In wake of a call by prominent Attorney, Nigel Hughes, and a number of Afro-Guyanese Rights Organisations, the Government of Guyana has made a decision to instruct both the Police Force and the Health Ministry to immediately discontinue the use of “Negro” and “East Indian”, when referencing Guyanese of African and East Indian descent.

Hughes launched a national conversation last week on the use of the word “negro” by the Guyana Police Force to describe Guyanese of African descent. His move was triggered by the Police Force’s description of his client, political activist Kadackie Amsterdam, as a male negro in its press releases.

Amsterdam is facing cyber crime charges over alleged threats made on his social media talk show against the President and Government officials by one of the callers on the programme.

In a letter to the Ethnic Relations Commission last week, Attorney Nigel Hughes stated that the term “negro” is widely recognized as derogatory and offensive, carrying connotations of historical racism and discrimination.

He said it was imperative that local law enforcement officials uphold the highest standards of respect and dignity towards all citizens, regardless of their ethnic background.

Mr. Hughes explained that the term “Negro” has its roots in colonialism and slavery, where it was used to dehumanize and subjugate people of African descent, adding that its usage today is not only outdated but also perpetuates a legacy of racism and exclusion.

The International Decade of People of African Descent Assembly-Guyana, also made known its concerns about the continuing use of the offensive word.

In its statement today, the Government of Guyana said that recognizing that many Guyanese find the terms “negro” and “east Indian” offensive, the Cabinet at its last meeting decided that the terms used by the Guyana Police Force, the Immigration Department and the Health Sector as forms of identification references not use the offensive words. Instead, they should make reference to Guyanese of African descent, Guyanese of Indian descent, Guyanese Amerindian, Guyanese of Portuguese descent and Guyanese of Chinese descent.

See Full Government of Guyana Statement below:

Related posts:

IPADA-G tells UN Forum that Afro-Guyanese are subjected to systemic discrimination and injustices in Guyana IDPADA-G tells International UN Forum of Government’s withdrawal of subvention and little advancement in progressing agreed principles President invites Indian private sector to invest in Guyana’s booming economy Specialty Hospital put on hold again as Indian Government refuses to fund project under Fedders Lloyd