The Eastern Ethiopians’ (East Indians) views of Linden
Forbes Sampson Burnham are far too disparaging; too sinister; too extreme. Similarly, the Nappy-haired Ethiopians’
(Africans of recent vintage) views of Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham are of far
too much hero-worshiping; too extreme. If I were not an eye-witness; ear-witness and
victim of the shenanigans of Cheddi Jagan and Forbes Burnham 1950-1997; especially
of the political and social bloody upheavals of 1962-1964 periods; I would be hard
pressed to figure out who is telling the truths and who is overwhelmingly ridiculous.
I would be totally confused relative to
the real Cheddi Jagan and Forbes
Burnham.
Prem Misir, Frank Birbalsingh, David Dabydeen and the army of Eastern
Ethiopian scholars, and long-suffering masses are not totally wrong in stating Forbes
Burnham was a tyrant. After, all the records illustrate hundreds of Guyanese,
perhaps thousands, including members of WPA, Moses Bhagwan, Walter Rodney, Eusi
Kwayana, Clive Thomas, Eddy Grant, Frederick Mahaica, Trade Union Leaders, Teachers, Sugar and Bauxite workers experienced the wrath of Burnham.
Rasta Reggae music was banned from the airwaves of Radio Demerara, and GBS. Dreadlocks were despised and harassed. Movies were banned, and/or cutup –edited –
scenes were omitted. GDF
soldiers were ordered to be strike breakers – cutting sugar cane and
transporting same to the factories.
Guyana was
virtually a police state. Rabbi Washington and his followers ran amok.
Thankfully, Desmond Hoyte got rid of him.
Burnham’s domestic policies stunk.
Feed, Clothe and House the nation and the banning of food items and beauty contests were masterpieces.
However, all failed. Simply, because of Burnham’s hands-on-nature and system of
patronage. PNC party patronage encouraged corruption and nepotism.
Burnham blew it. He had the best possible
choice for the task of directing his policies. That man was none other than the most honorable, Baba Eusi Kwayana.
Burnham should have given Baba Eusi Kwayana total control of the PNC – and the
PNC Government’s policies. Baba Eusi Kwayana should have been accountable to only Burnham, himself. I believe Burnham’s domestic programs would have succeeded. The PNC had and still have too many
people who are full of themselves.
Exhibit # 1 = Dr. Ptolemy Reid – the ugliest
creature I have ever witnessed –that fellow was so crude so rude I couldn’t
believe what I read in print – and what I heard directly from the mind of that
creature as I walked within arms length
of him. I had forgotten the nonsense
Reid uttered at the Town Hall in New Amsterdam when I was a youngster. The
adults were fuming. Now during the bauxite strike at linden Reid took his royal
ugliness to the highest level of anti-working class rhetoric I ever heard. Reid told the striking workers that they were
responsible for the violence they experienced at the hands of members of the
Guyana Police Force. I am not lying. I am about truth. Look it up. Reid’s
statements are recorded in newspapers and books reference the bauxite strike.
Burnham made his bed with Europeans heads of states and
their intelligence units to defraud Jagan and the PPP at the polls. And Guyana
has not recovered. No sympathies for Jagan and the PPP here – for Jagan blew it
too many opportunities. He forced numerous upright people to quit the PPP.
Jagan created the atmosphere which encouraged the British and the US governments
to overthrow him. Janet Rosenberg- Jagan that meddling foreigner was his
albatross. Kwame Nkrumah denounced communism. Thus, in 1957, Nkrumah was
allowed to lead the independent nation – Ghana. Jagan stubbornly stuck to and exhibited his
communist’s beliefs. In 1992 Jagan finally distance himself from communism. Had
he opt for national unity, fair play respecting political and economic
empowerment amongst the masses and their communities, and west Indian
federation; Jagan could have been my champion. Am I the only person who seems
to understand the Indo-Guyanese critics of the PNC regime are totally silent on
the abuse corruption and moral decay in Guyana under the criminal
Jagdeo-Ramotar administration? At best they are defensive and/or referencing
old politics of PNC 1964-1992 regime. Jagdeo-Ramotar administrations are
exhibitions of elected dictatorships.
Where are the Indo-Guyanese critics, especially the academics of this ruthless corrupt and bloody PPP administration? Certainly, there can be no doubt about such conclusions.