The evidence in the Walter Rodney death

May 09, 2013 Features / Columnists, Freddie Kissoon

A lady wrote a letter in both independent dailies this week and declared that there is evidence that President Forbes Burnham was not involved in the plot to murder Rodney. What is the evidence? She offered two pieces. Now this is serious business so don’t laugh. One is that Rupert Roopnaraine admitted in 2011 that the WPA was accumulating arms to fight Burnham.
If I announce that I will beat you up and the next day you kill me, then you cannot be the person that killed me because I had proclaimed earlier that I will beat you up. Man, even a cow can reason better than this.
Let us quote the lady for the second piece of evidence exonerating Forbes Burnham; “Given this information (Roopnaraine’s confession) and the late Smith’s statement that Rodney’s death was an accident and that he was prepared to come home to testify, Pandora’s Box opens wider.” The woman is right. There is a Pandora’s Box. But it is her box and the things she put inside of it tell us of the story of the Homo sapiens whose reasoning power may be lower than other species in nature’s world.
So there you have it. There is evidence that Burnham was not involved because the WPA was arming itself and Smith wanted to come home to testify. I repeat – a cow can do better in arguing.
Let us now try to think as higher animals. In 1980, President Burnham was a leading figure in the Non-Aligned Movement, in the Third World and particularly in Africa where he was making substantial contributions to the freedom fighters in apartheid ruled South Africa.
At that time, two men, Gregory Smith and Walter Rodney were involved in acts of treason. Smith made a bomb. He gave it to Rodney who took it to the Camp Street jail and tried to attack the prison. Rodney died, Smith escaped.
The world began to blame a leading President in the Third World. But what does this President do to clear his name? Nothing! As the world piles up the blame and accusations, he does nothing to save himself. He does not issue a warrant for Smith. He does not hold an inquest.
Then, this poorly thinking President became even more self-destructive. The wife of a treason accused, Gregory Smith that planned to overthrow him gets employment in the diplomatic service. The treason accused himself now lives openly in French Guiana and the poor Guyanese President cannot touch him.
Now during all this time, the army of the country gets involved in treason too. The army announced that Gregory Smith was not a member of the Defence Force when in fact he was.
This was time for the President who is facing the heat from the world to become enraged and investigate why the GDF wants to protect Smith. After all, the man made a bomb. He conspired to overthrow President Burnham. Our self-destructive President, Forbes Burnham, didn’t ask the French to help him capture this treason accused.
Our poor President just sat down at Belfield and allowed top citizens of the world and governments to accuse him of murdering a globally admired scholar.
Do you believe Burnham was not involved? Only a fool would reject a role for Burnham. Maybe he acted in self defence. Maybe he panicked. But it is foolish to deny he was not involved. Forbes Burnham knew that Walter Rodney had penetrated the security forces and had substantial national support. He knew Rodney was planning to overthrow him. In mortal fear of being overthrown and sent to a public trial, he participated in Rodney’s assassination. It has lacerated the psyche of those who loved and admired Burnham. They themselves wished it didn’t happen.
They take refuge in denial. The Rodney murder has divided the African race worldwide. Those who care for African people and feel that in Guyana, Africans are being pushed out of a country they helped bring into existence cannot psychologically abandon Burnham.
It is really sad what is going on in their minds. But to ignore Burnham’s part in the plot does not help the healing process. There is no easy way out of this mess.
I leave you with two pieces of information. Godwin McPherson admitted his involvement in Rodney’s death. I know David Hinds knows about this. Secondly, the WPA has accused a certain prominent Guyanese who is still active in the State machinery today as being one of the main plotters. Time for Kwayana, Andaiye, Nigel Wesmaas, Rupert Roopnaraine, Bonita Bone, Clive Thomas and David Hinds to protect Rodney’s legacy by pointing Guyana to this man’s existence.

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The evidence in the Walter Rodney death

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