Afro-Guyanese have unfettered access to the centres of power
Stabroek News
May 18, 2002
Dear Editor,
I would like to congratulate President Jagdeo for his frankness on a recent television interview. I think it’s high time the ethnic breakdown in government offices and agencies be made to the public. For too long have people been fed lies about racial discrimination on the part of the PPP, against Afro-Guyanese.
I am glad the President pointed out that 75% of all public service employees are Afro-Guyanese. Let me also add that not only does the PNC which represents the Afro-Guyanese population hold 42% of the seats in parliament, not only are both the army and police predominantly Afro-Guya-nese, not only are the mayors of the two largest towns in the country, Georgetown and Linden, Afro-Guyanese, but the second in command of the country, the Prime Minister, is Afro-Guyanese.
Has anyone looked at the composition of GECOM or walked into the Office of the President or done a survey at the University of Guyana lately? If they did the fact that Afro-Guyanese have unfettered access to the centres of power and influence, would be clear. The charges of marginalisation and racism made by the PNC against Afro- Guyanese is total rubbish. Apparently what the PNC wants is a country dominated by Afro-Guyanese like it was during their years of dictatorship. That is unacceptable.
Yours faithfully
Rohan Sooklall