Dear Editor,
The cartoon, which appeared in the Kaieteur News on Saturday 25th April, and the Stabroek News on Sunday 26th April, depicting several armed senior GDF officers, linking them to the incident on the Corentyne in 1973 and the death of Walter Rodney is puzzling to say the least. We in the Opposition are puzzled as to the source of the cartoon. In the case of the Stabroek News, there was a note to the effect that it was a paid advertisement, while there was no such indication in the case of the Kaieteur News. We must therefore ask, what was the intention of the cartoonist? I think that the intention was political and this is evident when it is examined.
Cartoons in Guyana have a history of depicting political as well as social events while seeking to inform, educate and question. But in so doing the cartoonist hews closely to the facts and reality. In this regard, this particular cartoons fall short of the usual high standard one expects of such an artistic creation. The four officers depicted in the cartoon which we believe to be Rear Admiral Gary Best, Colonel Joseph Harmon, Brigadier David Granger and Brigadier Mark Phillips are linked to events in which they could not have participated. Let me emphasise that Rear Admiral Best, Colonel Harmon have never been linked to these events and spurious allegations have been made against Brigadier Granger, which he has consistently rejected and denied. In fact, only recently, Brigadier Granger had good reason to point out that when Dr. Walter Rodney died he was out of the country on official business, and at the time of the 1973 elections, Granger was an Army Major and the Base Commander at Atkinson Field (now Camp Stephenson-Timehri). If the cartoonist had bothered to check, he or she would have discovered that Chief of Staff, Mark Phillips is too young to have been in any way associated with these events. As it is the cartoon strays into the realm of propaganda as advocated by representatives of the PPP.
As members of the political community of Guyana, we welcome the role of the cartoonist as one who can point out the weaknesses and frailties of our societies as well as its corruptions and illegalities while making us laugh at the same time. However, this must be done with due regard for the truth.
This was just dangerous, reckless and slanderous.
Mark Archer
Communications Director
A Partnership for National Unity
