Submitted by the Caribbean Guyana Institute for Democracy

NEW YORK: The New York Caribbean Guyana Institute for Democracy (CGID) has expressed concern about discrimination, based on national origin, by the West Indian Day Carnival Association (WIADCA). WIADCA’s board of directors is almost exclusively Trinidadian. […]The association has long been perceived as closed to non-Trinidadians.

CGID said some members of WIADCA’s board harbor anti-Guyanese sentiments. “They openly express anti-Guyanese prejudices and opposition to non-Trinidadians joining the organization. They express fears that “outsiders will come in and takeover’,” CGID alleged.

Discriminatory statements were allegedly made by some members of the association’s board after a Guyanese applied for membership. WIADCA subsequently wrote advising the applicant that board members are prohibited from disclosing internal discussions during the consideration of the application.

CGID in a statement Tuesday blasted the prohibition, saying “The prohibition demonstrates a lack of transparency. It is also an acknowledgment that the secret process for the consideration of the application cannot withstand scrutiny. It is preposterous for an organization whose existence depends on public funding and support to harbor board members with the segregationist views alleged.”

The Institute said WIADCA bears full responsibility for the perpetuation of discrimination in its name. It contended that the association’s insularity and divisive shenanigans have fractured the fabric of the Caribbean-American community. CGID, a rights and advocacy outfit, posited that other nationalities have also complained about being sidelined and of prejudicial treatment from WIADCA.

WIADCA

NEW YORK: The New York Caribbean Guyana Institute for Democracy (CGID) has expressed concern about discrimination, based on national origin, by the West Indian Day Carnival Association (WIADCA). WIADCA’s board of directors is almost exclusively Trinidadian. The association has long been perceived as closed to non-Trinidadians.

CGID said some members of WIADCA’s board harbor anti-Guyanese sentiments. “They openly express anti-Guyanese prejudices and opposition to non-Trinidadians joining the organization. They express fears that “outsiders will come in and takeover’,” CGID alleged.

Discriminatory statements were allegedly made by some members of the association’s board after a Guyanese applied for membership. WIADCA subsequently wrote advising the applicant that board members are prohibited from disclosing internal discussions during the consideration of the application.

CGID in a statement Tuesday blasted the prohibition, saying “The prohibition demonstrates a lack of transparency. It is also an acknowledgment that the secret process for the consideration of the application cannot withstand scrutiny. It is preposterous for an organization whose existence depends on public funding and support to harbor board members with the segregationist views alleged.”

The Institute said WIADCA bears full responsibility for the perpetuation of discrimination in its name. It contended that the association’s insularity and divisive shenanigans have fractured the fabric of the Caribbean-American community. CGID, a rights and advocacy outfit, posited that other nationalities have also complained about being sidelined and of prejudicial treatment from WIADCA.

WIADCA receives funding from corporations, elected officials and government agencies who sponsor the association’s Labor Day parade each year. “Their alleged discrimination on the basis of national origin, therefore, presents a serious liability for sponsors,” CGID noted.

“The issuance of permits for WIADCA’s Labor day Parade is pursuant to statutes that prohibit discrimination. Consequently, CGID intends to engage WIADCA’s sponsors, including City and State officials, on this matter. They risk being perceived as complicit with the association’s insularity if they fail to advocate for institutional reforms and denounce inherent prejudices,” the Institute said.

CGID President, Rickford Burke, a Guyanese, said that is ironic that WIADCA profits tremendously from non-Trinidadians. “They want our money and participation in revenue generating activities. Yet they advocate that we are unworthy of membership. This reality will force non-Trinidadians to reassess their financial and other support for WIADCA,” Burke asserted

He observed that hostility towards Guyanese specifically, and non-Trinidadians generally, must be strongly condemned and vigorously challenged.

Contending that the Guyanese community in the New York metropolitan area is over two 230,000 strong, Burke stressed that “Guyanese do not need WIADCA. To the contrary, WIADCA needs Guyanese!”

He said the Guyanese community is contemplating staging its own “Unity Parade,” in a carnival-like atmosphere, annually. The Guyana Unity parade was launched on June 14, 2015 with a massive march and rally on Church Avenue, Brooklyn, which attracted over 12,000 Guyanese-Americans.

receives funding from corporations, elected officials and government agencies who sponsor the association’s Labor Day parade each year. “Their alleged discrimination on the basis of national origin, therefore, presents a serious liability for sponsors,” CGID noted.

“The issuance of permits for WIADCA’s Labor day Parade is pursuant to statutes that prohibit discrimination. Consequently, CGID intends to engage WIADCA’s sponsors, including City and State officials, on this matter. They risk being perceived as complicit with the association’s insularity if they fail to advocate for institutional reforms and denounce inherent prejudices,” the Institute said.

CGID President, Rickford Burke, a Guyanese, said that is ironic that WIADCA profits tremendously from non-Trinidadians. “They want our money and participation in revenue generating activities. Yet they advocate that we are unworthy of membership. This reality will force non-Trinidadians to reassess their financial and other support for WIADCA,” Burke asserted

He observed that hostility towards Guyanese specifically, and non-Trinidadians generally, must be strongly condemned and vigorously challenged.

Contending that the Guyanese community in the New York metropolitan area is over two 230,000 strong, Burke stressed that “Guyanese do not need WIADCA. To the contrary, WIADCA needs Guyanese!”

He said the Guyanese community is contemplating staging its own “Unity Parade,” in a carnival-like atmosphere, annually. The Guyana Unity parade was launched on June 14, 2015 with a massive march and rally on Church Avenue, Brooklyn, which attracted over 12,000 Guyanese-Americans.