The WPA expanded organizationally between 1980 and 1992 in conditions of veritable siege

Dear Editor,

I refer to a letter ‘There is no WPA’ written by Courtney Lane in the September 21 issue of your paper. Mr Lane is the latest discussant pronouncing on WPA’s state of existence. He offers criticism of WPA’s activity or inactively in the past and present. Whether or not Mr Lane’s observations on the WPA’s present status and its silence on major issues is accurate or not, it is fair comment. My response is more directed at one of the statements in his letter which is patently erroneous. This is his statement that the WPA ceased to exist on the day Rodney was assassinated in June 1980. This letter writer is obviously a PPP whisperer out to reify the PPP’s one-sided narrative of WPA’s history and impact. I have had to make this point before and I restate it for the public record. Walter Rodney unquestionably, in life and death has had an enormous impact on the public recognition of the WPA and Guyana in the region. His world class scholarship and his renowned scholar-activism has made his impact felt in the region and the world.  But it is historically and factually incorrect to suggest that WPA met its demise after Rodney’s assassination in 1980. WPA actually expanded organizationally between 1980 and 1992 in veritable conditions of siege. The WPA grew strikingly in terms of grassroots work in African, Indian and Amerindian communities after 1980, and held an impressive multi-racial membership from Georgetown extending all the way to the Corentyne, and Amerindian communities in the interior. It produced and distributed two newspapers, Dayclean and Open Word in difficult conditions in scores of communities throughout the country. It endured severe repression, held demonstrations, marches, pickets, vigils, hunger strikes and numerous other acts of resistance. WPA’s multiracialism was embodied in the leadership and membership of the organisation and its multiracial philosophy and identity was in stark contrast to the two political parties that have dominated Guyana since the 1960s. The WPA’s actions and constant pressure on the body politic gave it a moral presence that arguably still resonates.

By 1985 WPA had made such an impact on Guyana that the then President Desmond Hoyte stated, and I quote him directly, “the WPA must be contained.” In a similar but much earlier iteration of this fear, the PPP’s Janet Jagan, I understand from good authority, was so concerned by the WPA’s forays into the Corentyne that she wept publicly to keep her supporters in line. Later, during the National Patriotic Front joint activities WPA was essentially cautioned by the PPP leader not to venture to campaign into areas that were already “liberated”, a code word for a pre-ordained ethnic support base.

The debate on whether the WPA is alive or dead will doubtless continue, but it is rather strange that the discussion on this party’s “passing” continues year after year since 1992. This political organisation must still be enjoying a measurably influential presence to continue to attract such attention from commentators like Mr Lane and others.

Yours faithfully,

Nigel Westmaas