Lubna Alli

I am struggling with deciding how I choose to label myself with regards to my background. Am I Guyanese? Am I Canadian? Guyanese-Canadian? Canadian-Guyanese? Do these labels even matter at the end of the day? There’s a lot to think about.

I was born in Guyana and I lived there for the first 7 years of my life, having lived the remainder of my 19+ years of life in Toronto. I feel as though I have been shaped by both cultures so picking a side would be an incorrect representation of who I am. Whether I’m a little bit more Guyanese than I am Canadian (or vice versa) is what I am undecided about. I have lived in Canada for most of my life, leading me to believe that I am probably more Canadian than I am Guyanese.

When it comes to factors related to Guyana’s culture that impact how another leader may approach their role in Guyana, there are a few things to consider. The most major factor is race, as there is a huge divide in Guyana between the people of Indian heritage and the people of African heritage. This has created tension over the years when it comes to the way both personal and professional relationships are handled.

Similarly, Guyana’s colonization by the British led to a history of slavery, where all of Guyana’s 6 different nations were colonized and forced to succumb to slavery and mistreatment at some point along the way. This is why there is always fighting between that Blacks and the Indians over business, politics, land and even personal relationships. What this demonstrates, though, is the differences in leadership styles that Guyana has dealt with over the years. It’s politics is very corrupt, with bribery and, far worse, killing, always making headlines during election season.

When it comes to leadership, I feel as though I’m typically prone to the stereotypically Canadian leadership style. Unlike island culture, when there is a task that needs to be done, I need to have a strict plan and deadline set out so that I have something to work towards. Also, comparable is the fact that I am not a very confrontational person, unlike most island people who have no problem being direct with you about their feelings. I usually have a hard time letting others know how I feel if I am disappointed with the results they are producing. Reflecting back on my previous leadership experiences, this trait of mine is both a strength and a weakness. I am able to escape tension and conflict, but it is at the cost of potentially producing higher quality work.

I think that these are questions to consider, especially between the Indian and Black leaders serving in government in Guyana. What can they do to ease the tension between the two different cultures? How can an Indian leadership style mesh well with a Black leadership style to create a harmonious method of decision making? These are all important questions that I feel require big brains to come up with plausible answers. I think I need to give my dad a call, he seems to always have the answers to these types of matters.

Pondering,

Lubna