Dear Editor,
January, 30, 2011, marks five years since the brutal assassination of Guyanese patriot, husband, son, brother, father, friend and comrade, Ronald Waddell, by a death squad which operated under the control of self-confessed drug trafficker, Roger Khan. To date, no one has been arrested and charged for this heinous crime.
As we continue to recognize and honour Waddell’s contribution in the struggles of emancipating Guyanese, in particular members of the African community in Guyana, we have to guard against allowing commemoration activities for our martyrs to be seen as simply annual rituals to remember those who have fallen in struggle. Instead, we must use these occasions as platforms for our liberation. In other words, the time has come when we must use these occasions to promote in a real way, our efforts, and our plans to liberate ourselves. In doing so we must engage in objective criticisms and self criticisms and we must ask ourselves some very pertinent questions including, if the conditions of African People in Guyana have improved since the assassination of Brother Waddell. I am sure that our collective assessment will conclude with the position that our situation, in every respect has gotten significantly worse.
A renowned thinker many decades ago during the anti-colonial struggle had penned these words: “Every generation must, out of relative obscurity, discover their own destiny and either betray it or fulfil it.” Another writer – Eldridge Cleaver – coined the popular saying, “If you’re not part of the solution, you’re part of the problem.” As we remember the fallen Waddell, each of us – leaders and non-leaders – should objectively reflect on the above and ask ourselves, how do our actions stand in relation to the above? My response to that question would be that both at a personal level and as part of a collective I have fallen far short of what is required and pledge that in this critical election year to do more. What are your responses?
The masses are saying that since the passing of Waddell our resolve to pursue the struggle for change has weakened considerably. The struggle for constitutional reform for shared governance before elections has become questionable and electoral opportunism now seems to be the order of the day. While the position of the political leadership on shared governance has remained a principled one, it is not supported by mass political action. This lack of mass action to achieve stated political goals contributes to feelings of hopelessness among the masses. To support my contention I will cite two events : (a) the collaboration of local and overseas Buxtonians like Mr Mboya, which allowed President Jagdeo to triumphantly enter into that community last year, like a conqueror extending the olive branch to the ‘vanquished’ without sparing a thought for the atrocities committed on the village and villagers; and, (b) the recent breaking of the ranks by some African groups and leaders to attend the regime’s sponsored launch of the UN International Year for People’s of African descent. These activities demonstrated the extent to which Mr Jagdeo has the measure of several among us (including those from overseas). These Africans shamelessly wined and dined with our oppressors, rather than seek to uphold their dignity as members of the African community. They were easy prey to the regime’s tactics of divide and rule. And even as they ate, they dared to lecture those of us who live here on what they believe we are doing wrong as we confront the oppressors in our daily lives. Waddell must be having difficulties understanding this conduct.
The African community and the nation have to rise out of obscurity and strive to achieve their full potential. We, the African people in Guyana owe it to our ancestors who came as slaves and through their sweat, blood and tears contributed so immensely to the development of this society. More importantly, we owe it to ourselves and to our children and their children.
Let us therefore on this fifth anniversary of Waddell’s death and in this UN designated Year of African People signal that we are prepared to follow in the footsteps of our ancestors by demanding (1) our right to be treated with dignity; and (2) equal and fair access to the resources of the country. We will be betraying ourselves if we do otherwise. In a large part how a people acts is responsible for how long they will continue to suffer under oppression.
Finally, we must continuously focus on Eldridge Cleaver words: if you’re not part of the solution, you’re part of the problem. Brother Waddell in his life had honourably chosen to be part of the solution. It is we who survive him who are now on trial. It is we who will have to decide how we want history to record us.
Yours faithfully,
Tacuma Ogunseye
