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FM
Former Member

Bar association calls on President to dissociate himself from racist editorial in Chronicle

Posted By Stabroek editor On July 19, 2014 In Local News

 

The Guyana Bar Association today called on President Donald Ramotar to dissociate himself from a racist editorial in the July 16 edition of the state-owned Guyana Chronicle and other such content carried by the newspaper. The bar association also called on the President – who is the Minister of Information – to take disciplinary action against those responsible for the publications as to do otherwise would be an endorsement of those sentiments.

 

Observers say that factions of the government have control over the editorial line of the Chronicle and are using it in an attempt to stir up racial animosity for political purposes. The bar association statement follows.

 

STATEMENT BY THE GUYANA BAR ASSOCIATION

The apparatus of the State, including the State media should not be used to promote racial hatred and this abuse should stop immediately. The Guyana Bar Association as part of its mandate to promote the rule of law is compelled to point out that such publications are also unlawful. In the recent days a letter to the editor and an editorial published in the Guyana Chronicle appear to be inciting racial hatred and perpetuating a stereotype of young Guyanese of a particular ethnicity as criminals. We find this offensive, as racism in any form is reprehensible. In the letter by Ted King, "Blue Caps is new arm of PNC" appearing on July 15, 2014 the writer says, inter alia:


Check the stats on which ethnic crowd is doing the criminal acts; on which ethnic crowd, mostly. One section of the community works very hard and saves its money for a better future for self and family, but it appears it is working to save the money for criminals,who just come in with guns and take it all. If you are not safe in your own home, then where else can you be safe? They see blood, they smell blood, then they are moving in for the kill now, because they know they have the backing of the USA. It is too late now for the PPP to go after terrorists, because all the reports will reach the USA about extrajudicial killings and racism. PPP supporters will protest the best way they know how, and that is to continue to move out of Guyana with their loved ones. It is like how the whites in America riot: They just pack their traps and move, leaving it all to the criminal elements in their neighbourhoods, because if they defend themselves they are labelled racists.

 

The letter is factually misguided in ever respect and racist. On 16th July 2014, the editorial "Youth, Politics and criminality" covers similar territory, perhaps more political but equally racist. The Racial Hostility Act, Cap 23:01 provides in section 2(1):


“A person shall be guilty of an offence if he willfully excites or attempts to excite hostility or ill-will against any section of the public or against any person on the grounds of their or his race – by, (various public means) or by means of written (including printed) matter or pictorial matter published by him."

 

This Act was amended in 2002 to provide for punishment on summary conviction of a fine of five hundred thousand dollars and to imprisonment for seven years. Section 2(4) also provides that the proprietor, printer, publisher or editor of any newspaper, or the printer of any other printed document, in which any particular matter has been published, shall be presumed himself to have so published that matter unless he proves that such publication was made without his authority, consent or knowledge and did not arise from want of due care on his part. The right of all sections of the Guyanese people to be free from racial hatred is also enshrined in the Guyana Constitution which imbues the State with a responsibility to encourage people of all races to live in harmony and peace. This is set out in the preamble. The fundamental rights and freedom provisions which enshrines the freedom of expression (Article 146(3)) expressly excludes from protection as free speech, hate speeches or other expressions in whatever form, capable of exciting hostility or ill-will against any person or class of persons. Article 160(A) of the Constitution also provides that “All persons, institutions and political parties are prohibited from taking any action or advancing, disseminating or communicating any idea which may result in racial or ethnic division among the people."

 

The Guyana Chronicle’s failure to prevent such letters from being published, as well as explicitly encouraging such statements in its editorial suggests a dangerous, unlawful and offensive state of affairs. This matter cannot be easily brushed aside. At a time when our major political parties have an obligation to continue to reach beyond ethnic differences, these publications seek to empower the minority of Guyanese who practice racism and strengthen the latent racists among us.

 

His Excellency, President Donald Ramotar has ministerial responsibility for the Guyana National Newspaper Limited. If his disagrees with these reprehensible views, he must quickly and publicly disassociate the Government and himself from them. He should take disciplinary action
against those responsible for the publications; to do otherwise would be an endorsement of those sentiments.

 

Dated 19th July 2014

 

Guyana Bar Association & the following Attorneys-at-law:
Ronald G. Burch-Smith
Melinda Janki
Sadie Amin
Christopher Ram
Timothy Jonas
Emily Dodson
Abiola Wong-Innis
Ramona Rookhum
C. M. Llewellyn John
Mohamed Ali
Teni Housty
Robin Stoby, S.C.
Dave Kissoon
Joseph Harmon
Keisha Chase
Kim Kyte-John
Mark A. Waldron
Moses Nagamootoo
Nadia Sagar
Raphael Trotman
Roysdale Forde
Simone Morris-Ramlall

Replies sorted oldest to newest

the Guyana Bar Association needs to go 1 step further with compilation of a dossier of these CRUDE, OPENLY RACIST, VILE and DANGEROUS 'editorials' & 'letter editorials' by T. King and others in the tapayer funded Chronicle, and formally send to the responsible arms of the UN, the OAS, the US Dept of State, and every single member state of CARICOM

FM

AFC speaks out against racist Chronicle editorial

By Editorial Board

July 13, 2012

afc

Statement on Chronicle Editorial of July 3rd

 

The Alliance for Change (AFC) joins the Roman Catholic Church and all right-thinking Guyanese, including non-resident Guyanese, in condemning the racist and divisive editorial penned in the Guyana Chronicle of July 3rd last.

 

While we commend the acts of dismissal of the writer of the offensive editorial, Ms Parvati Persaud-Edwards, and suspension of the editor, Rashid Osman, for his dereliction of duty, this has not gone far enough.  The AFC demands a full retraction of the editorial by the Chronicle and an apology to all Guyanese, and in particular, to African-Guyanese.   Also, in his capacity as Minister of Information, we demand a statement on the issue from President Ramotar.

 

Under the PPP today, there is a prevalence of heinous anonymous writings, including scurrilous personal attacks on our citizens in the state media and on internet blogs.  This is totally unacceptable and must stop. The most shameless thing about this is that taxpayers’ money is used in this enterprise; we are paying for the fomenting of division in our own society and for attacks on ourselves!

 

As such, there must be immediate reform in the state media apparatus along the lines of how the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) operates. We demand its immediate depolitisation and the establishment of a new board drawn from distinguished resident and non-resident Guyanese to oversee its operations.  Finally, all hate internet blog sites, whether pro-government or opposition must be also shut down, with immediate effect. [END]

- See more at: http://www.guyanaobservernews....sthash.j2BtRNgm.dpuf

Mitwah
caribny posted:

For those who scream that life under the PPP was great for blacks.  Found this in Google btw.

Some GNI members have been busy stirring up race hate. Many people reading feel it's a vicious Indian-supremacist site. 

FM
Last edited by Former Member
Leonora posted:
caribny posted:

For those who scream that life under the PPP was great for blacks.  Found this in Google btw.

Some GNI members have been busy stirring up race hate. Many people reading feel it's a vicious Indian-supremacist site. 

Racial prejudice was imposed on our generation when we lived in Guyana. We owe no one any apologies for factually stating the behavior of blacks towards Indians between 1964 and 1992 specifically. Pretending otherwise doesn't make it otherwise.

FM
caribny posted:

For those who scream that life under the PPP was great for blacks.  Found this in Google btw.

It seems you have a “attention seeking disorder”... this very topic was discussed over a dozen times by you.

It is a fact Indos lifestyle was much higher than blacks before 1992. this is due to there sacrifice and positive lifestyle attitude and most of all their parents barefoot labor to work to provide the gud lifestyle they enjoy today, as some stated right on this forum, they bought property in NA for under 200,000 and resold for over 700,000.. these smart Indos used their skills and wisdom by working 3 jobs 24/7 to pay that mortgage. No one stop blacks from doing the same. 

Between 1992-2015, blacks lifestyle changes on the positive side. PPP opens up housing schemes.. house lots were distributed to everyone which result in a more cohesive interaction between the races. 

Backs were given opportunities by Indos business in the form of credit to sell merchandise.. majorities were successful by making use of the opportunity. 

You should visit Buxton, Sophia, South Rumvielt, Hopetown .. this is just a few  Afro neighbourhood, to see the mansion they built  and fancy cars they drive.. pave roads and running water , there lives changes for the better under PPP government. 

You are one of those few Afro that likes to be spoon food and would blame others for your poor choice life style. 

Granger was damn right when he tell ayo to stop hanging around bars and go work. 

 

FM
ksazma posted:
Leonora posted:
caribny posted:

For those who scream that life under the PPP was great for blacks.  Found this in Google btw.

Some GNI members have been busy stirring up race hate. Many people reading feel it's a vicious Indian-supremacist site. 

Racial prejudice was imposed on our generation when we lived in Guyana. We owe no one any apologies for factually stating the behavior of blacks towards Indians between 1964 and 1992 specifically. Pretending otherwise doesn't make it otherwise.

So true. 

FM
Dondadda posted:

Mits, I tried to open the link and it says “Page not found”. Do you think this could have been Fake News?

Bar association calls on President to dissociate himself from racist editorial in Chronicle

https://www.stabroeknews.com/2...torial-in-chronicle/


 

Link to letter in SN .

Django
Last edited by Django
Leonora posted:
caribny posted:

For those who scream that life under the PPP was great for blacks.  Found this in Google btw.

Some GNI members have been busy stirring up race hate.

Many people reading feel it's a vicious Indian-supremacist site. 

President Granger pun top with a recent poll done by a company from Barbados.

Django
Dave posted:
caribny posted:

For those who scream that life under the PPP was great for blacks.  Found this in Google btw.

It seems you have a “attention seeking disorder”... this very topic was discussed over a dozen times by you.

It is a fact Indos lifestyle was much higher than blacks before 1992. this is due to there sacrifice and positive lifestyle attitude and most of all their parents barefoot labor to work to provide the gud lifestyle they enjoy today, as some stated right on this forum, they bought property in NA for under 200,000 and resold for over 700,000.. these smart Indos used their skills and wisdom by working 3 jobs 24/7 to pay that mortgage. No one stop blacks from doing the same. 

Between 1992-2015, blacks lifestyle changes on the positive side. PPP opens up housing schemes.. house lots were distributed to everyone which result in a more cohesive interaction between the races. 

Backs were given opportunities by Indos business in the form of credit to sell merchandise.. majorities were successful by making use of the opportunity. 

You should visit Buxton, Sophia, South Rumvielt, Hopetown .. this is just a few  Afro neighbourhood, to see the mansion they built  and fancy cars they drive.. pave roads and running water , there lives changes for the better under PPP government. 

You are one of those few Afro that likes to be spoon food and would blame others for your poor choice life style. 

Granger was damn right when he tell ayo to stop hanging around bars and go work. 

 

While the entire world celebrated Obama's rise to the US presidency, Cribby stated that he didn't care for Obama because Obana didn't do enough for blacks. That inspite of all the free stuff that Obama gave out. People were on tv bragging about their Obama phone, etc. Credit to many Indo Guyanese who oppose the PPP because  their claim of PPP malfeasance. It shows that Indians are able and willing to stand on the side of decency. Blacks on the other hand who oppose the PNC do so only because they say the PNC aren't doing enough for blacks. Cribby also have that same opinion regarding the Granger administration. Like I stated earlier. Our generation owes no one any apologies.

FM
ksazma posted:

Racial prejudice was imposed on our generation when we lived in Guyana. We owe no one any apologies for factually stating the behavior of blacks towards Indians between 1964 and 1992 specifically. Pretending otherwise doesn't make it otherwise.

Constantly rehashing 1964-1992 does no one any good. Sitting in your comfortable perches abroad and stirring up race hate online may create troubles for the people who live in Guyana. Dr. O Ishmael wrote a great article in Guyana Journal many years ago and stated that both sides were wrong -- this is a diplomat's explanation and is the way for both sides to heal. 

FM
Last edited by Former Member
Leonora posted:
ksazma posted:

Racial prejudice was imposed on our generation when we lived in Guyana. We owe no one any apologies for factually stating the behavior of blacks towards Indians between 1964 and 1992 specifically. Pretending otherwise doesn't make it otherwise.

Constantly rehashing 1964-1992 does no one any good. Sitting in your comfortable perches abroad and stirring up race hate online may create troubles for the people who live in Guyana. Dr. O Ishmael wrote a great article in Guyana Journal many years ago and stated that both sides were wrong -- this is a diplomat's explanation and is the way for both sides to heal.   

Indians in Guyana are currently reliving 1964-1992. They are experience the racial prejudice that was prevalent between 1964 and 1992. They don't need any help from me. While I respect Dr. Ishmeal very much and may his soul rest in peace, I always take what diplomats say with a grain of salt. Not because they are not good people but because the nature of their occupation can constrain their core convictions.

FM

This same very image you posted MARK BENSCHOP was the one who video Andrew Douglas holding a AK47 claiming to fight for blacks freedom, and the very night three Indians were brutally murder in Annandale. 

The same Mark accompanied by Waddel ( there is a video of this) was on Regent street encouraging black youths to loot Indians stores. 

Female Indians were rape and clothes torn off by Afro youths.

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Leonora posted:

is the way for both sides to heal. 

That was what the Coalition promised before the 2015 elections but just after the elections, PNC paramountcy took over and that healing con job went up in smoke. 

FM
Dave posted:

This same very image you posted MARK BENSCHOP was the one who video Andrew Douglas holding a AK47 claiming to fight for blacks freedom, and the very night three Indians were brutally murder in Annandale. 

The same Mark accompanied by Waddel ( there is a video of this) was on Regent street encouraging black youths to loot Indians stores. 

Female Indians were rape and clothes torn off by Afro youths.

Address the Racist article that was in Guyana Chronicle during the PPP tenure, that's the discussion !!

 

Django
Leonora posted:
ksazma posted:

Racial prejudice was imposed on our generation when we lived in Guyana. We owe no one any apologies for factually stating the behavior of blacks towards Indians between 1964 and 1992 specifically. Pretending otherwise doesn't make it otherwise.

Constantly rehashing 1964-1992 does no one any good. Sitting in your comfortable perches abroad and stirring up race hate online may create troubles for the people who live in Guyana. Dr. O Ishmael wrote a great article in Guyana Journal many years ago and stated that both sides were wrong -- this is a diplomat's explanation and is the way for both sides to heal. 

The people in Guyana don't bother with the Diaspora Racist. They call the shots, looks like the Coalition Government will be there for a second term, when ever elections are held.

Django
Last edited by Django

Speaking to someone visiting from Guyana who four years ago was willing to give the Coalition a chance because, you guessed it, PPP malfeasance, has completely turned against Nagamootoo. The way she now describe Nagamootoo would make it appear that I worship him. 

FM
Leonora posted:
ksazma posted:

Racial prejudice was imposed on our generation when we lived in Guyana. We owe no one any apologies for factually stating the behavior of blacks towards Indians between 1964 and 1992 specifically. Pretending otherwise doesn't make it otherwise.

Constantly rehashing 1964-1992 does no one any good. Sitting in your comfortable perches abroad and stirring up race hate online may create troubles for the people who live in Guyana. Dr. O Ishmael wrote a great article in Guyana Journal many years ago and stated that both sides were wrong -- this is a diplomat's explanation and is the way for both sides to heal. 

"There were very good people, on both sides" DT. Speak the truth, there are BAD people too.

K
Django posted:
Leonora posted:
caribny posted:

For those who scream that life under the PPP was great for blacks.  Found this in Google btw.

Some GNI members have been busy stirring up race hate.

Many people reading feel it's a vicious Indian-supremacist site. 

President Granger pun top with a recent poll done by a company from Barbados.

That's only if he was running in Barbados, since when them Bajans know about Guyana politics>??

K
kp posted:
Django posted:
Leonora posted:
caribny posted:

For those who scream that life under the PPP was great for blacks.  Found this in Google btw.

Some GNI members have been busy stirring up race hate.

Many people reading feel it's a vicious Indian-supremacist site. 

President Granger pun top with a recent poll done by a company from Barbados.

That's only if he was running in Barbados, since when them Bajans know about Guyana politics>??

LOL

Bajans knows a lot and way ahead !!! Ayuh wait Bisram poll will give some solace .

Django
Last edited by Django
Leonora posted:
ksazma posted:

Racial prejudice was imposed on our generation when we lived in Guyana. We owe no one any apologies for factually stating the behavior of blacks towards Indians between 1964 and 1992 specifically. Pretending otherwise doesn't make it otherwise.

Constantly rehashing 1964-1992 does no one any good. Sitting in your comfortable perches abroad and stirring up race hate online may create troubles for the people who live in Guyana. Dr. O Ishmael wrote a great article in Guyana Journal many years ago and stated that both sides were wrong -- this is a diplomat's explanation and is the way for both sides to heal. 

Where was your voice when a Afro insult Indians here 

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