title taken from “One Voice” by Vanilla
Guyana - Politics and Unrest
In February, I went back to my parents’ homeland to celebrate Guyana’s 50th Republic Anniversary. The celebration was vibrant and energetic - a true representation of the spirit of Guyanese people. However, Guyana has since had its share of turmoil. From the multiple recounts and confusion over the election in March to a Black Lives Matter movement following the death of two young men, Isaiah and Joel Henry, Guyanese say they are apprehensive about the country’s future.
Masqueraders at Mashramani in Feb 2020
The parade in February was sprinkled with political signs encouraging citizens to vote for either the 75-year-old incumbent David Granger of the People's National Congress or 40-year-old Irfaan Ali of the People's Progressive Party. The election results would be delayed for almost five months as each party levied allegations of fraud and demanded recounts. The outcome was more important than in previous elections as the winning party would control the revenue from Guyana’s lucrative oil production deal with ExxonMobil.
ExxonMobil began oil production in Guyana in December 2019 and believes that they would be able to produce 750,000 barrels per day by 2025 - one barrel per Guyanese citizen. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has projected the country will record the fastest rate of economic growth worldwide this year. The IMF’s estimates the rate to 40 times that of what is expected from the U.S. — the world’s largest economy. The government assured citizens that the additional revenue would be used to improve education, infrastructure and sea defense, as much of the coastline is below sea level. However, with each party associated with either African or Indian descendants, many feared that the victor would invest in programs that favor his own race.
President Dr. Irfaan Ali
Months after the election, Dr. Ali was declared the winner. On August 2nd, he took the oath of office and became the 9th President of Guyana and the youngest head of state in the nation’s history. His first action was to immediately try to unite the country after the divisive election. “There is only one future and that future requires a united Guyana."
A united Guyana would soon prove unlikely following the controversial murders of Isaiah Henry, and his cousin Joel Henry. The two teenage boys went missing from their West Berbice village after apparently going out to pick coconuts. Their horribly-mutilated bodies were found on September 6th on the property of an Indo-Guyanese handyman. The discovery ignited racial tensions between Afro- and Indo- Guyanese and led to protests around the country calling for the murders to be ruled a hate crime. Protestors took to the streets under the “Black Lives Matter” banner demanding justice for the Henry Boys.
The Guyana Police Force has since altered their initial position, stating that the bodies were moved to the secondary location after the boys were murdered. The new stance has citizens questioning whether or not moving the bodies was intended to intentionally spark controversy and cover the original motive for the crime.
Farewell Service of Isaiah and Joel Henry
On September 13th, Isaiah and Joel Henry were laid to rest with a public farewell service that allowed dozens to pay their respects. During the service, community members, attorneys, and political leaders expressed condolences to the family and lamented over what this tragedy has done to the people of Guyana. Chairperson of the PNC/R Volda Lawrence made a final plea for unity in her speech to attendees. “ Let us take that charge as mothers, women and fathers to protect and nurture every boy and girl in this land.”
Tensions are far from over as this week 17-year-old Haresh Singh was found beaten to death. Singh, was a relative of three of the suspects in the murders of the Henry Boys and his death ruled retaliation.
The new president will have to work hard to quell racial tensions and instill confidence in the hearts of citizens. Since being installed in August, the administration has been working on reopening sugar factories to put hundreds back to work, establishing maritime patrol of the Guyana/Venezuelan border, and investigating the $150M expansion of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport.
During the funeral service of Haresh Singh, President Ali promised that his government will work in the best interest of every citizen, regardless of race.
“As President, I can assure you that my government is going to work day and night to bring our people together, through policies and programmes, through social efforts and the merging of cultures. I think that is important in creating that Guyanese identity.”
The world will be looking for him to keep this promise as the country is poised to experience unprecedented oil revenue. As is the case in the US, racial tensions can have detrimental effects on a nation’s economy. Property values in tense areas reduce, small businesses close, and consumers avoid supporting or investing in companies that do not represent their interests. If Guyana is to profit from the influx of capital, the government will have to ensure that the country remains true to its national motto: “One nation, one destiny.”
