The PPP was not a significant threat to the ruling PNC regime

Jan 21, 2010 Letters

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Dear Editor,
The letter of Mr. Annan Boodram (December 31st, 2009) was brought to my attention. This letter aroused a whole range of emotions. It is hard to find common ground or even to politely respond to some of the offensive and provocative statements made therein.
It is ironic that Mr. Boodram now calls for an abandonment of the “us versus them” mentality. This call was made a long time ago and implemented by Dr. Walter Rodney. He was the first after the political divisiveness and destructive racial turmoil to give Guyanese people hope in their struggles against the oppressive status quo.
His appeal transcends ethnicity, culture, age, class, academic standing, etc. May I add his comrades included most of the finest minds to ever grace this country. I was privileged to have had personal interactions with some of them, Dr Josh Ramsammy, Dr. Omawale, and Ms. B. Harris.
Due to the rise of the broad-based Rodney-led WPA, the WPA became in fact the unofficial opposition. Both Dr. C. Jagan and Mr. L.F.S Burnham realised this. Consequences included: Dr. Jagan and his PPP were becoming irrelevant and the PPP failing to attract the best and brightest of my time, 1970’s. (One of the very few exceptional academically bright students who stayed with the PPP was Mr. Navin Chanderpaul.)
I know that most of my UG peers did not think much of the PPP, since it was seen as an intellectual graveyard and it was impossible to find a home there.
But despite this alienation, most of us still retained an emotional attachment to and respect for Dr. Cheddi Jagan and Mrs. Janet Jagan. (We appreciated the early efforts of Dr. Jagan including the fact the PPP started UG.)
The wrath of PNC’s goons descended mercilessly on Dr. Rodney and the WPA, because it was seen as the major threat to the ruling party. The security forces and intelligence services also focused on the WPA. The PPP was not a significant threat to the ruling PNC regime. The WPA bore the brunt of the harassments, intimidations, beatings etc.
In this despair, Dr. Rodney was a unifying figure in my generation who let us see that we are just people struggling against tyranny. We had a sense of hope for a brighter tomorrow.
To all Guyanese, Rodney was a special person that rarely comes along in one’s lifetime. We were indeed fortunate to have this great son of Guyana leading us with courage in the face of grave personal danger. He led by example, never asking anyone to do something that he personally would not do. He earned our respect and love whether we were from the slums of Albouystown, Tiger Bay, sugar estates, or academia.
Never before in the history of Guyana did anyone have such broad national appeal. He made us believe in ourselves and let us know we have something to contribute towards the common good. His WPA included and worked with a wide range of many high-profiled and ordinary Guyanese.
It takes someone special to show there was a better side to each of us and that we have a common cause. Dr. Rodney helped imbued a sense of social responsibility even in those of us in science, having being inspired by the examples of Dr Joshua Ramsammy and Dr. Omawale.
I can go on, but these are enough. I had written earlier that I went to pay my respects to Mr. Martin Carter at the National Shrine, and that Dr. Walter Rodney should be honoured as a national hero. The PPP can best tell us why they have not done so, despite being the beneficiary of Dr. Rodney and his WPA efforts.
I do not understand how any Guyanese can add insult to injury by attempting to belittle the attempts of Dr. Rodney and the WPA. Many Guyanese, including myself, are puzzled that someone with no record of distinguished service to Guyana under such threatening conditions would seek to cast doubts on the work of Rodney and the WPA. Does Mr. Boodram realise how many people he has offended?
Many of us loved him as brother, does Mr. Boodram realise that we are not amused? But before we pass judgement on Mr. Boodram, perhaps he could please tell us why he went to such lengths to unjustly denigrate the memory of one we hold so dear?
Guyanese were/are brought up to pay respect to our honourable elders, especially one who has a proven track record of service on behalf of all of us. Mr. Boodram is asking us to display ‘moral compass,’ yet the tone of his letter attempts to denigrate the one person who showed incredible moral courage over many years and under very adverse conditions. I am referring to our most respected elder, Mr. Eusi Kwayana.
I would not have responded to the question Mr, Boodram posed to Mr. Kwayana. Why waste time on such an offensive question. I am surprised by the arrogance of Mr. Booodram, his apparent attempt to portray that he is clever, has left one feeling how could anyone show such disrespect to one of the formidable moral forces in our time?
Even in his struggle against tyranny, Mr. Kwayana always insisted that the WPA broke no moral and ethical rules. If any Guyanese can justly claim the mantle of following Gandhian principles in politics, it is Mr. Eusi Kwayana. Despite, what the WPA has gone through, Mr. Kwayana asked Guyanese to give young President Jagdeo a chance.
More recently, he also raised the issue of the national security advisor, Mr. Bernard Kerik of New York being considered for hire by President Jagdeo.
The PPP was all over Mr. Kwayana. Imagine the fallout now that Mr. Kerik is discredited. Guyanese know of the moral fibre of Mr, Kwayana. He taught and practice respect for all peoples. I know that my friends and I at UG had tremendous respect for Mr. Kwayana.
We are fortunate to have such a moral person to provide a moral compass in our most troubled times. All Guyanese, irrespective of political stripe respected this outstanding and morally courageous person.
It is indeed surprising that Mr. Boodram called for us to stop “us and them” mentality and show “moral compass”, but begins by putting down two men who made that call years ago and showed moral courage in the toughest of time and time again.
When I was writing about conditions at UG and asked for his Mr. Boodram’s assistance in publicising the case to the Diaspora, he despite claims to being an educator refused to help. Others helped at risks to their businesses.
Mr. Boodram did not help. Before we judge the worth of Mr. Boodram’s moral compass, it is only fair that we give him a chance to tell us why he did not take a stance for the youths of Guyana and for their future.
Sadly and regrettably, the current crop of PPP or former PPP members who now promote themselves as fearless ‘freedom fighters’ of the past did nothing to earn the respect of Guyanese. To many of us Dr. Rodney was our brightest star, our beam of hope and a courageous brother.
As we applaud his efforts, we loved him. His short life impacted on so many of us. We were made better by him, he lives within us.
Our respected elder, Mr. Eusi Kwayana has been our moral compass and gave us a sense of pride and identify, accept ourselves and others, and to treat even our opponents with respect.
As my father said in the 1960s, if he had to choose one man to trust to stand on principles it would be Mr. Sidney King (Now Mr. Eusi Kwayana). Years later, so would I dad! So would I!
Seelochan Beharry

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