Candidates in New York elections need the backing of more than one group
Stabroek News
October 4, 2001

Dear Editor,

Mr Vishu Bisram's letter [ please note: link provided by LOSP web site ] of 23.9.0l refers. First, was it his total distortion of the facts or was it the headline of his letter which indicated that Indo-Guyanese were targeted after the WTC carnage?

It is not the Indo-Guyanese population that was targeted but anyone who looked like an Arab or Osama bin Laden. This included Sikhs because of their head-dress and beard and Indians in general because of the close resemblance of hair and skin colour to Osama bin Laden. Fanatics just assume based on your looks that you are a representative of a particular group.

Secondly, I would like to comment on his letter [ please note: link provided by LOSP web site ] (SS, 30.9.200l) attributing Mr Trevor Rupnarain's failure to win a seat/nomination in the NYC council elections to Indo-Guyanese. I am sure he and Mr Trevor Rupnarain know that when living in a very multi-cultural city, the votes of a single sect cannot guarantee any candidate a nomination. Actually any candidate who campaigns in this manner is a sure loser and cannot democratically represent his/her riding/region.

Any candidate wishing to win a nomination should not depend on voters to just support them because of similar ethnicity/religion/background.

So come on Guys, start campaigning on issues. Also Mr Bisram stop blaming the Indo-Guyanese population of NYC for Mr Trevor Rupnarain not getting nominated.

Yours faithfully,

M Lochan

Editor's note

Neither the headline nor the contents of Mr Bisram's letter of 23.9.0l suggest that Indo-Guyanese were the only targets after the events of September ll. Mr Bisram makes clear that they were being targeted because they were mistaken for Arab-Americans, among other things.