In Guyana, a coalition of Afro‑Guyanese activists is pressing the government for sweeping reforms to the nation’s political, economic, and educational systems. They argue that despite the country’s record‑breaking oil‑driven growth, the African‑descended population continues to face systemic discrimination and economic marginalization.
International Frameworks Highlight Ongoing Gaps
September marked the 25th anniversary of the United Nations Durban Declaration and Programme of Action (DDPA), a global effort to combat racism, discrimination, and xenophobia. Deputy Permanent Representative to the U.N. Trishala Persaud reaffirmed Guyana’s commitment to the DDPA and the Sustainable Development Goals, emphasizing that “equality and non‑discrimination are essential to human dignity, justice and political, social and economic development.”
Historical Context of Racial Disparities
Guyana’s population is diverse: roughly 40% of East Indian origin, 30% of African descent, 20% multiracial, 10% indigenous, and a small remainder classified as other. Afro‑Guyanese communities, who have lived in the region since the 1620s, contend that the legacy of slavery still shapes their economic reality.
Vincent Alexander, chairman of the International Decade for People of African Descent Assembly‑Guyana (IDPADA‑G), described the situation as “systemic discrimination” and a “disconnect” between government programs and the needs of people of African descent.
Economic Growth Not Shared Equally
Guyana’s offshore oil and gas sector has propelled the nation to the world’s fastest‑growing economy, with GDP rising from $5.17 billion in 2019 to $27.1 billion in 2025 – a 424 % increase. The World Bank declared Guyana a high‑income country in 2023.
Yet poverty remains widespread. The 2025 Multidimensional Poverty Index reports an average deprivation score of 39.3 %, while the Borgen Project estimates that about 43 % of Guyanese live below the poverty line, with roughly 29 % classified as extremely poor.
Calls for an Ethnic Audit and Fair Procurement
Dr. David Hinds of the Working People’s Alliance argues that Guyana’s challenges are both class‑based and ethnic. He urges an “ethnic audit of policies” to reveal how wealth is distributed across groups.
Analysis of 2022 national procurement awards shows that only 10.4 % of contracts went to Afro‑Guyanese‑owned businesses, capturing just 7.1 % of total contract value. By contrast, Indo‑Guyanese firms received 56.9 % of contracts and 72.8 % of the dollar value.
Activists propose setting aside 30‑40 % of contracts for small contractors, a segment that is predominantly Afro‑Guyanese, arguing that this would promote equity without discriminating against other groups.
Barriers to Civic Participation
Alexander warned that fear of retaliation hampers public dissent. “People are not free to express their views because speaking out can cost them their jobs,” he said.
Critics also point to the education system, which they claim omits the contributions of the African diaspora that arrived in the 1620s, further marginalizing Afro‑Guyanese identity.
Looking Ahead
Activists stress that meaningful change will require transparent data, equitable contract allocation, and a commitment to recognizing the historical role of Afro‑Guyanese citizens. As Guyana’s oil wealth continues to expand, the pressure mounts for the government to ensure that prosperity reaches all ethnic communities.
Original reporting: The Washington Informer — read the source article.
