The Guyana Rastafari Council on Wednesday lamented the condition of African Guyanese, prompting the Guyana government to pledge to address their concerns. At the same time, authorities ruled out legalizing marijuana, even for religious purposes.

Addressing hundreds of African Guyanese at the official launch of the country’s year-long activities for the United Nations-designated International Year for People of African Descent (IYPAD), President Jagdeo said he could not promise that marijuana would be decriminalized.  “I can’t promise you to legalize marijuana and I know that you would see that as fundamental but I will work to ensure that the kids have a brighter future,” said Jagdeo at the Guyana International Conference Centre. 

He acknowledged that he mentioned the issue because it was “dear to the heart” of the Rastafarian community. 

The President noted that California’s 800 stores sell medical marijuana while the United States “lectures us about our marijuana fields.” 

Before the Guyanese leader’s address; President of the Guyana Rastafari Council, Ras Leon Saul pointed to the importance of marijuana the Blessed Sacrament. 

“When it comes to our sacrament, it is indeed a serious consideration to be made to free I and I up, free up the Rasta man,” said Saul who is also the Chairman of the All African Guyanese Council. 

Saul observed that the national programme of activities does not include plans to deal with economic development, job-creation, youths in difficult circumstances and re-education. 

“In this country, a lot of Black people are suffering and are on the edge of survival,” he said. 

Saul, a former journalist with the state-owned Guyana Chronicle, identified self-reliance, self-determination and self-governance as key ingredients in becoming genuine and better human beings. 

In apparent reference to the boycott of the launching ceremony by several African Guyanese organisations and the Leader of the Peoples National Congress Reform (PNCR), he appealed for unity rather than division. “We have to stop divisiveness and stop the talk of boycotting ourselves.” 

“In all honesty; all is not well amongst us; as a people we are ailing; we are sick, we are psychopathic and even mendicant and this should not be so,” said Saul. 

The President, in his address, acknowledged that Guyana was facing difficulties but he appealed to the opposition to muster the courage and conviction to take their concerns to the table. 

Jagdeo pledged that concerns that sections of his administration were doing things that are inimical to the interests of African Guyanese. 

“If there is anything in my government that is practiced now that is inimical to people of African descent or any other descent, you have my commitment that it will change,” he said. 

He said academics were expected to engage n debates and discussions about the origins and problems of people of Africans with the aim of finding solutions. 

On the issue of reparation, he said an apology for the African Slave Trade was insufficient but Guyana was willing to accept a better international environment as payment. “Those who are complicit must offer more than words.” 

He chided the opposition for calling on the Guyana government to pay reparation and at the same time encouraged them to support government’s call for European countries to do so. 

“They should join us in the call for reparation and if it’s not money- because a lot of those countries are unprepared to give us money now- then give us the global policies, sympathetic policies (that) if we work hard, we are going succeed,” he said. 

The year of activities would include a caucus of African professionals, keynote addresses, exhibitions, plays, food fairs, exchange visits of African traditional bands, conference of African religious sermons, education issues for youths, health issues, tours, discussion on the significance of Ghana, artistic competitions, creation of youth leadership clubs, reintegration of African prisoners into the society and an ancestral lands conference.