Farewell to a great friend, brother, and revolutionary compatriot

Feb 25, 2026 Letters

Dear Editor,

It is amazing just a few hours after the passing of Dr. Roopnaraine, I received a text from a friend on WhatsApp from Fiji stating that the passing of Dr. Roopnaraine was a “giant loss for Guyana”. I met Dr. Roopnaraine and some of his colleagues including Dr. Walter Rodney when I returned to Guyana in late 1979.

The WPA was then a small pressure group made up of intellectuals and members of the Guyanese working class committed to democratization of Guyanese society, a government of national unity and reconstruction. The years I had spent in Latin America taught me that revolution was a product of a people’s particular historical experience and that Guyana’s experience was unique with the notion of race/class and partisan party politics deeply ingrained in the social fabric of Guyanese society.

Rupert’s eulogy at Bourda was one of peace and national reconciliation, it was visionary in that he said that “whenever Indians and Africans come together, Walter Rodney Lives!” It was not a call for violence or mayhem at a time when Guyanese were greatly moved by the assassination of one of Guyana’s greatest sons who was a champion of oppressed people worldwide.

Dr. Roopnaraine not only loved the Arts, he was also a collector. He always responded to invitations of the Guyana United Artists (GUA) along with Ms. Jocelyn Dow, their support helped to develop many young Guyanese as artists.

I remember well at an exhibition held at the Venezuelan Cultural Center in Camp Street, Brother Rupert as we called him, brought some friends along and they bought out most of the art exhibits, left with their hands filled. For years, we recounted that day!

The last work brother Rupert bought from me and the late Derek Boston was following an exhibition held at the African Heritage Museum in 2019.

In 2023, he phoned me to inquire how I was recovering after an eye surgery in which I had some setbacks and he invited me to visit him when I got well which I did. He was always glad to know how I am progressing. He asked jokingly whether I was still working on that painting on Guyanese history – the Anatomy of a dictatorship and I said yes. He laughed and said he would like to see it when it is completed. I had been working on that painting for well over a decade and only completed it last year. We parted as comrades. I never knew then it would be the last time. Myself, family and surviving members of the Guyana United Artists wish to convey our deepest condolences to his family, friends and comrades.

Farewell to a great friend, brother, and revolutionary compatriot…

Yours faithfully

Desmond Alli

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