Interviews provided vital information on persecution during PNC era

Nov 04, 2014 Letters

DEAR EDITOR,
Mr. Frederick W. A. Collins (KN Oct 9) queried how I obtained evidence to substantiate the assertions I made about “persecution” against Indians, Chinese, Portuguese, Amerindians and selective individuals of other ethnic groups that took place under the PNC dictatorship.
The claims I made in all of my writings are obtained from the literature and from interviews — with victims or with those who are knowledgeable about ethnic victimization. The claims are well documented in the literature and mass media. In general, information (evidence) to substantiate claims come from mass media such as books, magazines, newspapers, newsletters, reports, periodical literature (journals), and from interviews, surveys, personal experience, internet, experiences shared by others, empirical evidence as well as anecdotes.
At times, I was lucky to meet Portuguese and Chinese Guyanese and prominent Indian businessmen during my frequent travels studying the vast diaspora. Last February, I traveled with an Indian businessman from Trinidad who related his difficulties of conducting business during the PNC era. Last May, I met a Portuguese family, settled in Canada, vacationing in Antigua who related their experience living under Burnhamism. I met several Portuguese and Mixed Guyanese in Barbados.
A couple years ago, I met a Portuguese couple in Bora Bora who related their experience in Guyana why they left the country – to run a thriving business in Canada. I met Chinese, Indians and Portuguese during visits to Canada, New Zealand and Australia. I also bounced up a Portuguese Guyanese man, of all places in Nevada, who spoke about the persecution of people who had to run away from Guyana during the 1970s.
Evidence on election rigging, choke and rob, kick-down-the-door robbery, rape at National Service, banning of foodstuff and religious paraphernalia pertaining to Indians (Hindus, Muslims, Christians), etc. are readily available in the mass media as well as from interviews with people who had firsthand experience or were eyewitnesses to incidents.
It is well known that the PNC withheld wholesale supplies to businesses owned by Chinese, Portuguese and Indians forcing many of them to close operations; many were fined and dragged before the courts for selling above the government-controlled prices. Business people and professionals migrated to Barbados, Canada, US, Australia, etc., enriching those societies with their talent and investments; the receiving countries love those emigrants.
The Rodney Commission has provided ammunition of information on persecution and targeting of various groups, political parties and individuals during the PNC dictatorship. Several prominent politicians, community advocates, and religious figures were killed – Vincent Teekah, Dr. Rodney, Kwame Apata, Edward Dublin, Father Darke, etc. It is difficult to obtain news or reports on crimes committed during the era, so one has to resort to investigative field techniques. Through interviews, much information about what happened to many people came to light.
Mr. Collins, you need to converse with people (interview them) to hear their debilitating experiences in order to know and understand their persecution and suffering under the ethnic dictatorship.
Vishnu Bisram

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