Latest update November 13th, 2024 1:00 AM
Symposium 2015 commemorates Rodney’s 35th death anniversary
The Dr. Walter Rodney symposium 2015 held recentlyat the National Library Conference room by the
The late Dr. Walter Rodney
Walter Rodney Youth Movement (WRYM) – Working People’s Alliance (WPA) was intended to commemorate the life of the late activist. Rodney died in an explosion on June 13, 1980.
The symposium was chaired by Tabitha Sarabo-Halley, an Executive Member of the WRYM- WPA. She introduced four panellists to give brief presentations, each on the life of the late Rodney, and other current issues.
“Indeed we have a new administration who gives us a sense of hope and a sense that there is much to be done, much to be accomplished by the new government. As we move forward we have to continue to analyse who we are.
“We must think critically about the political and economic decisions that have to be made, finding of course solutions”, said Sarabo-Halley.
Dr. Turhane Doerga gave a critical speech on Walter Rodney and other economic issues in the agricultural sector in Guyana speaking from the stand point of a businessman.
“Walter Rodney was a working class activist. I also understood that he was an international historian who fought against racism and political discrimination… Many political movements at that time could not understand his deep quest to achieve national racial unity and prosperity.
He continued his presentation tackling the agricultural sector, not concentrating only
The audience at the recently held symposium
on the rice and sugar industries. He decided to approach the issue of development. He spoke about the position of Guyana as a major player in Caricom because of its resources of minerals, fossil fuel potential, renewable fossil fuel, the country with the most areable lands in Caricom, its connections with neighbouring countries and having the Caricom secretariat making way for access to other countries.
Dr. Rishi Thakur, a former lecturer at the University of Guyana Tain Campus; Dr. Maurice Odle and Prof Clive Thomas all gave critical presentations on the Economic strategies that can be taken by the new Government to help the Agricultural sector in Guyana.
The youth of the WRYM- WPA believe that Dr. Walter Rodney represents the aspirations of youths and that he was an ideal role model. Pertaining to the erection of a monument in his honour, all the participants at the symposium said they would like to see this happen but that the membership of the WPA is focused more on the preservation of the current memorial site on Hadfield Street.
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