Latest update April 25th, 2024 12:59 AM
Jan 27, 2014 Letters
Dear Editor,
Speaking for myself and in my capacity as a trained historian, I believe sooner than later there needs to be a change of government in Guyana. The PPP needs to be replaced by a government that has a commitment to honouring great Guyanese who have passed away.
The PPP will celebrate the lives of its dead contributors, but it will not do so for those Guyanese who it feels were not enamoured with the questionable historical role of the PPP. This year, no doubt there is going to be a big melee at the Convention Centre to remember the PPP stalwart, Pandit Reepu Daman Persaud.
Young Guyanese will see and hear the so-called contribution of Persaud, while they would have heard nothing about Dr. Josh Ramsammy, Desmond Hoyte and others. This is why the acquisition of state power by the PNC and AFC is so important, important to preserve the legacies of the people who have shaped this young nation
I honestly believe that if David Granger was president and a proposal was made for the yearly celebration of the fantastic contribution of Father Andrew Morison to investigative journalism, Granger would agree. He is a trained historian. I cannot see an AFC administration refusing such a suggestion. Today will pass into history and the younger generation will not read about Jesuit priest Father Andrew Morrrison, because there will be no celebration of his life.
He died on this date and since then his name, symbolism, legacy and nationalist struggle, have vanished from the face of this nation. Many of us would have liked to preserve the tradition of keeping his name alive, but we do not have the resources. The same can be said for Josh Ramsammy and President Desmond Hoyte
The annual ritual for these people should be a task undertaken by either the Ministry of Education or Culture or the office of the President. But could any Guyanese envision a changed situation where Luncheon or Ramotar (I deliberately put Luncheon’s name in front because I believe this is the order of power) would agree to such a proposal. It is for this reason the opposition needs to get into power
Of course it may be incongruous for Parliament to hold an annual celebration of the legacy of Father Andrew Morrison. I could see the Speaker saying that is not up to Parliament because Father Morrison was never a member of the House. But from hereon, this country needs to keep alive the memories of truly excellent people like Father Morrison, Desmond Hoyte and Josh Ramsammy. The PNC does its annual thing for Forbes Burnham, the PPP for Cheddi Jagan.
What about the other great Guyanese? It is complete heresy for someone like Reepu Daman Persaud to be honoured in this country every year and not Father Andrew Morrison. Mr. Persaud will get his thing when his death anniversary comes around because the organization he left behind, the Dharmic Sabha is wealthy. So wealthy that his death anniversary will be hosted with spectacular coruscation.
For reasons best known to the Catholic Church, that church will not hold an event for Father today. Maybe the church needs to explain why. But if that is the church’s tradition, it should be respected. Father Andrew Morrison was a Guyanese who stood tall and courageously in this land. He has a fantastic legacy of fighting for the Guyanese people from the era of Jagan’s over-zealous ambition to bring communism to Guyana to Burnham’s socialist excesses. Therefore, it is for the State to observe his yearly passing as it does with Cheddi Jagan in Port Mourant, rather than the Catholic Church
I close this letter with the large hope that sooner, rather than later, the very young population of this country can pick up their newspapers, turn on their television sets, or go on the internet and read about the greatness, the valour and the undying nationalism of so many of our truly magnificent sons and daughters. The list includes Cheddi Jagan, Forbes Burnham, Hubert Nathaniel Critchlow, Joseph Pollydore, Desmond Hoyte, Dr. Josh Ramsammy and others in similar categories.
Father Andrew Morrison, Jesuit priest, journalist and human rights activist should and must be remembered for his phenomenal struggle to free Guyanese from its ingrained autocracy. As editor of the indomitable Catholic Standard, he pioneered fearless investigative journalism in this land.
One of the superb moments of my life was to have the priceless opportunity of being his columnist from 1989 to 1974. It was a rare privilege for me to have worked with a human so modest, so humble, so honest. One of the things said about the Portuguese middle class in this country is that they never hid their class arrogance. I have seen the display of such arrogance among that class. But Father was an exception. He never made me feel that I was a dark-skinned nobody. His effect on me will never wane. I hope from next year, I am given the chance to participate in Guyana’s yearly recognition of one of its truly admirable sons.
Frederick Kissoon
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