I have been following this thread but have not made a contribution because it ends up in rants, blame, statements, points made umpteen tiles, useless arguments from a bunch of posters who, the vast majority of them live abroad, mouthing and regurgitating the same tired old hogwash they have been fed. Also, I often do not have the time to really really continue to argue in a thread to its conclusion. Here is my take for what it is worth.
1. We look at the world through cognitive structures and lens that are a product of our genetics, education, experiences, socialization, etc. We tend to generallly "hear" or see those tgings that it within that structure. The others just get lost as noice. That is why two can look at the same event and get two different interpretations which result two different narratives. For example, Indo Guyanese supporting an Indian cricket team in Guyana are criticized as being clannish while it seems ok for Afro Guyanese to support the West Indian team in England, or some arguing that those shot protesting against hikes in electricity fees by police deserve it while others define it as oppression, brutality, unjustified.
2. Since the importation of labour after the abolition of slavery, the ruling class have devised a strategy of divide and rule as part of their hegemonic agenda. This applied not only with regards to East Indians and formerslaves and their descendants, but with those West Indians and Africans imported here to supply labour to estates under contract, and even to Portuguese who to this day are not regarded as "whites" this strategy was used and continue to be used to divide the working people whose interests are similar. We have been duped, but we have accepted meekly the roles and definitions they have for us in their hegemonic agenda. Our arguments now are primarily race based instead of class based.
3. All of the groups in Guyana have seen themselves "wronged" by at least one of the other groups. The resulting narratives, regardless of whether there is a "factual" basis or not, are passed down to children, grandchildren, by "authors" and "intellectuals" and concreticize in people's consciousness and lives and in their cognitive structure.
there is more, but ttime does not permit. Also. I recognize that what I write here is from my cognitive structure and lens. The
As to the question.
1. It will not happen in my generation.
2. The laws and institutions that are put in place to ensure this heterogeneous society functions to the benefit of all groups need to be rethought and given substance instead of the shell thhat now exist.
3. We have to recognize that to treat the disparate equally results in greater disparity. Our political. Economic and social practices have to be changed.
4. We have to respect and protect the rights of each group to practice and strength their culture. We need to see this as lending to the strength of our country and not as a weakness.
5. Politicians need to be punished for race based politics.
6. Government programs that promote contrived interaction are not the way to approach the issue.
7. Stop putting hurt on hurt. Deal with the issue concrete as it arises instead of allowing it to become the base of more hurts.
And I can go on and on.