Dear Editor,
It is a pity that Mrs Jagan, outstanding figure of long standing and uncertain understanding on the Guyana and world political landscape, chose to use her enormous prestige in her vain effort to put down David Hinds and Frederick Kissoon. If her seniority does not advise against such unfairness, indiscretion and lack of historical generosity, perhaps the indiscretion needs comment.
I have worked politically with both Mrs Jagan and her late and eminent husband, Cheddi Jagan, together, and with one or the other, in the absence of the other from the scene. Younger PPP members who read a lot of invention ought to know that these famous persons are not strange to me. I have to remark, however, that Mrs Jagan has had a fixation with her and her party’s power to ‘build up’ and ‘break’ people and to influence their reputation.
Frederick Kissoon and David Hinds are both younger people, of no social pedigree, no big family. They were both passionate activists and passionate students. Mr Kissoon has spoken of how he brought Dr Jagan to the UG campus in the days of his isolation. David Hinds as a younger man linked himself to the ‘Workers’ Stage,’ a drama group organised by Ms Gail Teixeira, and took part with his rich dramatic talent in cultural activities of the PPP. He did not brush it aside as an alien organisation, but tried to find a part of it that he could relate to. The PPP supporters of whatever part of the country should know that certain non-PPP persons at various times set out to break the isolation of the PPP, because it was poisonous for the young generation. It is interesting that these are the very people who draw Mrs Jagan’s anger. She has a genuine mistrust of people who do not toe the line. She seems to have made peace with the bourgeoisie but sees intellectual workers and peace activists or advocates of non-violence as the new class enemy.
Mr Kissoon has found it necessary to engage in vigorous comment on public affairs, which are at present dominated by the PPP. I gather from Mr Tacuma Ogunseye’s letter, published in SN on September 18, 2008 that Mrs Jagan had also targeted him and his opinions. He had the impression that she saw him as another treason defendant.
When her constituents were in jeopardy, Kissoon and Hinds were among the few outside the PPP that dared to condemn the actions of the East Coast gunmen. Perhaps Mrs Jagan − yet it would surprise me − wanted it left to the Phantom. I hope she has somewhere in writing proved me wrong. Ms Teixeira went farthest in distancing herself from the suspect drug lords and was later promoted to the Office of the President.
I am proposing a political culture in which political figures or former political figures of great age do not write with hostility about younger activists in an attempt, not to examine their supposed ideas, but to discredit them before they carve out a space in the political exchange. It will be rather stuffy, with us only exhaling from our laden tissues into that space.
Mr Frederick Kissoon in responding to Mrs Jagan’s compliments mentions her statements about me to the author of The People’s Progressive Party… an Oral History… I had seen them and read them without disappointment. Mrs Jagan worships “consistency” and is herself consistent in her own inconsistency, and this, I suppose is virtuous, not vicious. I shall deal with my own extremism separately.
For now, I ask Mrs Jagan whether the PPP Minister, the young Minister Lall, is an extremist, and whether she herself is or has ever been an extremist.
Yours faithfully,
Eusi Kwayana
…….i am so happy when my elder can pen responce that makes me feel good…….we still have people living that can defend a cause in a country that sheltered…..somany from prosecution else where but people like janet jagan now see it fit to do what she does best……..Eusi thanks for your comments and observation…….stay strong brother……..
Mr. Kwayana letter analysis is excellent and is directed to the source of the problem—Mrs. Jagan—he should have pointed out that she has invariably infected the whole of the PPP party with the line if you are not for me then you are totally against me. President Jagdeo has taken up this personification.
Mr. Kwayana sums it up best “She seems to have made peace with the bourgeoisie but sees intellectual workers and peace activists or advocates of non-violence as the new class enemy.”( the whole sentence—not out of context)
The questions Mr. Kissoon in particular has been asking is for transparency, democratic procedures and not a dictatorship by election majority—but there is more.
Why would a person like Janet Jagan and the PPP preside over the total decline of UG . Why—-Mr. Kwayana answers it best the new enemy of the PPP is intellectuals workers, peace activists, advocates of non violence and I might add anybody that want a democratic just society for Guyana.
Sugar workers should ask why would Mrs. Jagan , President Jagdeo and the ruling PPP allow the source of our human technical skills (UG ) fall to the way side so much that it cannot provide personnel for the sugar industry—-this is call anti-working class —and she has indeed made peace with the bourgeoisie (the Buddies and Drug lords)
I have great respect, for teacher kayana.he has tried very hard to give the national debate direction but he is too fickle. {It pains me to say this}
There is so much for Guyanese to achieve.
All this writings will never educate the elorate to make responsible choices.
Is only a few persons that continue to write-I wonder if the masses are reading.
Eusi Kwayana is one of the amazing prsonalities that Guyana produced and as an elder, has many insights. The above missive was probably warrented but I am disappointd with the following comment:
“Perhaps Mrs Jagan − yet it would surprise me − wanted it left to the Phantom.” This comment does not befit his stature.
The remark by Eusi Kwayana is much ado about nothing. The guy has nothin to write and interest has faded in him and his concepts. He is now at the back of the bus.When I was in Guyana in the seventies I often saw him standing by Fogartys. Doing nothing.Twenty years later I saw him on a plane bound to New York.
……i don’t think you know eusi well….if he did nothing for your eyes to see…..he did a whole lot that impacted the village movement…..please research the word ascria!!…..meaning …..african society for cultural relations with independent africa….today the entire structure of the village is distroy…..each village purchase by slave had an adminstration and a serious cultural movement……eusi is more than that and what you thing him george…..you may not like him …..but his message please go and read some of it……..the ppp was founded on his back….he was one of the fore runners ….he was one of the link to the burnham/jagan ppp…..
Davi,this man was P.P.P.,P.N.C,ASCRIA,W.P.A.Now he is a Letter Writer.I can only hope that he now reflects on the mistakes he made as a Politician.At one time he was the Sage of Buxton.I always pay him due respect,but I do not think he has anything to offer in the political arena.No wonder he is out of Guyana.
Drumup,if you check the records you will see that what he preached did not help Guyana, to be One People,One Nation,One Destiny.That was why Ascria failed.Anyone can change their name,but changing names do not always help.Some people cannot even pronounce his name,much less understand what he stood for.Moving from one Party to another is always bad news.He had his day.I give him due respect,but writing letters may help us to know that he is still around.
Coolieman you struck the nail on the head.Instead of trying to unite Guyana,he tried to divide it.That was the nail in the coffin for him.I would have thought that he would have been residing some where in Africa.He is definitely in the political wilderness.
Sydney King, aka Eusi Kawayna or whatever is a good example of a ridiculous self-appointed (as seems to be the norm here in Guyana )’elder’ sprouting rubbish misleading the youth. Maybe he should re-read his letter and see how much applies to himself! So would Ouygunse be an ‘elder’ when he gets older- no wonder the country is so screwed up!
Also get off Mrs Jagan’s back- and give the woman credit for sticking it out in this country while you run off to de white man country, use he resources and cry out about discrimination- pathetic!
It was Freddie Kissoon who started attacking Mrs Janet Jagan in the first place. Not one time, not two times, but many times. One time he wrote that Janet Jagan never did anything good for Guyana. Only a lunatic will say such a thing.