Former president Forbes Burnham’s grip and absolute control over the Guyanese society was so firm and extensive that he de-humanised and belittled many Guyanese by compelling them to clean trenches, canals or drains, according to the report of the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) set up to investigate the death of political activist and scholar Dr Walter Rodney.
The CoI had been set up in 2014 by then President Donald Ramotar to determine as far as possible who or what was responsible for the explosion that killed Rodney on June 13, 1980.
In its report, seen by Stabroek News, the commissioners said that Burnham’s grip and absolute control over the Guyanese society was so firm and extensive that he de-humanised and belittled many Guyanese by compelling them to