Dear Editor,
I refer to an article in the March 7 edition of the Stabroek News about President Jagdeo’s remarks at Babu John last Sunday. In particular, I wish to offer a comment regarding his reference as to who should be “credited with ending [the] volatile period” in Guyana’s history.
Many Guyanese may have forgotten about the efforts of the GUARD movement (Guyanese Action for Reform and Democracy), but in my opinion, the GUARD movement played a crucial role in the early 1990s in restoring democracy to Guyana. Importantly, GUARD’s role provided an opportunity for Guyanese across the political and social spectra, and across the racial divide to express themselves freely and to demand a return to democracy in our homeland.
I am sure that there exist passionate views about whose efforts most led to ‘free and fair elections’ in 1992, but no one can deny the importance of ‘ordinary’ Guyanese, from all walks of life, banding together in courage every Tuesday at the Parade Ground and in other parts of Guyana to echo the lyrics by another ‘ordinary’ brother: “If somet’ing wrong, An’ you know you know, Stan’ up, stan’ up, An’ say it is so.”I am sure that Prime Minister Sam Hinds remembers this from his GUARD days.
Yours faithfully,
David Yhann
