The already fragile relations between Guyana’s two major ethnicities have taken yet another significant blow following the inappropriate utterances of a young man identified as “Imran Sattaur”, also known as “Gaza”. The fallout has already sparked troubling retaliatory retorts, with no publicized attempts by the relevant authorities to reel in the young man for his genocide-promoting rant.
His video, calling for the poisoning of Afro-Guyanese went viral following the mass protest that erupted on Tuesday last along the country’s eastern coast of Demerara, which culminated in fiery demonstrations, looting, attacks and alleged robberies.
The protest were labelled as a reaction to misleading report published by Guyana Daily News about the release of a cop accused of fatally shooting a civilian, Quindon Bacchus.
The media entity is not a bona fide member of the press, the Guyana Press Association layer confirmed.
“Black people – want poison yall muddas@*t out. Keep a party – a f*#ing big show – and invite all y’all muddas@*t – all the black man dem in this country – cook and gi y’all muddas@*t and throw poison in ayo f*#ing food and gi ayo – ayo dead out,” the man is heard saying in video that has since gone viral on several video sharing platforms.
While his comments were condemned by a wide cross-section of society, a handful have expressed solidarity to the young man.
One Facebook user, Samantha Prasad, commented, “I’m surprised that when one Indian stands up, look how many of his own Indians bashing him. Wow.” Another user, Indra Doobay Singh, said that Sattaur was hurting and that she sensed no hate in his speech. These comments have since caused flame wars with heated and oftentimes perverted exchanges.
The main Parliamentary Opposition, the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC), has seized the opportunity to use the video to convey its long-held view that racism displayed by Indo-Guyanese is a product of the “bottom house” meetings organized by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C).
Recently, the Opposition Chief Whip and Member of Parliament (MP), Christopher Jones during a discussion on “In the Ring” with fellow MP, Sheord Duncan, said that the no government minister has condemned Sattaur’s rant, concluding that the administration condones such racist remarks.
Jones’ comment was echoed by the President of the Caribbean Guyana Institute For Democracy (CGID), Rickford Burke, who was also a guest on the show.
Amidst threats and public pressure, “Imran Gaza” apologized for his hate speech, which he said was done out of anger. Although, some have opined that the threats issued to him might have forced him to apologise.
“Ah bin angry, ah bin passionate, ah bin vex, but sorry to the black people wha ah seh I gon keep party and kill out all y’all and suh. I sorry fuh dat and I hope y’all understand it. Ah mean, I was vex, yeah…Ah didn’t mean anything or suh,” he said.
His mea culpa has achieved mixed reactions, with many saying that the “damage” has already been done. Some have even called on the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) and law enforcement officials to take action.
Asked this afternoon if Sattaur was arrested, the head of the Guyana Police Force’s communication unit, Mark Ramotar, said, “As as I know, he wasn’t arrested. If and when he is, I will inform the media”.
