Dear Editor,
Over the years I have attended many events commemorating the death anniversaries of one of Guyana, the West Indies and the world’s celebrated historians/intellectuals – Walter Rodney. June 13 last was yet another such event, the main difference being the dedication of a monument to his memory at the memorial site on Hadfield Street; it was designed by engineer Bert Carter.
As usual over the years I’ve been playing a small part at these commemorations, and the just concluded one was no different. In the course of figuring out my piece for presentation, my mind suddenly flipped back to a spicy poem ironically entitled, Progress, written by Kwame Apata during the hectic Burnham/PNC rule; a period that produced brave men and women, young, radical, political activists; teasing and provoking poetry; bellyaching satire and forceful intellectuals who had backbone. As I reflected on the past of over 30 years and compared it with the present, I thought that by making a few changes Progress would be an appropriate and lively reading. In spite of the rapid increase of vehicles; some expensive, large, beautiful buildings; paved roads and hospitals, along with other physical development, the fabric of our society remains shattered. Racial discrimination and the widening of the race divide; the continuous spread of crime; the violence;, unimaginable fraud; the rise in unemployment and poverty; and worst of all the growing and deep-seated fear to stand up and speak out – these are what are consuming the minds of many. I never thought that it could have been so palpable in Linden, never! I couldn’t help thinking how correct Che Guevara was when he said the true test of a government’s performance lies not in material development, but rather, in whether it keeps and enjoys the support and confidence of the people.
Attendance at these Rodney commemorations is not likely to be large, and usually comprises a handful of ranks from the working class; however, this time it was reasonable. But because I was not getting the full ‘vibes’ I abandoned Progress and instead did a single poem Politician Recipe, a knock at political imposters. As expected, glorious things were said about the renowned historian and revolutionary – we do have brilliant and articulate speakers, more so Rodney’s contemporaries, and may I hasten to say that having the young and very young read from Rodney’s work was simply beautiful. But what I did not hear, and should have, was the highlighting of some of the “fundamental ills that continue to poison and deform the society,” as stated by Desmond Trotman in the June 7 Kaieteur News. Except for a brief criticism by Freddie Kissoon levelled at the organizers of the anniversary for allowing Prime Minister Sam Hinds to speak, and using strong words like “fascism” to describe the government, there was no strong charge by any speaker condemning present-day happenings. The Walter Rodney commemoration as it used to be in the past, and which many have been ‘groomed’ to expect in the true spirit of the man, should be an occasion for accommodating dissenting voices; forceful expression; scathing and piercing writing and poetry with “words to scorch the pages of all written unjust laws”; and songs of revolution and drama.
We have to be careful that this anniversary does not level down to a passive, friendly affair in the face of obvious ‘fundamental ills,’ where everyone oppressed, the filthy rich and the abysmally poor all share lovely songs, messages and poetry, holding hands and singing while a depressing and cancerous state of affairs remains and the charade continues until the next anniversary. This was what I think – not just Sam Hinds who was invited to speak – that raised the ire of Freddie Kissoon when he addressed the open mike.
Any sincere Rodneyite would have felt in their bones a sense of deception about the fakes, charlatans, traitors and classic self-seekers, who like mercenaries care not a hoot once the price is right.
So everything Rodney fought against: moral decadence, government/state gangsterism, the corrupt and murderous proclivities which now seem to be the hallmark of the police – these people are not prepared to stand tall and speak out.
I do agree that this particular event must be for the coming together of all our people and of breaking down barriers, but it must also seriously address social ills and injustices, especially the plight of the working class, and not the least give the impression of a grand love affair, or else people will feel betrayed.
If we old warriors who along with Walter Rodney battled to help bring about change, and who truly still believe in what he was executed for and the legacy he left us, then there is only one line of action open to us: wherever there is injustice; racism; discrimination; trade union intimidation/busting; police brutality; poverty; judicial bastardisation and moral degeneracy among others, then we need to take courage, be bold and let our decency force us to speak out loud, and if needs be organize to stamp them out.
We must be prepared at some point in time to move beyond lip service. It is by this practical action that we will be paying full tribute to the spirit of our fallen hero and fighter for people’s power with no dictator, and in memory of his ideas, political practice and writings. Come next June 13, if there is not an obvious and substantial change for the betterment of the working people in particular, and the society as a whole, then I expect that the organisers of the Walter Rodney anniversary will have no other option than to shift gear and structure their programme/activities in accordance with existing conditions in the land.
Yours faithfully,
Frank Fyffe
