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“Jonestown could be restored”- say Port Kaituma residents
…visitors still come every year to the ‘bushed out’ ruins
By Zena Henry
Being classed among the largest mass suicides in the history of the world, the events of Jonestown, where more than 900 people lost their lives at one time is no minor matter. In fact, Guyana became known to many outsiders for the tragedy of the former Port Kaituma settlement.
Port Kaituma resident Stephanie Miguel
That is why some are saying that Jonestown could be saved, restored and “despite the disaster of it, Jonestown is a part of Guyana’s history and should be preserved.” Captain Rodwell Astil Paul, one of those spared on that dark November 18, 1978 day, introduced the idea of revitalizing the potential historical site, and the people of Port Kaituma have seconded it.
In a visit to the North West District last week, residents expressed their support to have the area restored. They said that not only will it be good for their community, but it will also be beneficial to the country, since annually, Jonestown guarantees a number of visits, especially from large church congregations. This, they continued, is despite the overgrowth of bushes and difficulty in accessing the area.
Stephanie Miguel said that she was about nine-years-old when the events of Jonestown unfolded. Now a miner, Miguel has been living in Port Kaituma all her life. For her, Jonestown could never be forgotten and she hopes that one day some sort of life could be restored to the area.
Miguel said she lost a cousin, Renrick Dawson; a follower of the People’s Temple church, led by American, self proclaimed preacher, Jim Jones. Miguel said that as a little girl she used to go into Jonestown for medication. “It was a place where we also went to do our shopping. My aunt worked there as a labourer and there was a school and other institutions.”
“I used to live about a mile away from Jonestown and it’s just as if I used to be opposite, so I used to be in there regularly. When I needed something to buy or needed medical attention that is where I went.” Miguel added that Jonestown to date, still sees its share of visitors. “People come every year to get to Jonestown. I don’t think anyone is allowed to go in there, but when they come they jump on the bike or whatever and they gone. When they go inside there I don’t think the police go with them.”
“The plane would wait for them, and they visit.” “Sometimes when people come and want to visit, I would take them with my pick up and they get a chance to see some things. I would show them the container that was used to mix the poison.”
Miguel added that mostly churches come in large groups, “and I carry them because they want to see where Jonestown is.” One gentleman, Miguel recalled, who lived in Jonestown came some time back on the Church of Christ medical team, “and so we knew him from being in there as a medical person.”
The entrance of the 20- min drive to Jonestown off the populated edge of Port Kaituma.
Another resident, who did not give a name, said that it would be wonderful if Jonestown was restored. She said that it is unfortunate that people do not see the value in restoring the site instead of making claims about capitalizing on a tragedy.
Commentators have noted their concern that the country should not take advantage of such a terrible mishap. It was noted too that revenue, whether local or foreign, should not be on the agenda when speaking of Jonestown.
The resident charged, however, that Port Kaituma is only being viewed for its gold producing potential, while consideration is not being placed on the environment. While the resident said she supports the restoration idea, she is not optimistic about a response.
Captain Paul maintains however that Jonestown will remain in Guyana’s history, and while so much of the country’s history is under threat by modernization, there are some fundamentals that should remain. Some 918 people died after consuming the poisonous concoction fed to them by their ‘self professed Messiah,’ “that should be kept no secret,” the newspaper was told.
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