Dear Editor,
The Cinderella type plea of the relatives of ex-Minister David A Singh in their letter captioned “Our father did not give this property to the PNC” (08.01.20) revives another episode in the history of the PNC which needs exposure. Like any business a party needs to accumulate resources to enable it to become financially, and therefore politically, competitive. During Burnham’s lifetime one of his closest disciples died suddenly and, after his funeral, his widow was requested to reconvey several properties purchased by the PNC in his name. She refused, claiming she was unaware of the trusteeship of the transaction. Burnham promptly banished three of her adult sons who were highly visible and vocal members of the Guyanese society at the time. Two of them have since returned.
A friend of mine advised me that a close relative of his who was a loyal Kikuyu of the Kabaka and General Council Member reconveyed a large Regent St Complex to the Party during his lifetime, much to his Leader’s relief. But loyalty and gratitude are not all pervasive and it does not surprise me that the Singhs are now seeking to retain beneficially the Palm Tree Book Shop/Restaurant on Smyth Street which, popular legend acknowledged, belongs to the PNC.
Robert, your best witness is Hammie and you should get him to swear what he knows about the transaction before he joins his ex-Cabinet colleague in the great beyond. I now see why the Comrade Leader was so emotional, on the verge of tears, when he gave the eulogy for this Trustee at his funeral service in the Christ Church Cathedral on Waterloo Street.
Yours faithfully,
Abel Matthews
