Award or not, Mr. Burnham contributed to helping end apartheid in South Africa

May 14, 2013 Letters

Dear Editor,
I am compelled to make a few comments on Mr. Dennis Wiggins’ letter ‘The South Africa Government’s initial decision has proven to be a terrible miscalculation’ Kaieteur News, 9th May 2013. My concern with this letter is its dishonesty.
Mr. Wiggins is saying the totality of a person should be judged when dealing with a specific issue. I can say to Mr. Wiggins his closeness to the Rodney family makes him incapable of being impartial to the matter of the PNC Founder Leader Mr. Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham receiving the O.R. Tambo Award. But I would like to say to Mr. Wiggins that he must use this closeness not only to blame Mr. Burnham for Dr. Walter Rodney’s death but to call on the PPP administration to begin the independent Commission of Inquiry the parliament in 2005 voted for by the PNC.
I can stoop to Mr. Wiggins’ level and engage in name calling, because as he wants to call those who are saying Mr. Burnham should get the award “apologists,” he can be called a profiteer of Dr. Rodney’s death, because all he has done is say Mr. Burnham is responsible for Dr. Rodney’s death but he is not calling for the government to start the inquiry.
I would want to be put on public record that I think those accusing Mr. Burnham for Dr. Rodney’s death do not want an inquiry for fear of what it would reveal and what they will have to say under oath of their role in the politics of the 1970s and 1980s. The PNC is being accused of Mr. Rodney’s death, but it was the PNC that hired overseas experts to examine how he met his death and had the matter tried in court. The government of the PNC did all this and the WPA condemned them all. When WPA Member of Parliament Ms. Sheila Holder brought this motion to Parliament to have an independent inquiry into Mr. Rodney’s death it was supported by the PNC MPs.
It was Dr. Rodney’s son, Shaka, who did a one-man protest in front of State House during Dr. Cheddi Jagan’s Government calling for an inquiry into his father’s death. I noticed how proud Mr. Wiggins feels about the support Dr. Rodney has around the world and in South Africa and his jubilation that the award to Mr. Burnham is deferred. I would like to advise Mr. Wiggins to stop this jubilation and not waste the support by encouraging these “progressives” to mount a campaign and call on the Government of Guyana to conduct independent inquiry into Dr. Rodney’s death.
I have been in politics too long to know when people are serious, bluffing or piggybacking on a situation for their own interest, to get their day in the sun. The truth always prevails, but I am not sure if Dr. Rodney’s supporters want this truth made public. Let us wait and see if a campaign will start and not stop until an independent commission is appointed to inquire into Dr. Rodney’s death.
Mr. Wiggins’ reference to some effort to look at if former president Mr. Bharrat Jagdeo is deserving of his doctorate is not the same as looking at if Mr. Burnham is deserving of the O.R. Tambo Award. The Tambo Award has specific criteria to qualify and under these criteria Mr. Burnham qualified.
I have seen Mr. Jagdeo being given a doctorate for his contributions to social justice and the environment. You only have to follow Mr. Jagdeo’s libel suit against Mr. Freddie Kissoon, Kaieteur News and Adam Harris and look at the environment in Georgetown and around Guyana to know if he qualifies. Mr. Burnham stood in solidarity with South Africa and lent support in many ways. This cannot be disputed and this is what the award is about. It’s a shame Mr. Wiggins for you not being able to recognise or admit the difference.
I would like to say to Mr. Wiggins, Mr. Burnham’s contributions to South Africa may not be known among the people he calls “progressives.” But the leaders of the freedom fighters in South Africa, including the late Mr. Tambo, know about the support they received from Mr. Burnham and some of it can also be found in the Hansards in the National Assembly.
Award or not Mr. Burnham contributed to helping end apartheid in South Africa. When other Caribbean leaders were afraid, Mr. Burnham did not shy away from giving open support and boycotting activities when South Africa participated. “Let the Truth Prevail”
B. Beniprashad Rayman
Former MP and Member of the PNCR CEC

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Award or not, Mr. Burnham contributed to helping end apartheid in South Africa

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