Slugger Williams takes a long look back

Dec 05, 2018 Letters

The Editor,

I am a product of the NIGGER yard. I grew up in “Pakoo Dam” Wortmanville in Green and Gold rum shop yard, at D D’Urban Street and Louisa Road. My upbringing was spent in “poverty in the NIGGER Yard”. Thirteen of us were the offspring of George and Lucille Williams and 11 of us lived in an 18×16 foot room.
I went to Smith’s Church School on Hadfield Street and played football and Cricket for my School. I never went to Secondary (High) School, though it was only $28 per month, my parents could not have afforded it. I came through Smith’s Church up to Sixth Standard at age 16 and was successful at the “School Leaving” Examination.
From there on, I had to work to assist in the upbringing of my siblings. D’Urban Street and Louisa Row was one of the places for ‘Street corner Political Meetings’. I guess it was there that my political interest started.
I became a political activist and remain a political activist for the past 65 years. I am now 80 years old; my political party was the United Force our founder leader was Mr. Peter Stanislaus D’Aguiar, founder of now Thirst Park, original and only owner at the time.
I became a member of the G.U.Y.S (Guyana United Youth Society), an organization that was the youth are of the United Force by the year 1960-61. I was speaking on the political platform throughout the length and breadth of then British Guiana.
There was no T.V around, Politicians had to face the populace on the street corners and if you wrong talk, there would be a brick, a bottle or a gander egg coming at you, yes, those days were challenging. I spoke on the street corner with Peter D’ Aguiar, Kit Nascimento, Ann Jardine, Sammy Arjune, “Honest” John Fernandes Snr, Randolph Cheeks (Deputy U.F Leader), Stephen Campbell (First Amerindian Member of Parliament), Dr. J.F.K Richmond, C.V Too-Chung.
Ours was a party, not dominated by any one race. I was in the “Trenches” with the then freedom fighters against communism and colonialism (you under 50ths would not know what communism was all about) The United Force Party it’s lectures and the Party library was my University — my mentor was Kit Nascimento.
I am concerned and I love my country it gets me annoyed when outsiders seek to castigate the land of my Birth, thank you Bharrat for denouncing that man, what I am going to write about now may cause me to get a “BUSSING — DOWN”.
This present coalition Government has got to come down from the throne of “Elitism” and dwell in the real world, I have nothing against any politicians or their party. You big ones in Government might have good intentions but your “Constituents” are at a loss.
You are the government of the day but you fail to comprehend when every day you have to defend something or the other.
Long ago we called your attitude “Negative Politics” I know through years of political activism that the best way to defend oneself is to attack, (not physically) also when your back is against the wall, you go forward.
That is the system the PPP is using; do not underrate Bharrat. He is a political strategist. This coalition government must seek out the real politicians in their midst– Basil Williams, Amna Ali, Moses Nagamootoo.
Don’t worry with those “Johnny Just come”, I will be writing regularly now that I have had my “Cataract Surgery”. It cost my family in USA US$250.
I personally do not see race; I see issues. I read where someone said that Cheddi was a racist. He was not. I am around long enough and classified as a “Street Politician”. My party U.F (United Force) is not functioning, so 1,41Y
I am not “Batting” for any political party or politician. I was the bodyguard of Peter D’ Aguiar. I saved his life twice, at Perth Mahaicony and at Ruimveldt Public Road. On both occasions we were holding Public meetings (We were not hiding behind a T.V screen.)
When my sight was actually gone I wrote asking the Manager of Thirst Park for some help because I was getting the royal run around at the Georgetown Hospital to have my surgery done. After two months I enquired from Mr. Reece’s Secretary. She finally told me the board did not approve.

Murtland (Slugger) Williams
Veteran Political Activist

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