Eusi Kwayana was one of the front line champions for the restoration of democracy

Dear Editor,

The recent flurry of letters attacking Bro. Eusi Kwayana are not justified. He has been a man of reason who deserves the highest national awards of our country. He was one of a few Africans who resisted the oppressive onslaught against the Guyanese nation by the Burnham dictatorship. He spoke out against the atrocities perpetrated on the nation and specifically the injustice meted out to Indians.

Although I disagree with Kwayana’s opposition to Shri Prakash Gossai’s appointment, I don’t think personal attacks on this noble figure enhances the cause which others were defending. Attacking Kwayana personally takes away from the merit of Gossai’s appointment by the President. And although Kwayana threw some blows at me that would not take away my respect or admiration for him. He is a man of incorruptible honesty. Few possess his integrity and fewer have his courage to stand up to injustice, especially against Indians.

Kwayana consistently opposed the Burnham dictatorship and was one of the front line champions for the restoration of democracy in Guyana. I am familiar with some of his anti-dictatorial activities. I went to several of his lectures in New York. His wife was also involved in the struggle. I attended lectures where his wife was the feature speaker against the dictatorship. She spoke in my Black Studies classes with Prof Samad Mathias (CCNY) on several occasions.

Kwayana supported and addressed striking students on the Corentyne in 1977; the students were protesting the government’s firing of teachers who helped to organize students at the Corentyne High School. In Georgetown, I saw him at demonstrations bravely holding picket signs at a time when protesters were beaten by thugs sent by the dictatorship. I also walked the picket line in his presence on a couple of occasions. I remember him participating in the picketing of the Caricom comission chaired by Shridath Ramphal around 1990.

Also, when Indians were under siege in 1997, 1998 and thereafter, Kwayana was not afraid to speak out against the violence. He condemned those who attacked as well as those who encouraged the attacks on Indians. So it would be a gross injustice to say Kwayana was asleep during the dictatorship. We need more Kwayanas in order to build a better nation. On the Gossai issue, Kwayana and I are in disagreement. Kwayana has not convinced me why Gossai should not be an assistant to the President. I think Gossai is competent to serve as an aide to the President. His religious background should not be an impediment to serving as an assistant to President Jagdeo.

The President has already assured the public that Gossai is not an advisor on religious or ethnic affairs. I think the issue should now come to a close since that was the primary concern of Kwayana and opponents of the appointment. Kwayana has made an immeasurable contribution to the anti-colonial movement and the anti-dictatorial struggle as well as for the overall development of Guyana. Prakash Gossai should be given an opportunity to make his contribution to the development of the nation.

Yours faithfully,

Vishnu Bisram