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The real story – the value of an oral tradition

May 21, 2013 Letters

 

 

DEAR EDITOR,
We must congratulate M. Maxwell for his learned and obviously well researched letter which appeared in the Kaieteur News  yesterday (May 20, 2013) – Headlined”  Only two Cuban flights landed in Guyana because Burnham caved in to US and Venezuelan pressure”.  I both congratulate and compliment M Maxwell, but allow me to say the following.
I worked alongside Burnham, as General Secretary of the Party for years and Minister of Works Hydraulics and Supply; no one should underestimate Burnham’s passion and commitment to the cause of freedom for Southern Africa.
And no one should likewise underestimate Burnham’s, astuteness and understanding of the complexities and dangers to countries like Guyana during the Cold War at that time.
In so far, therefore, M. Maxwell’s statement, as in the headline, Burnham knew when and how, according to Maxwell, to cave in to pressure.  Further I was taught by the wise ones that a story has three sides, your side, the other side, which is usually recorded, and the third side, oft times the real story. In human history and experience this is seldom recorded, and therein lies the value of an oral tradition.
Let me for the benefit of M. Maxwell and our young people, give one little example. When Dave Martins made popular the song “Not one cuirass….not a blade o’ grass ……” in reference to Venezuela’s claim to the entire North West of Guyana, when Burnham spoke about, and to Venezuela, he had certain strong support and only three or four persons were aware of the real story.
Hamilton Green, J.P.

 

 

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