The Beast that Cemented the Ethnicity Divide in Guyana
Guyana, a diverse country located in South America, is known for its rich cultural heritage and ethnic diversity. It is however considered a part of the Caribbean almost by default, this more so due to history and culture, than to proximity. As such, Guyana is also a part of CARICOM, a “would be” alliance of some 20 Caribbean nations, established to form an economic and political community, that works together to shape policies for the region and encourage economic growth and trade. Her population is mostly made up of Africans and Indians.
Guyana has been plagued by longstanding issues of this ethnicity divide, which has had significant social, political, and economic implications.
The roots of the ethnicity divide in Guyana can be traced back to its colonial history. During the colonial era, Guyana was ruled by different European powers, including the Dutch, the French, and the British, who brought in different groups of people to work on the plantations. These included Africans, Indians, Chinese, Portuguese, and others, who worked as indentured laborers or slaves. This diverse mix of ethnicities created a complex social fabric, with different groups living in separate areas and working in different sectors of the economy. These groups continued living on the established practice of their colonizers, in pitting ethnic groups against each other, not only to maintain their control over the colony, but to establish a caste system with policies that favored certain ethnic groups over others, and in so doing, creating disparities in land ownership, economic opportunities, and access to education and healthcare. These discriminatory practices fueled tensions between the groups, creating a sense of competition and mistrust.
Another factor that has contributed to the ethnicity divide in Guyana is the politicization of ethnicity. Since gaining independence from Britain in 1966, Guyana has witnessed a political landscape where political parties are often aligned along ethnic lines. The two main political parties, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) and the People’s National Congress (PNC), have traditionally drawn support from the Indo-Guyanese and Afro-Guyanese communities, respectively. This has resulted in ethnic voting patterns, where people tend to vote for candidates from their own ethnic group or background, leading to a perpetuation of ethnic polarization in politics.
The disparities in economic welfare has also played a significant role in the ethnicity divide in Guyana since groups such as the Afro-Guyanese, have historically had relatively marginal opportunities in land ownership, access to education, and in establishing their own business, compared to the benefits of the Indo-Guyanese. These disparities have created economic imbalances and inequalities, leading to a sense of marginalization and exclusion.
Social and cultural factors have also played a role in the ethnicity divide in Guyana.
Different ethnic groups have distinct cultural practices, beliefs, and traditions, which can sometimes create a sense of “us versus them” mentality, since the influence of cultural norms can perpetuate stereotypes, biases, and prejudices towards other ethnic groups, leading to wider social fraction.
So Guyana with its heavily weighted complex and multifaceted origins, including the legacy of colonialism, politicization of ethnicity, economic disparities and social and cultural factors has now reached boiling point, albeit negatively, in its efforts at cohesion. Crime and warring factions have grown exponentially and as one writer states, “Guyana is now moving toward a Police-state and an authoritarianism regime.” It is a deeply ingrained issue that has had significant social, political, and economic implications for the country.
It will take a visionary to address this divide, with great efforts by multiple levels of government and selected citizens, to promote inclusivity and foster understanding and tolerance among these different ethnicities. As a matter of urgency, addressing economic disparities, and promoting equitable policies and practices should be top of the agenda in order for building a united and inclusive Guyanese identity in order to transcend the barriers that holds the country and All hostages, and which thwarts all efforts for this resourceful country’s progress and development.
