BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – Regional Pan-Africanists and socialist groups have declared US President Donald Trump ‘persona non grata’ and have served notice that they will protest any attempt by him to visit the Caribbean, following offensive comments he reportedly made about Haiti, Africa and El Salvador.
In a strongly worded declaration issued on behalf of the people of the Caribbean, the groups said Trump is not welcomed in the region.
“We, the undersigned representatives of the sovereign people of the Caribbean, hereby declare that president Donald Trump of the United States of America is persona non grata in our Caribbean region,” stated the declaration prepared by “Pan-Africanist and socialist popular forces of Barbados” and endorsed by scores of organizations from across the region.
“We further declare that as a persona non grata, President Donald Trump is not welcome in any territory of the Caribbean; and we hereby confirm that we – the Caribbean people – will petition our governments, vehemently protest against any Trump visit, and engage in popular demonstrations designed to prevent President Donald Trump’s entry into any portion of the sovereign territory of our Caribbean region.”
Trump reportedly referred to Haiti, El Salvador and African nations as “shithole countries” during a White House meeting with lawmakers on immigration reform two weeks ago, when he questioned why he should accept immigrants from those places, rather than from countries like Norway.
The Pan-Africanists contend that any insult or attack that is directed at the African continent or at Haiti is intrinsically an insult and attack that is directed at all Caribbean people as well.
“We, the sovereign people of the Caribbean, have determined that by describing the nations of Africa, the Republic of Haiti and the Central American nation of El Salvador as ‘shithole’ countries, US President Donald Trump has committed a despicable and unpardonable act of anti-Black, anti-African, anti-Brown racism that has served to further energize and fortify the vile White supremacy system that the said President Trump has self-consciously sought to champion and lead,” their declaration added.
“We, the sovereign people of the Caribbean, hereby declare to the entire world that we vehemently and unreservedly denounce President Donald Trump and the evil and inhuman White supremacy value system that he represents.”
Trump has denied making the comments, which have been described by many as “racist” and for which he is being condemned.
gift to UG
According to a release from UG’s Office of Philanthropy, Alumni and Civic Engagement (PACE), the gift of land and property in Berbice was bestowed to them by Mrs Rajdai Elizabeth Outar, now of Scottsdale Arizona, who was born and grew up in Guyana.
The gifted property is expected to be developed or liquidated and funds invested within two years of the passing of the property to the University.
Thereafter, according to PACE, up to 30 per cent of the monies will be used in perpetuity to fund on an annual basis the Rajdai Elizabeth and Seobarran James Outar Bursary.
The Rajdai Elizabeth and Seobarran James Outar Bursary is aimed at supporting tuition, living expenses and books for outstanding students from Berbice, Port Mourant, and other areas who prove to be unable to afford the cost of their education at the University of Guyana in any discipline. Growing up in Berbice and Port Mourant, Rajdai Elizabeth Outar and her late husband, Seobarran James Outar, respectively, placed a great value on education, especially for their four children and grandchildren. Following the advice of Mr. Outar’s father who said “If there is one thing you could do for your children, it is to educate them. No one can ever take that away from them,” the Outars left Guyana in the late 1970s for educational opportunities in the United States.
They never forgot where they got their start and looked for opportunities to give back to their home. With Mr Outar’s untimely passing in June 2014, Mrs Outar decided to gift a parcel of land and other remaining assets in Guyana to The University to establish the Rajdai Elizabeth and Seobarran James Outar Bursary.
Speaking from her home in Scottsdale, Arizona, Mrs Outar said “Education is the cornerstone of life and higher education provides an opportunity to create leaders, advance knowledge and to improve society.
“My family and I hope that our gift will not only benefit worthy students but that it also will inspire other expatriate Guyanese to support talent development at a critical time in our nation’s history. We are thankful to Prof. Paloma Mohamed, Deputy Vice Chancellor Philanthropy, Alumni and Civic Engagement and others in The University for creating the possibility and process of establishing such a gift.”
According to the UG, Vice Chancellor Professor Ivelaw Griffith has emphasized the need for private support to complement government funding.
He expressed the University’s gratitude to Mrs Outar and family positing that, “Mrs Outar’s gift provides an opportunity for the most talented students to have access to a world-class education regardless of their ability to pay. We hope that her generosity will serve as an example for others to follow. Gifts like Mrs Outar’s have an impact not only on the recipient but also their families, their community, and society at large.”
Deputy Vice Chancellor (PACE) Professor Paloma Mohamed also expressed sincere gratitude to Mrs Outar and her family, and to her son O’Neil Outar, as well as to former DVC Elizabeth Ramlall, Ms Christine Chowgrir and University Registrar Dr Nigel Gravesande who worked for several months with PACE to realize the project.
The Rajdai Elizabeth and Seobarran James Outar Bursary is expected to be administered through the University’s Student Support Fund mechanism recently set up to support students with financial challenges.
Application materials, awards committee composition and the decision rubric for the award of the Rajdai Elizabeth and Seobarran James Outar Bursary also will be available on the University of Guyana’s website once the funds become available.
