Guyanese must overcome racial voting
|
Guyanese must overcome racial voting
- German MPBy Miranda La Rose
Stabroek News
May 29, 2000
German politicians who were on a recent visit to Guyana have called on the Guyanese electorate to improve ethnic and race relations for the development of democracy in the country.
Head of the delegation Klaus-Jurgen Hedrich told reporters on Thursday at Le Meridien Pegasus Hotel that Germany is interested in what is going on in Guyana politically. "Our impression", he said is "that it might be a good idea and good for the future of the country, if you overcome for example, "during elections voting... along racial lines and ethnic alliances".
However, he said that this is a task Guyanese have to accomplish themselves. "We just believe that Guyana as a multi-ethnic society (has to) make use of the advantages of this multi-ethnicity because we believe that all the different groups - the Indo, Afro the Amerindian, the Chinese, the Whites - all can contribute to the future of the country. But it is necessary to create and improve the climate in the country which give all the different groups a chance to contribute".
Stating that the country has gone a comparatively good way towards solving its problems, Hedrich said that "as far as the donor community can contribute to the development of your country, we are willing to do so and we are able to do so. What we can only do is offer our support, our experience, technical skills but the solving of the problems has to be solved by the country itself".
He said that Guyana has played in past decades a very substantial role in the international community especially at the United Nations and would continue to do so in the future.
Another MP, Dr Angelika Koester-Lossack expressed the hope that for the coming elections that Guyana will be able to show to the world and "not only in the Caribbean that unity can exist based on diversity".
Also expressing the hope that in the upcoming elections the different ethnic groups will get closer to each other and work together, another visiting MP, Brigitte Adler, said that the different groups are aware that together there are common goals which they can all strive for in the interest of the country.
These include the improved living standard of the population and protecting and safeguarding the natural resources of this country. She said that in a democracy the government and the opposition should be cooperating and working together.
She added that it is also essential that there is equal access to education by all children and young people so that the future of Guyana is secured as a united one.
In terms of Germany's assistance to the upcoming elections, Hedrich said that this will be done through the European Union. However, political parties in Germany, he said, might be interested in observing the elections first-hand.
The German delegation paid a two-day visit to Guyana last week before visiting Brazil. Members met with President Bharrat Jagdeo, a number of senior government officials, the Guyana Human Rights Association and an Amerindian organisation. (Miranda La Rose)
Follow the goings-on in Guyana
in Guyana Today
