Dear Editor,
The conflict between Forbes Burnham and Bob Marley has always been intriguing. I avoided it over fifteen years ago when I wrote an essay on Burnham and assorted images for a website that I then managed. It is something, however, that warrants analysis by those who promote Burnham’s legacy. Bob Marley was a Rasta. Burnham, in contrast, may have at best sympathized with the Rastafarians and implied that if he was removed from office, that another Rasta would take his place. But Burnham was no Rasta. Marley wrote and promoted lyrics of his obvious opposition to the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), whereas Burnham and the PNC were busy denying that he was being paid by this same CIA—a primary instrument of American capitalism permeated overseas. In February of 1977, after the New York Times (NYT) exposed Mr. Burnham’s and the PNC’s servitude status to foreign entities, the then unlawful Government’s reported response was as follows: “Reports have appeared in sections of certain newspapers in the United States, notably The New York Times, in which Prime Minister of Guyana Forbes Burnham is named among other world leaders, as being a recipient of Central Intelligence Agency payments,” the statement said. “These reports are untrue” (See “Guyana Leader Denies Receiving Secret Payments from the CIA,” NYT, 1977).
Of course, Burnham and the PNC lied to the public, which had been fed stories of Burnham the nationalist and Burnham the supporter of African liberation movements. Burnham was credited for many achievements for which he never had the lawful authority to participate in or promote, in the first place. With Burnham, the PNC may be, historically, the least of all nationalist parties in the state’s independent life. This is obvious now with conclusive evidence that Burnham and the PNC, not only received CIA funding, but asked for it. (See US Government documents now available such as the “Memorandum for the 303 Committee, Washington, May 23, 1969,” (Subject: “Proposal for Support to the People’s National Congress Party of Guyana”). For example, one reads, “In February 1969 Burnham asked…for a subsidy of $10,000 a month for two years to help him establish the PNC on a permanent basis…Burnham indicated he would use this subsidy to maintain a small corps of paid PNC organizers, to keep open essential sections of the central party office, and to continue party information activities as needed.”
“After considering Burnham’s request, the Ambassador…concluded that a subsidy was desirable and $5,000 per month for two years would adequately meet the PNC’s requirements….” Contestants for leadership of Congress Place should address this master-and-servant union in which Burnham/the PNC were servants, accepting foreign/CIA money to use against Guyanese natives. If they continue to elude it, as appears to be their intention, they will contribute to the rapid pace by which Burnham’s penchant for doublespeak, is becoming famous. Here is Burnham in September 1972, for example, during an interview in which he rejected capitalism when asked how Guyana became a “Co-operative” Republic, and whether it had any relation to how blacks have lived (see “A Conversation with Forbes Burnham” in the “Black Scholar,” Vol 4. No. 5, September 1973); “Well, we reject the capitalist system! For us it has only meant domination and exploitation….” This is from a man speaking in 1972 who took the capitalist’s money as recently as the year before in 1971.
Sincerely,
Rakesh Rampertab
