WPA reiterates commitment to multi-racial Guyana
Stabroek News
August 11, 2002
The Working People's Alliance (WPA) says it rejects being placed in a racial straitjacket and reiterates its commitment to a multi-racial Guyana.
And the party is opposed to what it describes as the orchestrated attempt by some interests to label it as an African party, as it views that "as a not so subtle attempt to create a rigid line of racial demarcation in Guyana whereby one is either on one side of the racial divide or the other."
The opposition party said in a release that it "rejects this notion as one that is rooted in the culture of racial competition and domination which we have long denounced."
The party said further that while it would continue to vehemently defend the right of African Guyanese to justice in Guyana, it would do so within the context of justice for Guyanese of all races and classes. "Our historical commitment to a multi-racial Guyana based on justice for and empowerment of all races is steadfast even in the face of the disintegration of the national fabric," the party said, adding that this commitment drove it to defend the defenceless regardless of race.
The release stated that the WPA had long known that its independent stance of genuine racial harmony frightened those who wished to keep the ethnic masses in perpetual conflict.
The party posited that as the country degenerated and sober-minded citizens were turning towards WPA's and Walter Rodney's ideas, fright was quickly turning into desperation.
"We are convinced," the WPA stated, "that there is a valiant effort to erase the WPA from the political landscape with one side labelling it as pro-African and the other side labelling it anti-African."
The release observed that in that regard, the attacks directed at the party's African Guyanese members, in particular Brother Eusi Kwayana, were most revealing.
According to the party, some Indian interests continued to blame Brother Kwayana for the excesses in Buxton although he and the WPA had been clearly condemning these behaviours. On the other hand, the party continued, some African interests had been attacking him for over-denouncing Africans.
"WPA feels that these attacks on African voices of moderation and commonsense will only serve to embolden racial extremism on both sides," the release said. The party also expressed its support for Brothers Kwayana and David Hinds "in their quest to inject a voice of reason into Buxton."
Further, the WPA said "we also wish to register our support for all just and positive initiatives aimed at securing justice for Buxtonians and other down pressed sections of Guyana." The party said it was prepared to do its part to help such a movement. However, it asserted also that it "rejects all acts of racial bullying and unprovoked violence as these tactics will only serve to weaken the African Guyanese cause and further isolate the African Guyanese community from the growing community of reason and civilized struggle."
The WPA, referring to what it termed the refusal by the PPP/C to honestly engage the fundamental cry of African Guyanese for political and economic empowerment, contended that such a stance did not help the cause for reconciliation but instead invited more intense rebellion from that community.
And African insecurity, the WPA posited, led to a perpetuation of Indian insecurity, which quickly translated into national insecurity. Therefore, the party said, it would separately and with others step up its work for a national solution that was just to Africans, Indians and all other races.
"In the process, we will fight back against those who by foul means seek to locate us in a racial straitjacket," the WPA affirmed.