Correcting the record

Dear Editor,

In the August 2 edition of the Stabroek News, Norman Browne pointed out that the Global Women’s Strike did not organise the July 25 London protest.

When I was made aware of this, I immediately sought to correct the record, with a clarification that was posted to the online version of the ‘In the Diaspora‘ column on August 1, to be issued in the print run for next week’s Diaspora column, since that was where the regrettable mistake was originally made.

I thank all those who brought this to my attention. It is crucial that we own our mistakes and take steps to address them, a lesson that the tragedy of Linden is teaching us.

Our thoughts remain with the families of Shemroy Bouyea, Allen Lewis and Ron Somerset, the three men sent off on Emancipation Day, with the families of all those injured, and with the people of Linden in their struggle for justice, and in the example of self-determination they set not only for their young people, but for all Guyanese.

Here was the statement that was issued:

“(August 1, 2012):  This week’s Diaspora column described the London, UK, demonstration in support of Linden as called by the Global Women’s Strike joined by Caribbean Labour Solidarity and concerned individuals. I have since received important information that I would have included if I’d known it before: that it was members of the Guyanese diaspora in the UK who had first called for protest action in support of Linden and named both the date (July 25th) and location (outside the Guyana High Commission). I salute the GWS as well as the CLS and other organizations present for responding to calls for support and for their solidarity with Linden. I also think it’s important for Guyanese at home to be told that in recent solidarity actions around the world,  it is Guyanese, especially Lindeners, who have been taking a leading role in raising international awareness, from New York to Antigua, from London to Toronto, and moreover that this is not new.

“For example, in 2010, news reports name Norman Browne, the Guyana Bauxite and General Workers Union’s UK representative (who took the initiative and lead in organizing last week’s July 25th demonstration) and Dr Michelle Yaa, human rights activist, as the organizers of pickets both on the Russian embassy and the Guyana High Commission in London. The 2010 protest was against the unlawful dismissal of 57 workers by the Russian owned bauxite company and to draw international attention to wider problems of governance in Guyana.”

These actions are critical, and should not be made invisible, and I regret their omission from my last column.

Linden is on all of our minds.

Yours faithfully
Alissa Trotz