Dear Editor,
I watched the programme Spotlight on Channel 9 where Dr Waldron was discussing Burnham’s vision with two other persons on Thursday, August 7.
Both participants were trying to find something nice to talk about Burnham’s vision. One said Burnham wanted to make Guyana the food basket of the Caribbean. What he probably does not know is that Guyana was the food basket of the Caribbean before Forbes got political power and he turned Guyana into the basket case of the Caribbean.
The other one said Burnham did not get the support of the opposition, but probably she does not know he did not want the support of the opposition and kept them out by fraud and terror.
It was further mentioned that when a Guyana delegation went abroad he saw to it that the delegation was mixed to represent the races. Well again I am certain those two persons on Spotlight did not see the people who represented us at the Expo 69 in the Caribbean – all African.
I also wonder what vision he had to destroy the first railway in South America.
Most likely those persons on Spotlight saw Burnham’s vision as the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. LFSB’s vision was one thing and one thing only, raw undiluted power at all or any cost. I am certain the Rodney family can bear that out.
Yours faithfully,
W.P. George
W.P. George…I prayed that God forgives your anger toward Mr. LFSB before your dying day. Have a nice day!!!!!!
It is the misguided marxist ideology and eventual fulminations of the then opposition that helped shape the West’s view of Guyana. The entrenched politics of boycott by the PPPand the clever exploitation of race and power “turned Guyana into the basket case of the Caribbean.”
The PPP is not blameless when it comes to the use of “fraud and terror” on persons and entities that are deemed to be opposition. They are so slick in the use of their strength(well oiled propaganda machine) that many feel they are above the fray.
Why are we so quick to point out racial composition of a delegation, when in fact we aught think of the best available in context? This is perhaps at the heart of the disturbing trends in our society. Incompetence, corruption, loyalty to party, as main indicators of leadership in our key sectors today.
The reference to “…the people who represented us at the Expo 69 in the Caribbean – all African.” is rather disturbing. The politics of boycott made sure that the Indians shun participation in so many activities then. It seems to support the perception that the current administration should hit back at that African representation by some sort of clever profiling.
At such a critical point in our development,excursions into our past should not be used to demonize our past leaders but to build on the good they have done.
Look at the current threats to our nationhood,selective harassment of our young, glorification of drug barons, pinpoint execution of our citizenry to keep them in line, cleverly concealed plans to destroy agencies Burnham sought to encourage,co-op societies, multilateral schools,to name a few.
There is no doubt that Burnham,a visionary made a sterling contribution.We need to admit that and move on. Do not use his mistakes as an excuse for the decadent behavior we now have for leadership. Our country gave us among others Rodney , Burnham, D’aiguar,Jagan,Kwayana,Ramphal thinkers whose lives our young people should feel free to study. Let us remove the poison that commentaries like this seem to want to preface any objective study.
Why are we so quick to point out racial composition of a delegation, when in fact we ought think of the best available in the context?
The reference to “…the people who represented us at the Expo 69 in the Caribbean – all African.” is rather disturbing. Excellent point. I wonder what would be Mr. George’s comment on the line-up for the men and women 100 m finals in China when one considered all the races in the world were represented.
…….de kabaka,, vision was to rule GY,, and keep the power intact by busing his loyalists to polling stations all over the country thus allowing them to vote multiple times,, many of whom are in Brooklyn and the other boroughs in NY,, Canada and London,,,,, but how much can be forgotten and forgiven,, when if we forget what burnham and his “clique” did to the whole country then we become condemned to repeat his “VISION”,, of decadence,, which is the spin off of corruption,, and every nation in the west k nows that the corruption that has now blanketed all of GUYANA is the ignominous legacy of the despotic dictator………
People like W.P. George were only members of the WPA because they were rejected by the Jagans and the PPP. And Burnham saw through them and never wanted them near him which is why Mr. George is so upsessed with painting Burnham as evil. Not because they believed in the message Rodney preached and the principles he stood for. When he can really define Cheddi for all his good and faults then and only then would I not think of him as a “Mansoor Nadir”.
Burnham’s depth was too much for the likes of W.P George. He would never comprehend.
Forbes Burnham had the right vision, what ruined all his plans was the stranglehold of the foreign bankers that plunged all thirld world countries into debt by lending them US dollars for the purchase of oil at enormous interest rates.
The present government is faced with the same problem. So is Zimbabwe. Free trade and a global economy are code words for total control of the resources and finances of small countries. It is a debt trap created by the banking cartel. It touches the lives of everyone on this planet.
After the first world war. Germany by the treaty of Versalles was required to repay repatrations to all countries involved in the war. Germany owed four times all the assets left in their country. Four billion dutche marks could not afford you a loaf of bread. Adolph Hitler then had Germany print their own fiat currency and began a massive public works rebuilding programme which included the famous Auto Bahm. In four years Germany was back on it’s feet.
China and Japan used their own fiat currency to buy up US dollars then use that money to buy up distressed buildings and businnesses in the US for pennies on the dollar.
Guyana need to find and employ the brightest financial minds it can afford and follow this simple principle that was first introduced and used by Abraham Lincoln and Teddy Rooseveldt to stave off the European bankers and their high debt loan scam.
But be warned that these bankers are all powerful and can organise a massive disruptive campaign of disorder in any country that do not bend to their rule of doing business, that is, do not make your own currency, borrow ours instead and pay the high interest.
Joe.
I disagree with Mr George on many things, but this time he is completely right.
As for Mr Coxall, Zimbabwe’s problems are almost entirely the fault of Mr Mugabe and his criminal regime.