Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo has accused the Working People’s Alliance (WPA) and the People’s National Congress Reform (PNC/R) of treating Afro-Guyanese solely as a “vote bank” rather than valuing them as individuals.
Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, Dr. Jagdeo vehemently responded to the recent controversial comments made by WPA member David Hinds, which he condemned as “disgusting.”
Hinds, a prominent figure within the WPA, recently referred to Afro-Guyanese who support the governing People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) using derogatory terms, including calling them “house slaves” and “lick bottoms.”
Dr. Jagdeo, joining with previous comments by President Irfaan Ali and Minister Gail Teixeira, expressed his dismay that such inflammatory remarks had been made without condemnation from Hinds’ leader, Aubrey Norton, adding that these statements insulted the intelligence and integrity of Afro-Guyanese.
“The WPA and the PNC treat Afro-Guyanese as though they are unthinking, easily manipulated individuals.
“They believe that these people will blindly follow them, without considering the broader issues or their own self-interest,” said Dr. Jagdeo.
The Vice President also pointed out the positive strides being made by Afro-Guyanese across the country, noting that more Afro-Guyanese-owned small businesses are now securing contracts.
He emphasised that these individuals are not “selling out,” but rather, they are “smart” and capable of making informed decisions for themselves. He added that people’s decisions to support the PPP/C stemmed from a logical, ambitious pursuit of opportunities, not a blind allegiance.
Dr. Jagdeo took aim at David Hinds and the WPA’s history, accusing them of betraying their own leader, Dr. Walter Rodney, who was tragically murdered under the PNC government in Jund 1980.
“David Hinds had a cushy job during the last government,” Dr. Jagdeo said. “But did he once speak up for the Afro-Guyanese community? What did he do when the APNU government took away children’s grants?,” he quizzed.
The Vice President continued, recalling the period from 2015 to 2020 when Hinds and other WPA leaders were in power, yet did nothing to advance the interests of Afro-Guyanese.
“These people forget their history. They betrayed Walter Rodney, one of the world’s leading scholars, because he stood up against the dictatorship of the PNC. His life was snuffed out because he spoke the truth, but today, they forget all that.”
Dr. Jagdeo further pointed out that the track record of both the WPA and the PNC shows a lack of vision and concern for the future of young Afro-Guyanese.
“Why would anyone want to align themselves with a party that has done nothing for them? People have choices. They are not sellouts – they are simply making smart choices. They are looking for opportunities, not racism or oppression.”
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