The oringal slidecast can be seen at http://youtu.be/SMmdiPGrCgQ
This presentation was made on 7 June, 2013 at the Caribbean Studies Association conference in Grenada. Guyana and the rest of the English-Speaking Caribbean have a history
of violence and subjugation of human subjects. Independence provided opportunities for equality of all citizens. However, the ending of the 20th century saw increased activism on two human rights issues.
These issues are :-
i) the beating of children as a form of discipline
ii) discrimination against lesbian,gay , bisexual and transgendered (LGBT) citizens
The resistance to change in these issues has been 'it is our culture'.
The response to the international human rights obligations which call for change has been framed in ideas of nationhood and sovereignty; preservation of cultural values and resistance to cultural imperialism. This presentation examines the work which has been done to change the attitudes to these issues. This review will be done through examination of the strategies which are being used by
organisations and individuals who advocate on these rights.
The presentation is a work in progress towards identifying how the changes have been happening and identifying the opportunities for deeper activism to promote equality for children and equality for LGBT in the Caribbean.
Thanks to the IDEAS Forum for their initial feedback and to Roxroy Bollers for providing the shape files to use for the maps which were created using QGIS
It is not our culture Human Rights Culture in Guyana and the Caribbean
1. “It is not our culture:
Human rights culture in Guyana and the Caribbean”
Vidyaratha Kissoon
Caribbean Studies Association Conference
7 June 2013
2. “Is whu' really yuh talkin' bout?”
● A work in progress..
● How can we deal with the culture of beating of
children in Guyana and Caribbean?
● How can we deal with the culture of homophobia
in Guyana and the Caribbean?
● How can we deal with the culture of any
oppression ?
3. Personal interest
● Indian Guyanese Judge to Indian/Guyanese Hindu
woman lawyer on the Domestic Violence Act
movement – “How could you betray your
culture?”
● “I did not realise you were Hindu”
● “How come you are Hindu and talking about
these things?”
● “Did you live abroad? When did you return”
5. Caribbean Culture..
Antonio Benítez-Rojo : “Caribbeanness is a system full of
noise and opacity, a nonlinear and unpredictable system.
In short a chaotic system beyond the total reach of any
specific kind of knowledge or interpretation of the world”
via late Prof Rex Nettleford, CARIFESTA 2008
8. Caribbean/T&T culture
“In developed countries, writers, academics, comedians, filmmakers, journalists and
intellectuals continuously and publicly respond to, discuss and criticise their society
via art, cultural and social criticism. There is often violent but transformative public
debate with establishment figures. But our entire state cultural apparatus and notions
of culture were pointedly designed, and are rigidly managed, to not be that. Our
whole notion of culture is dedicated to the ludicrous notion that it is Carnival and
celebration. Because of this, the occupation of territory by Carnival that books,
visual and cinematic art, plays, social and cultural criticism should own is so
complete, it is embedded in the educational system and has warped social
consciousness. Education is subverted and unable to provide the values which, in
other countries, effect social change. It isn’t accidental. The purpose of Trini
national culture, to paraphrase Martha Nussbaum, has historically been to encourage
the population to not see the complexity of human experience, and literally reduce it
to song and dance. This is the reality of post-independence PNM culture. Its aim was
to socially engineer a generation to accept and even celebrate lying, corruption, and
exploitation as an acceptable way of life while simultaneously crying for morality
and transparency.” Raymond Ramcharitar, Trinidad Guardian “Gay Ol' Trinidad”
24 May, 2013
9. Human Rights in the Caribbean
● Genocide of Indigenous persons
● Slavery
● Haitian Revolution
● Indentureship
● Universal Declaration of Human Rights
● Cuban Revolution
● Independent nation building and Republics
10. Caribbean cultural relativism
● Rights of women and girls
– Abortion
– Marriage/Property
– Recognition of unwaged work
– Rape culture (“she is a lady she should expect
that”)
– Rights of children
● Democracy?
● LGBT Equality
12. Beating children in schools (Guyana)
● “Education Minister Priya Manickchand says while she is personally
against corporal punishment being administered in schools many parents
do not see such disciplining as abuse and hence the need for
consultations”. (Stabroek News 10 Aug, 2012)
● “..But Opposition Leader, David Granger, said, that the Government is
making a mockery of the issue since it has signed onto an international
treaty against the use of corporal punishment in schools. Granger said, he
and his household does not believe in corporal punishment and that the
consultations should have taken place before signing on to the treaty.”
(Capitol News 04 October, 2012)
● “Admittedly, there is a strong case for the abolishment of corporal
punishment because of the physical and emotional pain it causes. And
there is a tendency to blindly follow the policies of other countries,
particularly those of the advanced countries. This is where the danger lies
because what may be effective in one society may not necessarily be
effective in others. “( Guyana Chronicle Editorial 27 Sept, 2012)
16. Gay rights in the Caribbean
● In Jamaica , shift from “No gays in my Cabinet (PM Golding in 2008) to "Our
administration believes in protecting the human rights of all Jamaicans. No one should be
discriminated against because of their sexual orientation. Government should provide the
protection.. (PM Miller – Nov 2011)
● In Dominica “The government’s position in relation to this matter is stated in law and
this matter is still on our books and will remain there for the foreseeable future,” . “I
don’t think any compelling argument can be made for it to be repealed.” PM Skerrit –
May 2013)
● In Belize, First Lady Kim Barrow speaks out on Intl Day against Homophobia (2013),
while the National Women's Commission includes sexual orientation in the gender policy
● In Trinidad & Tobago, the Minister with responsibility for gender listens to the religious
persons and does not acknowledge sexual orientation issues in the National Gender
Policy (2013).
● Constitutional challenges in Jamaica, Guyana and Belize (2013)
19. Children vs LGBT
● It is our culture to preserve the colonial laws of beating children and
homophobia in 10 places : Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, Grenada,
Guyana, Dominica, Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago, St Kitts & Nevis,
St Vincent & Grenadines, St Lucia
● It is our culture to beat our children in schools, and to accept LGBT
in 15 places : Aruba, Bermuda, Bonaire, The Bahamas, Saba,
Statia, St Barts, BVI, USVI, Bermuda, Montserrat, TCI, St Martin,
Martinique, Guadelope
● It is our culture to not accept homosexuals in Belize, and not to beat
our children in schools
● It is our culture to not beat children and to not legally prohibit same
sex relations 6 places : Suriname, Haiti, Cuba, Dominican Republic,
Puerto Rico, Sint Maarten, Anguilla, Curacao
20. Cultural Relativism
● “No one may invoke cultural diversity to infringe upon
human rights guaranteed by international law, nor limit their
scope.” UNESCO 2001 Universal Declaration on Cultural
Diversity
● “The ultimate vision of the Coalition is a healthy Jamaican
society. We believe this entails physical, emotional, spiritual
and mental health. Furthermore, this health rests on a nation-
wide understanding, support and realization of Judeo-
Christian beliefs as delineated in the Bible.” Charter of the
Jamaica Coalition for a Health Society Charter
21. Cultural Relativism - Guyana
“The undersigned organizations in their representative capacities as part of the
approximately 57% Christian community of the Co-operative Republic of
Guyana express their concerns and offer clarity on the issues of rights of
homosexuals and proposed legislative reform which advances the “cause” of
lesbians, bisexuals, gays and transgenders [LBGT]... The interrelatedness and
interdependency of humanity demands that we appreciate the need and
value for principles, morals and standards that enable the holistic well-
being of all... As the Servants of the Living God, we implore you, Honorable
Members of the Tenth Parliament of Guyana, not to pursue the
decriminalization of homosexuality. .. We are conscious of the political and
economic pressure that you may experience or are experiencing and as
such encourage you to: (i) preserve the sovereignty of our nation
and (ii) preserve the integrity of family life which continues to be the bedrock
of our society “ Statement by the Christian Community in Guyana 2012
22. Culture – Catholic Church
“Sadly, especially in the West, one frequently encounters ambiguities about the
meaning of human rights and their corresponding duties. “Rights are often
confused with exaggerated manifestations of the autonomy of the individual, who
becomes self-referential, no longer open to encounter with God and with others,
and absorbed only in seeking to satisfy his or her own needs. “To be authentic,
the defence of rights must instead consider human beings integrally, in their
personal and communitarian dimensions.” Pope Benedict New Year Message
2013
“ Mercifully, the Roman Catholic Church … has moved from being one of the
world’s leading, even notorious, proponents of beating school children to one of
the world’s leading institutions to have sought more civilized methods of
discipline… “(Mike James, Catholic Standard Guyana, 19 Jan, 2007)
“I wish to make it clear that the Catholic Church in Dominica adheres to the call
of the Holy See ‘to condemn all forms of violence against homosexual persons as
well as to urge all States to take necessary measures to put an end to all criminal
penalties against them’. Bishop of Roseau, Gabriel Malzaire – May 2013
23. Culture – Hindu Women's
Organisation
“Principal of the Saraswati Vidya Niketan (SVN) High School, Swami Aksharananda
says he respects the rights of homosexuals but he will not promote or judge a
lifestyle.”Demerara Waves reporting Plain Talk, Guyana 3 Feb, 2012
24. Culture - Politics
● Whilst one may see the reasoning behind unnatural connection with an animal, one may be left to
wonder why should it be considered unlawful for two adult consenting males to have sexual
relations in the privacy of their homes. This may well be taking it a bit too far and the law ought to
be reconsidered. The homosexuality issue has caught Caribbean people between a rock and
a hard place. Their whole moral upbringing has been called into question. They are just not
comfortable with the idea of men caressing men and women caressing women.” Dr Lawrence
Joseph, President of the Senate of Grenada, May 2013
● Having regard to this situation it is incumbent on the Government and Opposition to boldly lead
public opinion in this matter. Our society should be liberal in outlook and socially progressive in
character. We must lead the way in the Caribbean region and lead the way in dispensing with the
outdated notion that heterosexuality is the basic premise of masculinity for the male and femininity
for the woman Negative social attitudes should be combated even if they are popular. And
where conditions exist making it is possible to do so, as in Guyana, it ought to be done.
Discrimination has no place in Guyana. The LGBT community is crying out for recognition and an
end to ridicule, violence and discrimination.
(Ralph Ramkarran, former Speaker of the National Assembly, Guyana , May 2012)
25. Culture - Politics
● –Sí –recuerda–, fueron momentos de una gran
injusticia, ¡una gran injusticia! –repite enfático–,
la haya hecho quien sea. Si la hicimos nosotros,
nosotros… Estoy tratando de delimitar mi
responsabilidad en todo eso porque, desde luego,
personalmente, yo no tengo ese tipo de prejuicios.
.. (Fidel Castro, 2010)
26. Culture - politics
● “ I have Belizeans in my party who are
homosexuals and we embrace all Belizeans.” Hon
Francis Fonseca, Leader of the Opposition in
Belize May 2013
● “APNU does not discriminate” Hon David
Granger,Leader of the Opposition in Guyana,
November 2012
27. Culture – Parents after workshop
• “Very informative and I learnt a lot. Parenting is not just giving
birth.”
• “I thought the only necessity was preaching until I come here.
When I have my children I will know what to do”
• “Good to hear each other’s situation; we opened, we shared, we felt
comfortable. I did not know it all; how to deal with my children.
We will take this back to our churches. We can be bold enough to
speak to parents. Thank God I am here.”
• “The timing was perfect to be informed us all of a new
methodology of parenting. I will no longer drive fear in my
children. Over these days I have stopped ‘shutting my daughter
up’; I am giving her a chance to speak.”
28. Culture – Individual
“ I did a lot of soul searching and realized that there
are good people and bad people, in every race,
religion, sexual preference, whatever. It will be
hypocritical of me to dislike good people because of
their sexuality. As a Rasta, I have to be careful what
I say or do. I'm always under scrutiny... I realized
One Love is exactly that. No exceptions” Young
Rastafarian man
29. Culture - Individual
“I don't look to laws or treaties or conventions for a
fix. The solution, as with most problems, is change
in the education of regular people. I mentioned the
internet and mass media enabling this. Once the
population comes to the side of equality, then the
laws will either be irrelevant or fall into
righteousness.” young gay man April 2013
30. Questions
● Try to rework/reframe the culture?
Which/Whose culture?
● Culture is religion.. what else?
● Push for the political change? Do people listen to politicians?
● Push for legal change and the culture will evolve in response?
● Embrace treachery/treason or redefine patriotism?
● Cuss dem and call dem backward and barbaric?
● Are these the right questions?
● Where/How do we find the answers to these questions?