Dear Editor,
No one would disagree with Nigel Bacchus that “We must reject the demons of racism” as published in another media (Guyana Nov 28) in his response to human rights activist Dr. Vishnu Bisram (Nov 27), a reply to Hamilton Green on funding the cost of Burnham’s national cultural center.
Poor editing hampers the clarity of the letter. Bacchus missive lacks substance, content, and evidence to conclude that Dr. Bisram introduced the demon of racism by posing a query to Green. Bacchus makes an allegation without merit and should have been ignored. Freedom of expression does not include that of uninformed and unjustified accusation without evidence and taken out of context. Anyone would be saddened to read something lacking content and context and that is an egregious misrepresentation of what was penned by Dr. Bisram.
On what basis did Bacchus form his allegation? He said he formed the conclusion after speaking with Hamilton Green, who, Bacchus also revealed, was his History teacher-the only subject that the former PNC honcho passed at GCE. I know Green quite well. I was a victim of his mis-governance and abuse. Bacchus should ask Green about victimization of critics and those who pushed back against PNC racism, forced national service, violence against opponents, beatings at Eve Leary and Brickdam, disappearances, rape, and murders. Bacchus should also ask Green about the X-13 plan, racial violence against Indians, the 1960s race riots, Wismar Genocide of Indians, the murders of Shirley Field, Vincent Teekah, Father Darke, and Walter Rodney, the shooting of Prof Josh Ramsammy, the beating (every bone destroyed) of boxer Lennox Blackmore, planned kidnapping of Dr. Clive Thomas, among other atrocities. Anything Green says or writes must be taken (not with a grain but a pound of salt). If Bacchus wishes to learn recent history from an African source, then he should speak with those who have credibility and integrity like Eusi Kwayana, a true Elder, and Prof Clive Thomas, himself a victim of Green and the PNC. Bacchus would also learn a lot from Indian stalwarts like Moses Bhagwan and Prof Rupert Roopnarine.
Bacchus writes that it “is demon of racism” for Dr.Bisram to merely ask Green how he would feel if funds of his ancestors were used to build a cultural center in an Indian community like Port Mourant. How is that question dividing the country? What intellectual skill was used to reach that conclusion?
Is it not racism to confiscate the Indian Immigrant Fund? Does Bacchus not find it racist when Green questioned the amount of the Indian fund that contributed to the building of the cultural center?
Doesn’t Bacchus find it racist to use the Indian fund to construct a cultural center in an area surrounded only by non-Indians and that was not accessible to Indians? Why not confiscate funds of others and use it to build the center? Is it not racism to decorate the same cultural center without Indian cultural symbols, not even a plaque with words “built by Indian Immigrants Fund”? Is it not racism to confiscate land that was used by Indian farmers to build the cultural center?
Contrary to what Bacchus said he learned from Green, the PPP was split into two racial camps. Burnham made a play for leader while Dr. Jagan was jailed. Green backed Burnham. His move failed. Initially, the split was not completely along race but eventually everyone took a side based on racial solidarity of the two aspiring leaders. The 1955 split was largely by race and the 1957 elections was fought along race lines (apan jaat) — vote for ‘your mattie’. Burnham lost the election, and he proceeded to rename his faction PNC.
Dr. Bisram’s letters on the Indian fund are devoid of elements of racism and it is pertinent to ask what amount of the Repatriation Fund amounted to 5%. On the other hand, Hamilton Green’s missives and Bacchus conclusion are biased and have the elements of racism. We all must raise our voices against the types of racial bias and racism penned by Bacchus and Green and the white washing of history being promoted by both Bacchus and Green.
I won’t be surprised if the editor of the other media house does publish this response.
Leyland Roopnarine
PNC victim
