Dear Editor,
I have remained quiet throughout the brouhaha following remarks made by H.E. President Bharrat Jagdeo at Babu John. This is not in defence of the President. His Excellency is quite capable of defending himself. But for those who took offence at the remarks made at Babu John during the Memorial event honouring former Presidents, Dr. Cheddi Jagan and Mrs. Janet Jagan, I feel a personal need to respond: I was one of the young people on the scene and part of the struggle at that time, a struggle for our freedom, a struggle for our dignity and a struggle to ensure the future of our young country was not bleak.
Each of us has our own style and the way we use words. The way we use words and the style of speaking and writing are not always palatable and often are not advisable, but it is also most important to grasp the message. In all the criticism of the President, the detractors conveniently ignored the message. But the message in the President’s address was not only relevant; it was one that we ignore at our peril.
All decent Guyanese should take offence at what happened in 1973 on the Corentyne. But those of us who were there on the Corentyne in 1973 particularly take tremendous offence at the efforts of those who now try to ignore and deny what took place. I was there. I was a victim and my trauma and hurt continue to this day.
It was not only the brutal killing of two young men whose only guilt was a defence of their freedom, it was the terror on the Corentyne for months before. People were jailed for no reason. We were hounded from our homes and locked up without any charges. We were daily being taken to the police station. Our homes were raided, for no reason. The Corentyne became a true military zone and a police state.
What took place in 1973 on the Corentyne was a consolidation of a wicked and destructive programme that saw Guyana descending from being one of the most progressive Caribbean countries to one of the poorest countries in the world, a country that was a dictatorship and with a brutal rule until 1992.
The President’s message attempted for us to reflect on these truths from 1973. First, the 1973 elections were rigged and the rigging took place amidst a brutal effort to silent the voices of the people and to deprive them of their freedom. It is President Bharrat Jagdeo’s responsibility to remind people of these truths. Even if he uses harsh words, it is still his responsibility.
Second, the Government of the time (the PNC Government) used the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) as one of the vehicles of subversion of the people’s rights and freedom and as the main vehicle to terrorize them into silence. The police was also used. We were beaten. We were jailed. We were threatened. Terrorism was an everyday part of our lives on the Corentyne in 1973. No one who defended and who now is willing to defend still this sordid part of our history should expect kind words from decent Guyanese and from those who were the victims. Truths like these cannot be hidden and must never be forgotten, even as we are willing to forgive those responsible. President Jagdeo was reminding us of these truths.
Third the terrorism against citizens included taking lives, lives of young, innocent Guyanese. There can be absolutely no doubt that that blood is on the hands of several people and groups. President Jagdeo gave those with blood on their hands a chance to acknowledge the wrong that was committed on an innocent people and on an innocent country.
These are facts, hard, cold facts. We forget them only if we want those kinds of disgraceful events to repeat themselves in our country. The fact is that the PNC candidate for President was a senior member of the GDF at the time and an advisor to the then Prime Minister.
This is important information for the people to know since this man wants us to elect him as President of our beautiful country. The President reminded people of this fact.
I don’t know where Mr. Granger was in the country during that time. But Mr. Granger cannot defend himself by simply saying he was not on the Corentyne at the time. There was a wrong committed on the people of this country and a wrong done to the country. Mr. Granger was a card-carrying member of the PNC and was a senior member of the GDF, an organization used to commit a horrendous act against the people of Guyana.
Whilst I am willing to forgive, I am not willing to forget. The fact is that until the PNC and people like Mr. Granger and others acknowledge the wrongs committed in this country at that time and apologize to the people, how can I forgive them? People make mistakes and people do terrible things, but when they express remorse, we can forgive and give another chance. But only fools will ever trust people who do bad things and then deny the truth.
But the PNC and Mr. Granger have now done further harm. Instead, these same persons want to blame us, the victims for what happened, for provocation.
President Bharrat Jagdeo was speaking on behalf of the people of the Corentyne and of the Guyanese people. I am willing to forgive. But as long as I live I will not forget the bayonet on my head as a young man on the Corentyne.
Yours faithfully,
Dr. Leslie Ramsammy
