Former PPP Minister Accuses Government of Racial Manipulation
By Antonio Dey | HGP Nightly News.
Former People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Minister Dr. Henry Jeffrey on Sunday accused the incumbent administration of using race as a political tool, while addressing supporters at a public meeting in Plaisance, East Coast Demerara.
Jeffrey, who once served as Minister of Education and Foreign Affairs, argued that the ruling party engages in “racial, psychological, and political manipulation” to maintain power. He referenced African-American voters’ overwhelming support for former U.S. President Barack Obama, questioning why similar ethnic-based voting in Guyana is often branded as racist.
“Ninety-five percent of Black Americans voted for Obama. Why don’t we call that racist? Voting for your own ethnicity is not necessarily wrong. Racism is when you deny others their rights,” Jeffrey told the crowd.
The former University of Guyana political science lecturer urged citizens not to split their votes, alleging that the government deliberately impoverished Afro-Guyanese communities through part-time employment schemes and inadequate wage increases.
Jeffrey added that if elected, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) must prioritize improving conditions for public servants and ensuring financial upliftment.
