Walter Rodney never used any weapon against Burnham or his followers

Dear Editor,

I am compelled through the inviolability of truth to respond to a despicable occurrence at the Theatre Guild on Saturday night, September 11, 2010.

The occasion was the showing of a film in honour of the renowned and brilliant historian and revolutionary, Dr Walter Anthony Rodney. In that movie in which persons expressed their involvement with, and paid tribute to that great scholar, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine made a statement that Dr Rodney had resorted to armed struggle against the Forbes Burnham regime.

This exceeds my knowledge of and involvement with Dr Rodney and goes beyond what his colleagues in the WPA have knowledge of.

I therefore wish to state that Dr Roopnaraine’s statement is not only erroneous and misleading, but also treacherous and capricious. I state categorically that Dr Walter Anthony Rodney never used, or cause to be used, any kind of weapon against Mr Burnham or his followers.

I implore Dr Rupert Roopnaraine to immediately withdraw that offensive remark which besmirches the character of a very great man.

Yours faithfully,
Rev Reuben A Gilbert