Debt still owed to descendants of African slaves, President Ally

PRESIDENT DR. IRFAAN ALLY RAISED THE ISSUE OF REPARATIONS for
descendants of African slaves during his ‘Emancipation Day’ message to Guyanese.
“Emancipation Day remains a constant reminder of the debt that is still owed to Africans and
their descendants.  It is therefore fitting that on this day, we, as Guyanese, recommit to the goal
of gaining international reparations for the crime of African enslavement,” President Ally said.
Globally, there has been little sustained attention on the wealth and economic standing of
descendants of African slaves and the resulting structural racism its lingering poisonous fruit.
The rise of Black Lives Matter in the US and protests the movement has inspired has refocused
global gaze on race relations and the issue of reparations.
“I am gratified to belong to a country that honours and celebrates its ethnic diversity and which
on this occasion gladly embraces, in unity, our African-Guyanese heritage.  I am especially
pleased to be joining all Guyanese in commemorating Emancipation Day. My upbringing and
my political career have been moulded by the bonds of friendship cultivated over the years. I
have benefited from the advice and support of a number of outstanding and dedicated
professionals of African descent whom I am proud to call friends, colleagues, brothers and
sisters,” President Ally said.
“While we take the time to pay homage to our African- Guyanese brothers and sisters on the
occasion of Emancipation, we must seize this opportunity to acknowledge, to value, and to
celebrate their tremendous achievements and contributions to national development,” he
encouraged.
He continued, “Undoubtedly, African-Guyanese have distinguished themselves in all spheres of
human endeavour. Among the many achievements have been the laying of the foundation of
Guyana’s economic infrastructure; establishing the Village Movement; pioneering undertakings
of the peasantry; developing local government systems; promoting co-operative institutions and
other social organisations; and being in the forefront of the emergence of local trade unionism.”
The 2020 National and Regional polls were bitterly divisive, further fraying the frazzled edges of
racial tensions and animosities in the multi-racial republic. President Ally used the Emancipation
Day observances to help mend fissures by encouraging his African-Guyanese brothers and sisters
to remain integral to national development and continue to excel and contribute to our nation’s
progress.

You “are securing our borders, policing our territorial waters and safeguarding our towns,
villages and communities. You are among Guyana’s dedicated teachers who are molding the
minds and values of our children – Guyana’s future leaders. As sportsmen and women, you are
making our country and region proud by your amazing accomplishments and performance,” Ally
said to descendants of former slaves.
“African-Guyanese farmers, fishers, loggers and miners are generating wealth; professionals and
entrepreneurs are helping to propel industry and commerce,” the President said in his statement.
“Whilst we look to the future with hope and optimism, on this occasion, we are called to reflect
on our past. The abolition of slavery was a defining moment in our country’s history.  It ended
the abhorrent, inhumane system of human enslavement, which had seen millions of innocent
Africans being transported across the Atlantic Ocean only to be sold into chattel slavery and
forced into unmitigated toil and suppression,” he recalled.
The President said that Emancipation Day recalls the heroic courage and sacrifices of our
African ancestors in their epic struggle for freedom and human dignity.
“Guyana’s history is punctuated by uprisings – courageous acts by enslaved Africans,
including the decisive blows for freedom that took place in 1763 and 1823,” President Ally
recalled.