The people of African descent here in Guyana and elsewhere should seize the opportunities presented on the occasion of the designation, by the United Nations, of the year 2011 as the International Year for People of African Descent, by demanding greater respect, participation in decision making processes, and integration in the “political, economic, social and cultural aspects of our society”. Likewise, in this year, we expect that the promotion of their diverse heritage and culture will be enhanced.
The AFC urges that for Guyana in particular, that government, and civil society stakeholders, will meet to discuss and settle on a programme that gives full expression to UN Resolution 64/169, which proclaimed this to be the year of people of African descent. We would be failing in our duty if we did not state that It is regrettable that the government of Guyana has not, in the first instance, already called the relevant stake-holders together to discuss and agree on initiatives to give expression to this Resolution, and in the second, given any indication whatsoever that it intends to honour the Resolution in spirit and letter, and how so.
The AFC calls for full recognition of the UN Resolution to ensure a successful year for the Guyanese descended from Africans, and urges all Guyanese to embrace the celebratory aspect of this UN mandate and to use the occasion to deepen their knowledge and understanding of things African, more particularly, the contribution of Africans to Guyana’s development, and their current situation relative to this contribution. The Alliance For Change will in due course unveil its plans for the convening of a Public Forum to discuss all issues relative to the resuscitation of the Villages established by freed African slaves.
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