Rohit’s positivity to politics and his contributions were an inspiration for his party

Oct 02, 2021 Letters

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Dear Editor,

It is with sadness I read of the passing of Rohit Persaud, a PPP stalwart who served the party and the country with distinction, honour, integrity, commitment and dedication. He was kind, caring, and compassionate. He was a hero of political struggle. He underwent depravations. But that did not prevent him to have a huge impact on the politics and in championing the plight of others. He sacrificed his life, family, high office, and wealth for the party. While we were not friends, I engaged him because of our Port Mourant connection. During holiday breaks from my studies or teaching in New York, I would engage him. He wanted to tell of his political life and his views of politics.
There were/are few like Rohit in the PPP and in the country who committed their life the way he did to uplift the lives of others, particularly the working class (sugar workers and farmers). I know of his political work because of my grounding in Port Mourant where his name was well known from the 1970s thru the 2000s.
Today’s PPP politicians may not know him. Some have had no regards for his contributions during very hard days of the 1970s and 1980s. He helped to build the party, to get into office in 1992. Others benefited from his political struggle while he was neglected. His friends told me Rohit was marginalised, used, abused, discarded, and put to political pasture. His last political will and testament is an indictment of some in his party. I would not want to reveal some unpleasant things and choice words he said about some political figures. He gave instructions about his funeral rites (cremation) – simple with limited speeches. He did not care for certain individuals present at his last rites, which he wanted to be done quickly. (His body was due to be cremated on Wednesday).
Though from Upper Corentyne, Rohit was encouraged to settle in Port Mourant. He grounded with activists in Tain, Port Mourant and throughout the Corentyne where he was very active in PPP politics. He was an outstanding party organiser and a dedicated warrior against the Burnham dictatorship. I grew up admiring the political activism of the likes of Rohit, Swasi Deola, and others from Port Mourant. As it was for so many of us during the era of our youths, Dr. Jagan was their hero. Rohit, like Swasi, and several others were committed foot soldiers, fearlessly organising activities for Jagan’s party. He was a committed Jaganite, a man of principles and integrity refusing lucrative offers to betray the party and leader.
A story was related about his encounter with Burnham who made a financially rewarding job offer to him. Rohit had driven to Georgetown for a party meeting at Freedom House. On his way back to Port Mourant, his vehicle broke down on the East Coast at dusk. Burnham happened to pass the same time. Burnham’s vehicle drove past Rohit’s old, broken down car on the parapet, and recognised Rohit. After being driven for some two miles past Rohit, Burnham ordered his driver to turn back and stop next to Rohit’s disabled vehicle. Burnham came out of the vehicle and warmly greeted Rohit, telling him: “Comrade Rohit, Look at your condition! Look at how Jagan punishing you. Sand flies and mosquitoes are eating you now. Join me and you will have a better life. Here is my phone number. Call me tomorrow. Any job, any position you want it’s yours. And you will also get a vehicle”.
Rohit related the incident to Jagan and several of his colleagues. I too heard of it. Jagan was worried that Rohit would cross over to Burnham as several opportunists did and pleaded to Rohit not to join Burnham. Rohit was a man of principles. He would never entertain the thought of joining Burnham. He was a Jagan loyalist. Rohit declined Burnham’s offer. He could not join a man who oppressed and persecuted people and who rigged elections. He remained committed to his party to the point that he became estrange from his family.
I’ll never forget how Rohit, Swasi Deola, and others travelled around by bicycle and on foot throughout the greater Port Mourant area soliciting funds and goods to help striking workers during the long strike of 1975 for GAWU’s recognition.
Regrettably, Rohit would become disappointed in the behaviour of certain political figures. During the last decade, while party comrades seemed to have forgotten about him, I regularly queried about his welfare on visits to the Corentyne. I also visited him a few times at his Topside residence. He felt very honoured that I visited him. He applauded my political activism and writings and revealed a lot to me about his views of politics and about party figures. He didn’t have very favourable things to say about certain individuals in the PPP although he respected their views and applauded their activism. He cheered the return of the party in government last year. Rohit died a disappointed man. He lived in poverty with very few showing appreciation of his work. As happened to so many stalwarts, they were never recognised, rewarded, or honoured for their sacrifices to the party or their service to nation. He spoke fondly of Feroze Mohammed and the old guard of the party; the new guard does not know him that well. He also spoke well of Harry Nokta and Indra Chanderpal, both of whom also visited him occasionally. Clement Rohee, Hydar Ally, and Donald Ramotar, among a few others, would also visit him when on the Corentyne.
Rohit’s positivity to politics and his contributions were an inspiration for the party on the Corentyne. The party owes him a debt of gratitude! Thank you Rohit for your contributions to nationhood and against the dictatorship. His memory will live on in those of us who knew him.

Yours truly,
Vishnu Bisram

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