Dear Editor,
I refer to the budget of the Hoyte government of Friday, 1st April, 1989.
There was much hostility to that budget by all walks of Guyanese, regardless of ethnicity, political, religious or social affiliation.
Before the passing of the “April Fool Budget” the following were the prices for some of the basic commodities. Rice was $48 for a gallon, sugar $26 for 4lbs, kero was $60 per gallon, salt was $10 per lb.
The day after the Budget, Saturday April 2nd, the following were the prices for these same commodities – rice $160 per gallon, sugar $120 for 4lbs, kero $160 for a gallon, salt $25 per lb.
On Budget Day I was employed by Toolsie Persaud Ltd as a Pile Driver Foreman and my assignment was the intended TPL Complex on Water Street where the vendors are now located. At around 1 to 2 pm I was on my way to TPL’s Head Office at Lombard Street to collect wages for the workers at the work site (I was the Construction Foreman at that location.)
I was proceeding South along the Avenue of the Republic and as I approached Robb Street I saw a group of persons (about 40) on the pavement just in front of the High Court. They were headed in the same direction, (South). At the head leading the delegation was Mr Clement Rohee.
They got to Croal Street and as they arrived in front of the Magistrates Court, they crossed the road (going west) in the direction of St Andrews Church and School. I came off my cycle and I hailed Mr Rohee and began giving them verbal support. Suddenly out of nowhere from all directions there were police with batons drawn, jumping out of vehicles and they began to physically assault the PPP supporters. They attacked the group and Mr Rohee came in for special treatment, they manhandled and assaulted him and tore off his shirt. I along with some women confronted the attackers saying “What are you beating up the people for? The Budget is a starvation budget.” Yes one had to be there to see, Rohee’s group were running helter skelter all over the place.
Some PNC women and I were there in the thick of things and defied the police. (I am TUF and have been since I was twenty, I am now sixty seven). Because of our physical intervention, Mr Rohee was allowed to proceed to the Public Buildings square. Why? Because the PNC women and I freed him from the cops, he was without a shirt and limping. The police had really taken advantage of peaceful people that day. When he went over to the picket square the police came with back up (big guns) and gave him another thrashing and took him off to the station. The Officer in charge of the police who attacked Rohee’s group was a dark skinned Indian Superintendent.
That was a bleak day for the working class people.
The decline for the workers did not start in or after 1992, it started the day after Hoyte’s April Fool budget.
Justice is served that Mr Rohee is now in charge of the same police that battered him. I wonder if any of them who were in the assault posse that day are still in the force.
Yours faithfully,
Murtland Slugger Williams
