is ugly, evil and immoral. But to qoute American activist Assata Shakur " Nobody in the world, nobody in history, has ever gotten their freedom, by appealing to the moral sense of the people who are oppressing them."
So what happens when you oppress a people? Protests happen. Of course these are usually overshadowed by criminal elements using the opportunity to loot. As the history of Guyana shows, inevitably such protests will continue to erupt from time to time. Eventually, they will become worse. Surely, the PPP cannot be that delusional to think that there will be no conquences for its continued blatant discrimination against Afro-Guyanese.
A current example of the discrimination of privilege, not unlike the cases of black versus white privilege in the US, is the case of Imran from Mon Repos Line Top. In a TikTok video, he made clear and present threats to Afro-Guyanese. Imran stated that they should be poisoned and that he would shoot them. Where is the Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn? Wasn't it he who rambled on about threats from overseas based Guyanese to be taken seriously? Well Mr. Benn do look in your own backyard. We expect Imran from Mon Repos Line Top to be arrested and charged forthwith for making death threats, and inciting etc. The cold hard evidence is there. Not arresting and charging this Imran, will prove my point of a glaring case of systemic discrimination. Moreso, as the local news has reported several persons were charged the following day of the unrest for "riotous behaviour." It is with the same alacrity Imran must be charged. Moreover, I do recall several Afro-Guyanese in the recent past, being placed before the court for Face Book posts.
Everyone knows there is a long history of divisive politics in Guyana. Still, politicians on both sides of the divide insist on perpetuating same. Anyone with a smattering of intelligence can determine that the sustained inequality and division, will result in civil unrest for the foreseeable future, as well as unfair social hierarchy. The latter obviously as a result of being systemically placed in a position of economic disadvantage. Talk of President Ali's much vaunted "One Guyana" is worthless in the face of continued glaring discriminatory treatment of one section of the population as opposed to the other. Case in point being the lack of investigation and charges brought against Imran to date. I say good luck with all the chatter of the oil finds turning Guyana into a greater developed country when the Machiavellan political games are designed to keep sections of the population poor. By no means do I pretend to be a political science major. Yet, it is not hard to determine that it is nigh impossible to build and achieve a nation of sustained success with glaring inequalities.
At this juncture, may I remind all and sundry, of another inconvenient truth. Remember during the Guyana Manufacturer's Association lunch (September 2019), now President Ali was among those outside of the Pegasus Hotel protesting? At one point, some protestors were even physically rocking then President Granger's car and then Foreign Minister Karen Cummings' s car (the footage exists). They also threatened to kill Granger on that occasion. Oh that ostrich syndrome my people are apparently happy to employ. Unsurprisingly, and reflective of his calibre, the president in response to the recent events, is reported as saying that he felt like going to a cemetery, sitting in the middle and doing a live from there. I will leave that for people to interpret as they see fit.
Then there are the apologists and sideliners who claim they do not see the benefit of criticising the government or politicians. What these types fail to mention is that their own self-interests usually lie at the heart of this. After all, they cannot be critical of the government and politicians if they want their pet projects from which, they gain notoriety and financial benefit to continue unhindered. Never mind that the vast majority of lesser privileged people are being discriminated against. What do they matter, when a token few can be paraded around in an attempt to obfuscate the reality that is Guyana today.
Furthermore, it is so interesting and telling that people suddenly find their voices when they are directly or indirectly affected. That is, when it suits them. So many instances of injustices and nary a peep. Remember the three protesters killed in Linden? Remember a couple of weeks ago minor children were violated by the Education Ministry and the police? Just a few instances where those who very recently found their voices remained mum. Why? Because the foregoing instances did not impact them or their families.
To quote Rev. Martin Niemoller "First they came for the Communists, and I did not speak out—Because I was not a communist. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—Because I was not a trade unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—Because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me."
The commenters of convenience and the "I do not criticize the government and politicians" lot ought to bear the aforementioned in mind lest they are under the misguided notion that they will always be exempt from tyranny in one form or another.
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