Lincoln Lewis has a pre-occupation with ‘Race’
DEAR EDITOR,
In his response to my letter, claims and trade unionists argue against Lincoln Lewis’ claims to be the “progressive one of the 1980s” (January 3). He is completely wrong on many issues and is too overwhelmed with race. There have been several instances when workers’ rights were not enforced and Lewis’s act was decided by a race of workers, as he self-confessed in his writings. Lewis’s stance on issues is simply too emotional and self-centered and therefore lacks objectivity.
With regard to the question ‘why my insertion in his exchange with Freddie Kissoon,’ aspects of Lewis’s comments against Freddie were disrespectful and discreet and lacking in civility. As someone in the media for about 45 years, I tried to redirect the exchange towards issues rather than personality. My involvement hasn’t helped as Lewis has dug deeper into personality. Today’s working class describes Lewis trade union activism as embracing elements of Burnhamism including his obsession with “race,” in contrast to his famous predecessor Joseph Pollydore who focused on issues. Lewis’s whole reaction is reduced to “race” and personality and he ignored the issues that Freddie raised.
Lewis described me as trying to become a “teasing agent” or “motivational agent”. It is French for someone who acts to lure another into committing an illegal act or rash or mistakenly identifies them as engaging in an illegal act, in order to ruin a reputation. I am not hired by anyone and I do not attract either Lewis or Freddie to commit illegal acts. However, union leaders must maintain ethical standards among some trade unionists.
Freddie says he served briefly in union leadership; not even Toyota Cressida or race could compromise its activism. I also led my teachers union for almost two decades without compromising on my integrity. I sacrificed my promotion so employees can get up. I let hundreds of staff choose the union leadership. I was re-elected several times as a leader in democratic elections. For years, unions and workers have been calling for democratic elections in the TUC and in bauxite and other unions. When will they take place? Democratic elections will determine the credibility of leaders.
For the most part, workers in Guyana feel disappointed by TUC claiming that they really need better contracts and benefits. TUC did not protect earnings then adequate earnings. Coincidentally, some raised issues or raised questions about Guyana (TUC) representatives in the Caribbean Labor Congress. Was accountability appropriate? Has anyone’s finger been caught in the till?
In terms of labor activism, during the 1980s there was a principled labor position against electoral fraud and employee support among the big four – GAWU, NAACIE, CCWU, UGWU (led by Father Malcolm Rodrigues). The leadership of a bauxite union was pushed by militia workers to join the movement after they were torn apart by the Burnham regime. Desmond Moffett and Malcolm Thompson were regarded as workers’ heroes. When Hoyte closed a bauxite, workers complained that the union was failing them. Militia was missing at that time but Lewis was very militant against a PPP government that sought to assist boxer workers. He became a protester against Indians, accusing the PPP of committing “economic genocide against Black boycott workers and favoring Indian sugar workers” when the PPPs did not even close the boxing operations. He never used that term genocide against the coalition that fired more than 7000 Indian sugar workers and when PNC government shut down Hoyte bauxite.
Jagan and Jagdeo who injected money to help bauxite workers; they were not influenced by race but humanitarian principles. Lewis also supported rigging the March elections and condemning those who sought to defend democracy. He identified his undemocratic stance as “protecting black rights”. No party or race or person shall be entitled to rig elections. He asked the President to cancel the 2020 elections, but only when he realized that the PNC / R had lost the elections.
Racial excellence or the protection of fraud due to race is disgusting. Someone can be proud of your race or ethnicity without putting others down. We must never be as obsessed with our own race as Lewis. I don’t hear Whites, Turks, Indians and Chinese, who discover a vaccine for Covid-19 say they do it in the name of their offspring. African and Latin countries are also working on developing a vaccine and over time they can get there too. They all push their achievements in the name of humanity. We must be proud of the achievements, endeavors and contributions to humanity of all peoples regardless of ethnicity.
I was not the one who played the role of Kamala Harris’ father in her life. It’s a fact that Kamala’s father is a mixed race Jamaican who left his family for whatever reasons. Kamala ran for several offices in California and the American Presidency and Vice Presidency. In all her speeches, she did not mention her father. Even in her victory speech for the Vice Presidency, she only paid tribute to her mother, Shyamala Gopalan. Kamala and her sister Maya were brought up with their mother and mother’s siblings, the Gopalan’s who were there helping the mother with the children. Kamala praised her mother for being an inspiration during very difficult times and for sending the children to spend time in India. Raising a woman to produce children does not make one a father; anyone can do that. Being there for your kids is a dad. (Lewis, he should go read or listen to Kamala’s speeches).
Lewis engages in self-expression for his work in trade unionism and for promoting the rights of the All Blacks. The work of people of other races must also be commended. Workers are not happy with Lewis trade union activism and lack of support for democracy. Too many of them lost their jobs under his tenure including the 300 Rusal employees killed as a result of Lewis’ inflexible job.
Freddie’s record in promoting the rights to others and democracy speaks for itself; it is public information and not duplicate. My record for promoting democracy in Guyana is well known and documented going back to the late 1960s. It is up to others to judge my contribution. I will continue to fight for race equality, fair play, marginalization and employee empowerment.
Truly
Bisram Vishnu