Magic man, magic journalist

Jan 26, 2018 Freddie Kissoon

Each time I bring up the name of Father Andrew Morrison to my daughter, she can cite only one memory frame of him – the countless times he showed her magic with a tiny ping pong ball and a sock. Indeed Father showed that magic trick to my little daughter on every occasion that I took her to his office while I was a columnist for the weekly Catholic Standard.
My daughter never really got to know him, because he died when she was just about to enter high school and take an interest in my work. Today is his death anniversary. He died at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital on this day in 2004. There is no question whatsoever in my mind; if I was to write a book on the role of journalism in post-Independence Guyana, Father Andrew Morrison’s crusading role with the Catholic Standard would take up several chapters.
This country is an extreme version of what is known in Greek mythology as Hades. What makes sense in Guyana? This year, the University will be hosting events to commemorate one hundred years of the birth of Cheddi Jagan. Each year, Forbes Burnham is given an official ceremony in the Botanical Gardens at the site of his mausoleum. Last year, both President Granger and Prime Minister Nagamootoo were present. I guess UG will invite Nagamootoo to speak at the event.
President Granger’s private residence is home to four foundations in the name of Forbes Burnham. Cheddi Jagan’s life, work and praxis are documented in the former Red House, which bears his name. Which other great Guyanese do we celebrate to let the young population know about the great ones who fought for them? Every year, on the day before May Day, there is a small gathering of trade unions at the statue of Critchlow on the lawns outside Parliament Building. It is never attended by state functionaries and other important citizens, and it is seldom given wide coverage.
Last year during the observation of Walter Rodney’s death anniversary at the National Library, the programme had the words, “sponsored by friends of the WPA,” so I asked two big names in the WPA why it was not hosted by the WPA. I was told financial constraint. Then I asked why it was not co-sponsored by the Ministry of Education, seeing that the co-leader of the WPA and one of Rodney’s intimate comrades, Rupert Roopnaraine, was the Minister at the time. I am not permitted to divulge the response.
At the time of writing, I am not aware that the Government of Guyana or any other institution has made arrangements to put on an event marking Father Morrison’s death anniversary. The Catholic Church, which he served as a Jesuit priest, as a matter of policy does not engage in such type of activities.
So do the young people of Guyana know about this fine journalist, fine mind and fine liberator? I doubt it. Four years ago, I asked a young journalist from Kaieteur News and on another occasion, a young lady working in the NIS, if they knew who Father Morrison was; they didn’t.
As editor of the Catholic Standard, Father crusaded against authoritarian power, for a free press and for free and fair elections. This was in a frightening era, when in such activities one could put one’s life at risk. For a detailed account of this aspect of his journalistic career, see his book, “JUSTICE; The Struggle For Democracy in Guyana, 1952-1992.” At a time when there was no television news, no other newspaper except the state-owned Chronicle, no internet, no social media, the Catholic Standard was a beacon of hope for the people of Guyana.
Working on dangerous grounds and in an inhospitable climate, Father risked his life to expose the brutalities and violations of unbridled power. He remains for me, one of the persons in this world that I respect immensely. He gave me my break in journalism and never sought to tell me what I must write and who I must treat as a sacred cow. When people around him fully outfitted with prejudice of class and colour, tried to convince him to end my columns, he stoutly refused. He believed in me and I believed in him.
I learnt a lot about journalism, and its investigative arm from him. I think I am a better person because I knew and worked with Father Andrew Morrison. Make no mistake about it, whatever freedoms we in the present age in this country enjoy, they can be traced directly back to the crusading flame of the man who taught magic to my daughter and was capable of magic journalism.