We must never forget the role played by the protesters in NY

Oct 03, 2008 Letters

DEAR EDITOR,
The opening of the UN in NY last week brought back, with all the protests against visiting leaders, old memories from the 1970s and 80s when Guyanese used to rally in front of the global body to focus attention on human rights abuses and rigged elections in their former homeland.

Every September when the UN opens for its annual session, the triangle and or the square opposite the street has been a rallying point for protesters who want the world to learn about their grievances. We used to gather to inform the world about abuses our people suffered in Guyana.

This year, the rally was very, very large with many groups gathering but the protests were not related to Guyana.

I don’t recall any Guyana related protests in front of the UN since the restoration of democracy in October 1992. In some years preceding 1992, Guyanese protests were small and isolated. In other years, Guyanese joined other groups to have their voices heard.

I remember one year, 1985, President Ronald Reagan was speaking at the UN and Dr. Baytoram Ramharack, Vassan Rramracha, and myself were the only ones holding up picket signs calling for free and fair elections in Guyana.

We took a day off from teaching to protest because the event was important for us and a once in a year opportunity to get the attention of the global body.

Guyanese diplomat, the late Kester Alves and a small group of employees at the Guyana Mission passed by and waved their hands, making sarcastic remarks and jeering.

In other years, Arjune Karshan, Chuck Mohan, and supporters of various political parties in Guyana were at the UN protests.

Guyanese should never forget the important role played by the small band of courageous individuals from NY who stood in front of the UN to focus attention on human rights abuses in Guyana and that may have ushered in democracy in their homeland.

With regards to President Jagdeo’s speech, it may have gone unnoticed to Guyanese that President Jagdeo, in speaking at the United Nations, has delivered more speeches there than any other Guyanese leader.

It was a good speech hitting many key points, especially on the financial crisis engulfing America and the West and the need for more financial aid for Third World countries. The economic crisis will have telling effects on Guyana.

The President rightly chastised leaders of developed western countries for failing to follow up on their millennium promises to assist the poor countries.

He made a convincing appeal for aid. He also offered some practical proposals on how poor countries like Guyana, with major rainforests, should be rewarded for protecting the environment.
Vishnu Bisram

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We must never forget the role played by the protesters in NY

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