On the occasion of the 174th anniversary of the arrival of East Indians in Guyana, the Alliance for Change (AFC) salutes all our Indo-Guyanese brothers and sisters.
It is indisputable that our people of Indian ancestry have laid the cornerstone not only of a free, independent and democratic country, but have been a major pillar in the economic, social and cultural advancement of Guyana through their sacrifice and industry.
But whilst we applaud Indo-Guyanese for shaking off the shackles of indentureship, we wish to warn against the new “sahibs” and “sultans” today who are forging chains to keep them captive in a wicked racist game, of divide and rule.
The AFC notes attempts by the new masters to manipulate Indo-Guyanese sugar workers with lies and mis-information. After being caught for trying to destroy GAWU, and to retrench sugar workers by reducing pay and changing conditions of work. They did not tell the sugar belt that AFC voted for $4 Billion to bail out the almost crippled Guysuco. AFC did this to save workers jobs, and stave off collapse of the industry due to corruption, mismanagement and inefficiency.
The new masters did not reveal that AFC voted for $5 Billion for GPL to prevent coastal inhabitants, including sugar workers, from paying increased electricity tariffs. AFC said it would vote for an additional $1 Billion once GPL reduce its operational losses due to bad management. Yet, they scandalously spread the racist line that AFC wanted to take away money from Guysuco and hand it to Linden to subsidise electricity charges in the bauxite town. The racism of the PPP/C is very evident indeed, and Indo-Guyanese ought not to fall for this wickedness!
AFC’s fight to get Government to place an estimated $50 Billion into the Treasury which is now in NICIL private accounts, would bring tremendous relief to all Guyanese. Guyana will have not $170 Billion to spend, but in excess of $220 Billion! This means bigger pay, better working conditions, more pensions and social assistance, among other poverty reducing measures. Our Indo-Guyanese brothers and sisters must understand that the biggest cut from the 2012 Budget was made when the PPP Government axed over $50 B from the Consolidated Fund and siphoned it off illegally into a PPP members’ account at NICIL!
Great days are ahead for all Indo-Guyanese as the AFC work with other patriotic forces to improve our governance, and hold public servants to account, and realize the expectations of “lean and clean” government as advanced by the late Dr. Cheddi Jagan, who was the finest example of Guyanese nationalism and Indo-Guyanese values.
As we pay respect today to our glorious ancestors, we note that in spite of daunting challenges Indo-Guyanese have survived and even excelled, here and in the Diaspora.
AFC therefore urges our Indo-Guyanese community to hold high the torch of family and cultural values, the search for intellectual development, cooperation, industry, thrift and hard work so that, together with all of our other ethnic groupings, we can take Guyana to higher levels! [END]
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