Seeking victims or their families or anyone with info on the Wismar Massacre of Indians in then British Guiana.
Dr. Baytoram Ramharack is conducting research on Guyana’s politics during the 1960s. Part of this research includes an examination of the contributing factors, to what Cheddi Jagan in his book, referred to as the “Wismar massacre” of 1964. In that incident, the entire Indian population in Wismar-McKenzie-Christianburg environs was cleansed. It is the first ethnic cleansing of an ethnic community since WWII when Jews were exterminated in Germany and reas under the control of the Nazis.
The “Report of the Wismar, Christianburg, Mackenzie Commission” commonly referred to as the “Wismar Report”, was prepared by a commission of inquiry which was appointed in September 1964, by then Governor Richard Luyt. The purview of the commission (which included Sohan Roopan Singh (Chairman), Dr. Harold Drayton, Rev. Alexander Sutherland MacDonald and Dr. Subhan Ali Ramjohn) was to investigate “the causes of the racial violence on 25 May 1964” in the population residing in Wismar, Christianburg and Mackenzie.
Dr. Ramharack is particularly seeking to interview Guyanese – any Guyanese – who were living in the area, who later permanently migrated from the area, who still live in the area, and who may have had contact with anyone from Wismar at the time. It goes without saying that anonymity will be guaranteed and protected.
If you have information that you are willing to share, please contact me at BRamharack@aol.com. Also send info to indocaribbeanstaff@gmail.com. WhatsApp +1 868 756 4961
By Staff Reporter