A U.S. Congressman’s talk about an anti-black Guyana Government may have been influenced by misinformation deliberately crafted by those at Congress Place, the Headquarters of the South American nation’s largest opposition party, the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR). At least, this is what Guyana’s Vice-President, Bharrat Jagdeo has opined.
Congressman Hakeem Jeffries, the Chair of the House Democratic Caucus, United States, on Sunday reportedly backed calls made by the PNCR-led A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) for the cessation of racism allegedly being meted against Afro-Guyanese by the predominantly Indo-Guyanese-backed People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) administration.
Jeffries was quoted as saying by a Guyanese online news agency, Demerara Waves on August 15, 2022, that “We stand in solidarity with each and everyone of you to deal with the situation down in Guyana…We will not tolerate racism, intolerance, hatred, xenophobia, racially motivated violence [and] discrimination…”.
The Congressman’s utterance is now being used as a banner by pro-opposition elements to underpin its almost two-and-a-half-year-old contention that Afro-Guyanese are being deliberately side-lined, with Indo-Guyanese citizens and business owners benefiting from preferential treatment.
But Jagdeo, a former Guyanese President, during a press conference on Wednesday, categorised Jefferies’ comments as a product of opposition-fuelled propaganda. He also surmised that the congressman’s assumption might have been influenced by insufficient, factual information about the true situation in Guyana.
“These congressmen don’t have time to really study what’s going on in these countries. So, if he were to examine the facts about Guyana, his comments should be more directed to the PNC and APNU, because they’re the only racist parties in this country. If Hakeem Jeffries really examines the facts, that would be his conclusion. So, we’re hoping that we have an opportunity to present more of those facts…And so, that is what we will work on to ensure that people that Hakeem Jeffries get more information. If he is fair, then he can conclude that on his own,” Jagdeo said.
The VP was quick to reference the unfortunate events during the highly contested and controversial March 2020 General and Regional Elections that were triggered by an APNU+AFC alleged plot to subvert the will of the electorate with the aid of top election officials. This, Jagdeo said, would serve Jeffries well in his analysis of the situation in Guyana.
