Jesuit Missions UK

Guyana is a country of exceptional natural beauty with its splendid combination of the Caribbean and South America. Perched on the north-east corner of the South American continent, Guyana stretches 450 miles from its long Atlantic coastline into dense equatorial forest and broad savannah.

Jaguars still roam the rain forest, and the unearthly cries of troupes of howler monkeys echo through the trees. The aboriginal inhabitants of the Guyanese coast were Carib Indians who had driven the peaceful Arawak north and westwards into the Antilles. European settlement didn’t occur until 1615, when the Dutch West Indian Company erected a fort and depot on the lower Essequibo River. The Dutch traded with the Indian peoples of the interior, and established riverside plantations – worked by African salves – and sugar quickly became the dominant crop. By 1796, Britain had become the major power. In 1834, slavery was abolished, forcing many plantations to close or look for another source of labour. The British solved the problem by shipping indentured workers from India. From 1846-1917, almost 250,000 labourers entered Guyana.

By independence in 1966, the influx of Indians had dramatically transformed the country’s demographic balance and laid the basis for persistent ethnic tensions. Globalisation and neoliberal economics dictate that Guyana’s pristine environment will be under intense pressure from transnational companies seeking logging and mining concessions for the foreseeable future. These environmental issues are not the only threats to present-day Guyana. Higher crime rates, worsening poverty and political instability contribute to Guyana’s troubles. The country has been in economic decline since independence.

The Capital Georgetown, with its grand colonial architecture has witnessed increasing racially-motivated violence that often manifests itself in arson attacks. Murder rates have rocketed. There is a large exodus from Guyana to North America. About one-third of the country’s natives live abroad. Lines outside the US Embassy spill across the street, and many complain the country soon will be home to only the very young and the very old. A dispute with Venezuela over the Essequibo region, which makes up two-thirds of Guyana’s territory, has not helped stability in the country.

Cocaine destined for the United States is increasingly passing through this area of rain forest and sugarcane fields on its way from Colombia. In its journey through Guyana, cocaine has corrupted government officials and bankrolled a paramilitary squad responsible for vigilante killings. Guyanese are likely to vote strictly along racial lines, with a firs-past-the-post system splitting parliament between African and Indian political parties. Indians make up the largest section of the population, so their party is in power.

Indians have also benefited from economic liberalisation. They dominate the economy. Class has become intertwined with race. This has left a feeling of victimisation among Africans. Many people feel that if things continue, there will be a huge explosion in Guyana.

The young people are fed up with the racial tensions between the Indian and African Guyanese. CAFOD supports local groups in the country who are trying to overcome the friction and bring people together. Last year CAFOD Supported Ethnic Vibrations, a huge concert and fair in Georgetown through Rights of Children (ROC), a young peoples’ organisation. People were encouraged to dress in the clothes of a different ethnicity. The event tried to explain and create appreciation for the different cultures. There was an interactive mural where people could write messages of peace and harmony. Over 2,000 people came, including the President, and the day was a great success. It brought people together to learn about each of our different cultures.Racial tensions are partly born of ignorance and this was one way to combat that.

ROC also does a lot of campaigning to make police stations, schools, sports clubs and any location where people come together “race free” zones (RFZs). RFZ’s pledge themselves to a set of rules aimed at people of different races relating positively with each other. As Mike McCormack from the Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA) SAYS: “Racial harmony requires action at both political and everyday levels.

“The latter must start with creating opportunities for ordinary people to publicly commit themselves to racial harmony in their everyday interactions”.

Catholic Times 16 April 2004