Guyana: Extent of mixed marriages, especially between Afro-Guyanese and Indo-Guyanese citizens; treatment by state and society of mixed marriage couples and their children; the availability of state protection (2003-May 2004)

Extent of Mixed Marriages

Academic sources have described the difficulty in estimating the extent of mixed marriages between Afro- and Indo-Guyanese citizens (Hernandez-Ramdwar 1997; Shibata 1998). According to Hernandez-Ramdwar, persons of multiracial heritage are generally lumped into a category called "mixed" (1997, 3). Guyanese demographic statistics indicate that people of "mixed" ethnicity make up between seven (CIA 18 Dec. 2003; UN 8 Jan. 2004) and twelve per cent (US Nov. 2003) of the country's population.

In addition, Hernandez-Ramdwar argues that multiracial identification is based on factors such as community affiliation and that persons of mixed ethnicity tend to "gravitate towards the group with which they are most familiar ... [and] feel most accepted" (1997, 7). The influence of the prevailing socio-political climate may also play a role in determining racial identity (Hernandez-Ramdwar 1997). For example,

... during the Black Power movement years of the late 1960's/early 1970's, or under the Burnham regime in Guyana, it is probable that many multiracial people who could claim an African identity, but who previously may have declined to, now did so. Similarly, as interest rises in the construction of a competing, culturally distinct and homogenous Indian identity in both Trinidad and Guyana, (especially with the election of the PPP [People's Progressive Party] in Guyana in 1992, and the UNC [United National Congress] coalition government in Trinidad & Tobago in 1995, both of whom are seen as "Indian" parties) sole Indian identification by mixed-Indian people is becoming more attractive (ibid.).

Society's Treatment of Mixed Marriages

In a 6 May 2004 interview, an Associate Professor of Sociology and Equity Studies at the University of Toronto agreed with Hernandez-Ramdwar's analysis; however, she also mentioned that because a multi-racial person may not fit into a purely Afro- or Indo-Guyanese identity, he or she may be subject to racial hostility. While the professor noted that she was unaware of incidents in which multiracial persons had been targeted in recent years, she referred the Research Directorate to the January 2004 UN Special Rapporteur's reports on racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and all forms of discrimination in Guyana, which describes the problems of racism affecting the country as a whole (University of Toronto 6 May 2004).

In a chapter entitled "Crossing Racialized Boundaries: Intermarriage between 'Africans' and 'Indians' in Contemporary Guyana" from the book Cross-Cultural Marriage, Shibata notes that attitudes about marriage in Guyana are based on long-standing ideas that people should marry from within their own religions or ethnic group, and that interracial marriage, particularly between Afro and Indo-Guyanese is seen as controversial (Shibata 1998, 87). In addition, Shibata argues that women involved in interracial relationships are the main target of hostility and violence (ibid., 96). Shibata also contends that residential location plays a role in regards to level of racial hostility, as it appears that "the degree of segregation, racial prejudice and tension is higher in predominantly Indian communities than in African ones" (ibid., 97). Nevertheless, if an interracial couple and their children face an intolerable level of racial difficulty, moving to a more mixed community in the city or elsewhere is a potential option (ibid.).

With regard to acceptance, Shibata claims that Afro-Guyanese women married to Indo-Guyanese men had much more difficulty integrating with their Indo-Guyanese in-laws, while Afro-Guyanese extended families were more inclined to accept an Indo-Guyanese wife (ibid.). Hernandez-Ramdwar also points out that children of mixed Afro-Guyanese and Indo-Guyanese marriages, commonly referred to as "dougla," a Hindi term meaning "bastard," or "miscegenate," are more likely to be rejected by Indo-Guyanese relations and accepted by Afro-Guyanese relatives (1997, 3). In April 2004, according to an article that appeared in Stabroek News, a presenter at an inquiry of the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) in Guyana stated that "Indians in Guyana might object to inter-racial marriage from the perspective that it could result in a disruption of their cultural/religious tradition" (23 Apr. 2004).

Treatment by the State; Availability of State Protection

With regard to state protection, the UN Special Rapporteur on racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and all forms of discrimination reported that the government of Guyana has enacted legislation to combat racial discrimination (UN 8 Jan. 2004, 7-8). In 1977, Guyana ratified the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (UNHCHR 21 Mar. 2003). However, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCHR) noted that Guyana is in default of its reporting obligations; stating that it has not sent one report since ratifying the accord (ibid. 9 Mar. 2004). In March 2003 and 2004 UNHCHR briefings, Guyana was twice granted extensions to present its first report, the latest deadline now falling on 30 September 2004 (ibid.).

Guyana's 1980 Constitution also guarantees "Guyanese citizens the fundamental rights and freedoms recognized in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, namely the right to life, liberty, the freedom of conscience and opinion, freedom of movement, equality and non-discrimination" (UN 8 Jan. 2004, 7). Moreover, the Racial Hostility Amendment Act of 2002 was strengthened on 26 September 2003 to include more serious penalties for anyone found guilty of inciting racial hatred (UN 8 Jan. 2004, 12).

However, an Assistant Professor of Sociology and Equity Studies at the University of Toronto stated that for the ordinary person who wishes to report that he or she has been the target of racial hostility, there really is no recourse or state protection (6 May 2004). Moreover, although the national government introduced an Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) in 2003, the professor remarked that it is not clear how the ERC will assist ordinary citizens who are the victims of racial hostility (University of Toronto 6 May 2004). Please see GUY42611.E of 6 May 2004 for information about the status and effectiveness of the ERC. The UN Special Rapporteur also mentioned that "the ethnic polarization of the main institutions of law and order - the police and the army - contributes in no small measure to the worsening of the climate of insecurity that hangs so heavily over every community" (UN 8 Jan. 2004, 3).

For more information about state protection in Guyana, please consult the Research Directorate's July 2003 Issue Paper, Guyana: Criminal Violence and Police Response.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

CIA World Factbook. 18 December 2003. "Guyana." [Accessed 5 May 2004]

Hernandez-Ramdwar, Camille. 1997. Vol. 13. "Multiracial Identities in Trinidad and Guyana: Exaltation and Ambiguity." Latin American Issues. [Accessed 28 Apr. 2004]

Shibata, Yoshiko. 1998. "Crossing Racialized Boundaries: Intermarriage between 'Africans' and 'Indians' in Contemporary Guyana." Cross-Cultural Marriage. Edited by Rosemary Breger and Rosanna Hill. Oxford: Berg.

Stabroek News [Georgetown]. 23 April 2004. "India's Caste System Does Not Exist Here - Mootoo Tells Kean Gibson Book Inquiry." [Accessed 3 May 2004]

United Nations (UN). 8 January 2004. Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). Racism, Racial discrimination, Xenophobia and All Forms of Discrimination: Mission to Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago. (E/CN.4/2004/18/Add.1). [Accessed 25 May 2004]

United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCHR). 21 March 2003. Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. Prevention of Racial Discrimination, Including Early Warning Measures and Urgent Action Procedures. (CERD/C/62/Dec.2) [Accessed 5 May 2004]

_____9 March 2004. Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. Decision (1) 64 on Guyana: Guyana. 09/03/2004. (CERD/C/64 Dec.1). [Accessed 5 May 2004]

United States (US). November 2003. "Background Note: Guyana." United States Department of State. Washington, DC. [Accessed 5 May 2004]

University of Toronto. 6 May 2004. Telephone interview with an associate professor of Sociology and Equity Studies.

Additional Sources Consulted

Two oral sources did not respond to information requested within time constraints.

Internet sites: Guyana Chronicle [Georgetown], World News Connection/Dialog.