Burnham’s memory cannot be erased - Corbin

Burnham’s memory cannot be erased – Corbin

Aug 07, 2009 News

(By Mondale Smith)
In both life and death, Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham, O.E, S.C, Guyana’s first Executive President was both celebrated and scorned by many for his intellectual abilities, decision making and efforts that weaved the fabric to Guyana being an independent nation.
He is also remembered for his abilities that catapulted Guyana into regional and international prominence.
Yesterday, from 07:30hrs a solemn and reflective atmosphere enveloped the small gathering at the Mausoleum, Seven Ponds Place of Heroes, Botanical Gardens as they reflected on his life’s work and contributions to the nation. The day marked 24 years since his sudden death in 1985. That death sent shock waves throughout Guyana, the region and the world.

PNCR party leadership candidate Dr. Richard Van West Charles was among the many who lay floral tributes at the grave side of L.F.S. Burnham, his late father-in-law.

Among those gathered for the annual laying of floral tributes were members of the People’s National Congress, relatives of the Burnham family, City Mayor Hamilton Green and members of the public. The Guyana Police Force Band offered a musical atmosphere. Several PNCR leadership candidates Dr. Richard Van West Charles, Aubrey Norton and Vincent Alexander were also in attendance.
Addressing the gathering, Party leader Robert Corbin said, “…No attempt to rewrite history will erase the monumental contribution of Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham to Guyana.”
He solidified this at the shrine and encouraged all to remember “the man for all seasons” through reflections of his life and work and encouraged those gathered to “be re-inspired to complete the monumental work he (Burnham) started in molding a destiny for Guyana as a nation.”
Corbin pointed to the recent Grow More Food Campaign, distribution of plant seeds, the construction of the Berbice River Bridge and the hosting of the last Carifesta are but a few examples of why Burnham cannot be erased.
Corbin also charged the gathering to take courage that “…the struggles for independence, self-determination and self-reliance were not easy,” but was riddled with challenges however resoluteness guaranteed the party’s success.
Solidifying why the late leader will not be erased from history, Corbin said that “there is universal acceptance that Forbes Burnham was a visionary Leader who was the Founding Father of an Independent Guyana and said that his vision to establish an egalitarian society, where all races would enjoy social justice and political and economic emancipation, still eludes us today.”
Corbin expressed the belief that sufficient has already been said and written; by both friend and foe to ensure that “history will judge Forbes Burnham kindly.”
Looking back and underscoring Burnham’s contribution to National Service, Corbin celebrated the fact that Burnham was posthumously named “The Caribbean Person of the Century”: an accolade awarded to him after a Caribbean and Caribbean Diaspora poll showed that Caribbean people considered Burnham had the greatest impact on Caribbean history in the 20th Century.
But while the reflections were many, Corbin took time out to point to issues he believes are affecting Guyana such as the criminalization of the state, the unfolding evidence of state-sponsored murder, state facilitation of the narcotic trade, the flagrant abuse of human rights, including the right to freedom of expression, the manipulation of the media and the flagrant violation of the Guyana Constitution.
Since the last meeting at the mausoleum Corbin has piloted a motion in the National Assembly to ensure national recognition of Burnham’s contribution to Guyana.
Corbin also pointed to letter writers and critics who through valiant efforts to seek to demoralize and bring Burnham’s efforts to nothingness are “now in the process of unashamedly adopting his policies.”
Yesterday afternoon the tradition of reflections on the late Executive President of Guyana’s life was also done at the headquarters of the National Congress of Women.

1 thoughts on “Burnham’s memory cannot be erased – Corbin”

nandanee67 December 22, 2011 at 5:40 pm

He was a handsome and intelligent chap! Speaks well…sexy voice too! heee……but if only he could have taken a look at his people starving and feed the people, “that” would have made him the perfect Leader of Guyana. People were angry with him only because they were starving!
A hungry man is an angry man!
Aaada dan da, de man was aaaaarite……..
This is my view!
R