Dear Editor,
A paragraph in Rev Seopaul Singh’s comment to my letter of February 6 ‘Partition or death does not ring a bell’ on the SN website reads as follows:
“On the issue of ‘partition or death’ I know I saw the picture of EK chained to a Fence with the poster. I would be happier if any publication could be found. Nevertheless I stand by what I wrote. As a Christian Minister I am not ready to bear false witness against any man. If I am wrong I am ready to apologize [to] the elder Statesman. And for those who feel that EK had exposed me, you should think again.”
I thank him very much and will include his statement in my next book, or booklet as evidence against myself, thus helping the Christian minister to spread his gospel. As for exposing the gentleman, I know nothing about him and have nothing to expose. I am the one accused. I have examined myself. I have not even as an activist jumped to a denial. I have not asked anyone to back up my memory. I have asked myself, did I “chain” myself to this metal fence? How long did I stay there to attract the press photographer? That is why the place is important. Was I perhaps half naked?
No, I do not think that the Rev Singh intends to “bear false witness.” Since no one for about ten years has found a newspaper dating, as he thinks, from the sixties, I wonder whether the image so fixed in his mind was a photo or a cartoon. Such an event in the sixties would have been a feast for the press, and would have leapt to the eye as they say. Rev Singh, however, made this allegation about a decade ago in the Guyana Journal. Since then he was perhaps so pleased with his work that as he tells us now he has not found the publication. Is that good? But just at this point as I write, a fence comes up before me. It is a fence of metal rails between the primary school where I once taught with Mr Butisingh and Mr Albert Ogle and St Augustine’s Church which I attended. Could it be that fence?
Rev Singh also speaks of the one thing he remembers about Mahaicony, that is, an attempt on Jagan’s life. I cannot doubt his report. Dr Jagan himself wrote about Mahaicony in the sixties, but did not include that attempt or the invasion by soldiers. He wrote about other important things, though, going beyond mere attempts. One even involves a named Christian minister I happened to know.
Until Rev Singh locates that publication, this is my last letter on the subject.
Yours faithfully,
Eusi Kwayana
