OF WANTON DISCRIMINATION

Someone please say it ain't so! Astonishment does not begin to adequately  express the gamut of thoughts as I read the advertisement by Princess Casino (Guyana) for Latino dealers published in the  Stabroek News July 17th  Sunday Edition.  How is it possible that in 2022, such an ad could be run in a leading daily newspaper in Guyana beggars belief. For those of you who missed it, the Princess Casino Guyana Inc. advertised in the Sunday Stabroek for game table dealers. The requirements boldly stated "Nationality: Latinos."

It is bad enough that the management of Princess Casino could conceive of, much more create such a downright racist and discriminatory advertisement. This raises all sorts of issues, since it is highly unlikely that  this hotel, a part of the Ramada chain would have entertained the thought of running such an advertisement in any developed nation. Ergo, the fact that it is comfortable enough to so do speaks volumes of the contempt it has for not only the government but the Guyanese nation as a whole. Does it think that Guyana is an extension of Venezuela or Brazil? Is it oblivious to the fact that Guyana is a land of six peoples? The fact that it felt comfortable to advertise in such a manner should have John Public outraged.

But then again, we should not be surprised. This said hotel if my memory serves me correctly, some time in the past had several Labour relations issues, all of which raised the issue of racism and contempt for Guyanese. In October 2015, Stabroek News published an article in which local hotel staff alleging maltreatment, filed complaints with the Labour Ministry. Claims of harassment, being only allowed one day off per week as opposed to the two days off per 40 hour work week as proscribed by law. Additionally, it says something about Guyana's society overall. Has discrimination become so pervasive, that we no longer think of it as such? Has it become a way of life so its acceptance has become second nature? There are deeper issues at play that perhaps the local sociologists need to study and address.

Furthermore, the fact that Stabroek News published something so repugnant is nothing short of appalling. To my recollection, hotels usually contract advertising agencies to have advertisements created.  Subsequently, these are sent to the media for publication. The point I am trying to make is that between the journey of the creation of the copy to its printing, how did no one stop to think this is wrong? Shouldn't marketing agencies have a duty to be cognisant of the basic laws of the country? Did no one read and understand the enormity of such a requirement? It is a terrible thing to say but does no one think anymore? How could it not register that there is something fundamentally wrong with such a requirement? Also, shouldn't the advertising manager of the newspaper, or whoever oversees the ads to be printed, not have determined that was unacceptable? Granted the Labour Ministry has since demanded that the advertisement be withdrawn. However, what provisions are in place to ensure that not only Latinos are hired as dealers, as is evidently the management of the hotel's desire? How does  the Labour Ministry plan to follow up and ensure that Princess Hotel does not continue to engage in discriminatory practices in this regard? Will inspectors visit unannounced? The operations of this hotel clearly warrant closer scrutiny. Why are foreigners being allowed to operate with wanton disregard for the laws of the country?

This ministry, under both the present and previous governments, has frequently failed to cover itself in glory when it comes to being a positive  advocate for  Guyanese workers being wronged by  foreign employers. We currently have the vexing issue in the oil and gas industry of foreign workers being paid more than their Guyanese counterparts for doing similar work...this is one that has at least been made public. Who knows what else remains uncovered?

Sadly, the Princess Casino issue, is reflective of our inbuilt acculturation of the "massa culture" where we tend to genuflect to foreigners of a paler hue. This is evidenced in how the PPP government engages in attracting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). Emerging from the harsh economic times of the 1980s, the country desperately needed FDI and we  therefore had to make ourselves attractive. The Hoyte government wooed investors in the telecommunications, forestry and mining sectors, to give the country ATN, Barama and Omai. The PPP governments continued with a similar philosophy, which ultimately led the foundation for the inequitable and abominable oil contract that currently hangs around the neck of this nation. A weight to which APNU then added stones. But the oil discovery should have been seen as the key to unlock the albatross of Guyana being unattractive to FDI that had hung around our neck. Oil has empowered us.  We are no longer a "frontier country" whatever that means. We have the clout to deal from a position of strength and should not be bending over backwards to make the many concessions that we still make. Just look at how the Middle Eastern countries wield global power - President Biden's recent sojourn to Saudia Arabia and having to engage the Crown Prince who he had maligned for the killing of journalist Jamal Khassogi is exhibit A; his willingness to engage the Maduro government to obtain oil is exhibit B. We do the  opposite. Garbing himself in a thobe/disdasha with full keffiyeh head gear and peremptorily promising to set up a Saudi desk are two sad examples of just how we caricature this nation and prostrate ourselves to attract foreigners.

This should not be. All and sundry are queuing up to set foot here. It is a seller's market and we are the sellers. Oh, how I wish the PPP would employ that same venomous and uncompromising attitude it displays to the political opposition when it is engaging foreign investors. But alas... So yes, something appears to be fundamentally wrong with us as a society. Why are Latinos being put ahead of Guyanese citizens? Are Guyanese not suitable to be dealers? Arguably, there is a clear inference that only persons with a specific look will be hired. Have we reverted to the colonial era where, the lighter skinned slaves were house and not field slaves?

The aforementioned  mentality appears to be alive and well in modern-day Guyana. Punitive measures need to be taken against the perpetrators of openly racist and discriminatory behaviour. The management of Princess Hotel needs to be held accountable. Likewise, the advertising agency if one was used and Stabroek News for printing.