In a press release Wednesday, the GHRA said that the voices raised in indignation and disgust at the events of the past week, which included another wave of violent crime against citizens of Indo-Guyanese origin, no doubt reflect the sentiments of a much wider portion of the population.

GHRA noted: "Both of the major political parties in Guyana are in serious denial, in that neither of them accepts that its base is racial, neither accepts that the political system is structurally inadequate and neither accepts that these features leave the country, particularly the Indo-Guyanese community, vulnerable to further violence. Statesmanship on these issues unfortunately, has always taken second place to the party politicking."

"In circumstances of self-seeking political leadership ordinary citizens have to look to the goodwill and sanity of each other to hold the society together. In this respect ordinary people need to find creative ways of publicly demonstrating personal and common commitment in making Guyana a place in which people of all races can live, work and build and secure a harmonious future.

"Secondly, ordinary people need to create effective pressure on political leaders, in varied and multiple ways to urgently provide a political system, which promotes and protects such a vision.

"We have been encouraged to believe we should rely for solutions on experts, 'consultants' and an intellectual elite. This is fatally flawed thinking for two reasons. In the first place, part of the current crisis is rooted in neglecting to ensure ordinary people feel that their voice counts for something. Secondly, rather than expertise, our circumstances demand personal integrity from people in all walks of life and all professions. This should be demonstrated in publicly challenging extremists on our own side, ensuring our own behaviour and conversations do not aggravate racism, and speaking the truth as we genuinely see it.

"A number of prominent individuals have been moved to make frank and impactful statements of their personal views in the media of the national crisis. Perhaps this tactic should be multiplied by many people from all walks of life. One proposal in this respect relates to the fact that both major parties are soon to hold congresses. Normally these events provide opportunities for two things - self-praise and heaping abuse on the other party. On this occasion, it would be inexcusable if the future of the nation and how to secure it were not the over-riding agenda for both congresses.