Latest update September 28th, 2026 10:20 AM
Acts of torture took place under the PNC
Dear Editor,
As a former member of the Working People’s Alliance (WPA), I was waiting and hoping that someone from that party would have set the record straight with regards to acts of torture that took place when the People’s National Congress (PNC) was in Government.
I read Eusi Kyayana’s letter and was pleased to know that someone who is older than Freddie, Roopnarine and others, remembers the torturing of Ivan Sookram and others.
In his attempt to make the present Government “look bad”, Freddie Kissoon wrote in one of his columns that the PNC administration never tortured people it placed before the courts for political crimes.
Freddie was a supporter of the WPA and should be well acquainted, with the treason trial of Ivan Sookram and others during the early 80’s. About 15 of us from Zeeburg and De Willem on the West Coast, Demerara, were tortured so that the police could obtain confession statements by force.
I was tortured and witnessed these torturing having been there and saw this evil act being perpetrated by the Police at CID headquarters at Eve Leary.
I am certain that acts such as being beaten at regular intervals on all parts of the body especially the bottom of the feet and the tummy, burns with cigarette, threats of electric shock, sleep deprivations and being forced to sign confession statements all constitute torturing.
One of the taxi drivers that was locked up with us told me that when he is saying the truth they continued to beat him, but when he is lying they stopped the beating, then the police would write a statement and then he will sign it.
A mechanic by the name of David was tortured so severely that he could not sit down for days because of severe injuries he suffered after being beaten with an axe handle.
Rupert Roopnarine mentioned in one of his letters that he was not tortured when he was locked up, but I am certain he is knowledgeable about the dozens of WPA activists that suffered torturing at the hands of the police in those days.
Maybe Freddie and Roopnarine should not leave out facts which they are knowledgeable about, just to satisfy their following.
Ralph Saywack
Share this:
Discover more from Kaieteur News
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.