Nandlall Tells Black Community Sorry After “House Slave”Remark

August 30 2025

A political storm has erupted after Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, made controversial remarks at a recent public meeting in Stabroek Square, Georgetown, in which he allegedly referred to national freedom fighter Cuffy as a “house slave.”

The comments, which many have deemed disrespectful and historically inaccurate, have triggered strong condemnation from political leaders and civil society.

Simona Broomes, leader of the Assembly for Liberty and Prosperity, described the AG’s words as deeply troubling.

Speaking during a live Facebook broadcast, she said the Attorney General’s passionate delivery only amplified the offensive nature of his remarks. “Guyana’s politics have changed and I’m not going to compromise with certain things,” Broomes declared, adding that the remarks expose where the nation currently stands and the dangerous direction it may be heading.

Leader of the Forward Guyana Movement, Amanza Walton-Desir, was equally forceful, demanding an unequivocal apology. In a social media post she declared: “Anil Nandlall must issue a full, unequivocal apology!!!”

The APNU coalition also weighed in, denouncing the Attorney General’s words as both “ignorant and repugnant.” Their statement read:

“Cuffy, our national hero, was a freedom fighter and revolutionary. In 1763, he fought and broke the shackles of slavery and dehumanization. He then organized the world’s first nation state by freed Africans outside of Africa. We call on all Guyanese to take note of the disrespectful manner in which the PPP views Afro-Guyanese and their history in this country. Nandlall’s statement was not a slip of the tongue, but reflects the mindset of his party.”

Faced with mounting backlash, Attorney General Nandlall issued a public apology, admitting that his words did not convey his true intentions.

“For my lack of clarity, I offer my unqualified and unreserved apology,” he stated. “My intention was not born out of ill-will or disrespect. I have always described slavery as, by far, the worst tragedy in recorded history. My remarks were meant to condemn attempts at racial division in our country, not diminish the legacy of Cuffy.”

Despite the apology, political leaders and advocacy groups have called for the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) to take action. The matter now appears poised to escalate further as questions of historical respect, national unity, and racial sensitivity dominate the political discourse.