Dear Editor,
A defect noticeable in some places but particularly in our Guyana is our inability to connect past events to the present and therefore allow the current generation to avoid past mistakes and give them the ability to craft a safe future.
Additionally, everywhere one lesson which we in Guyana have failed to benefit from is the importance of unity and loyalty to a cause.
Over the weekend, we learnt of the passing of Mr. C.M.L John.
Beyond the appropriate expressions of condolences his passing has reduced the survivors of the historic 1965 final Independence conference, held at Lancaster House in London in November 1965.
This conference fixed the date for Independence and the constitutional arrangements for an independent state.
The Conference was chaired by The R.t. Hon. Anthony Greenwood, M.P., Secretary of State for the Colonies (Chairman).
The Officials from Guyana were Attorney General, Hon. Sir Shridath Ramphal, Mr. L.A. Luckhoo, Commissioner for British Guiana in the UK, Hon. Sir David Rose, Defense Adviser,
The political parties were represented by Hon. L.F.S. Burnham, Q.C., Premier, C.M.L John, Deoroop Mahraj, Mr. Hugh M.E. Cholmondeley, Mr. Hamilton Green, (General Secretary P.N.C), Mr. John Gabriel Joaquin, The United Force Party, Peter S. D’Aguiar , Randolph E. Cheeks, Mr. Stephen Campbell (first indigenous Guyanese to enter Parliament), J.E. DeFreitas, Mr. Fielden Singh and Mr. Mohamed Kassim.
With the passing of Mr. Llewellyn John last week, it means that only two persons are alive and kicking who participated in the deliberations, which set our date for Independence among other matters. They are Sir Shridath Ramphal and Hamilton Green.
Of interest and of historical note is that in spite of efforts at home and abroad the PPP failed to attend this final conference on Independence.
Yours faithfully,
Eartha Saul
Research Assistant
