Dear Editor,
President Irfaan Ali of Guyana was recently interviewed by the British media on reparations for African Guyanese. President Ali gave a convincing compelling case for Black Guyanese reparations.
The honorable President also gave a point by point talk about how inhumanely African slaves were treated and how Britain exploited Guyana’s natural resources so much so that even Guyana’s timbers were used to build Buckingham Palace.
The President also gave a convincing math equations as to how much money is owed to former African slaves by the British. The President’s rebuttal was well received and applauded by Black voters in Guyana.
But President Ali, a descendant of indentured servants, was silent on the need for reparations for his ancestors. Not one word was uttered on behalf of Indians who put him in power. One would think from the interview no
Indians exists in Guyana.
At a time that the Gladstone family came to Guyana and apologized and admitted that not only wrong was done to Africans, but also to Indians the honorable President of Guyana felt that Indians votes are not as important as Blacks. President Ali did not even mention for a few seconds about the indentured Indians suffering in Guyana.
My contentions with the President of Guyana is that he as an Indian Muslims failed to tell the whole story of slavery and seek reparations from all shareholders of the enslavement of Africans. Even African tribal kingdoms engaged in the slave trade before the White Atlantic slave trading many years ago. Muslim Arabs even enslaved Blacks, The President must be informed and educated that indentured Indians were also tricked to come to the West Indies and it was not done in good faith.
The British had owned Guyana before independence and did as they liked.
The resources of Guyana were owned by the British.The British then gave Guyana to BOTH former Indentured and Slaves who became the new owners.
At the time the British ended slavery it was done against the wishes of the African tribal kingdoms who were beneficiaries of huge profits.
Lets see if in the coming 2025 elections whether the stance by President Ali on reparations will increase his votes amongst Africans. By ignoring Indians
suffering will it still make him a one seat majority leader again? In conclusion all Guyanese must be properly educated on slavery and indentureship. And reparations for Amerindians we all must leave Guyana.
Respectfully
Vassan Ramracha