Dear Editor,
In `I was told by Immigration Officer I’m on ‘special list’’ (SN Apr 23), Mr. David Hinds incorrectly links me as a supporter of the PPP. I did not support the PPP, but I supported its right to govern (against politically driven opposition violence) since it won free and fair elections (including rigged elections between 1964 and 1985). I fought for free and fair elections in Guyana and continued that struggle when I migrated to New York in 1977 to pursue a university education. In my countless visits to Guyana between 1981 and 1992, I partook in activities relating to free and fair elections. I spent significant amounts of my time with Eusi Kwayana and Rupert Roopnaraine.
As NY political activists Chuck Mohan, Arjune Karshan and others in the PPP would attest, I was not a member of ACG (PPP support group) or the PPP. The organization I belonged to collaborated with varied opposition parties (PPP, DLM, WPA, URP, PDM, CPG, and the PCD coalition) in the struggle for free and fair elections and against human rights abuses. I did same in my personal capacity. I functioned as an independent political activist not attached to any party. I gave significant financial donations to all opposition parties individually (including a lot to Hinds’ WPA) and the PCD coalition. I could not support any particular party because around 1990 I was involved (along with Dr. Baytoram Ramharack, Vassan Ramracha, Ravi Dev, Rennie Ramracha, and others under TRPI) in the conduct of opinion polls. I continued conducting those polls (annually) under NACTA till this day. The fact that the polls (TRPI and NACTA) showed the PPP winning or neck and neck in all the elections does not make me (or us) supporter (s) of the PPP. And besides, the PPP made too many blunders (in policy) to deserve my political support; its leadership is arrogant and “hard of hearing”.
The fact that I am Indian and the PPP is perceived as an Indian party, and people vote race, does not make me an automatic supporter of the PPP in as much as Mr. Hinds is seen as a PNC supporter because it is an African party and Mr. Hinds is an African nationalist. Indians are known to split their vote as they did in 2011 and 2015 costing the PPP its majority and the government respectively. Thus, not all Indians are PPP supporters.
Mr. Hinds said he was recently told he is on a special list of persons that needs clearance from a senior officer at immigration. He never revealed this information (that he was politically targeted) before in the media. Targeting any political activist or political commentator is wrong and must be condemned. He revealed in the media that he was asked by CANU for secondary screening of his luggage to which I (and many others) was subjected to countless times including in my last trip. Such a search in and of itself cannot be viewed as politically driven if the staff did not know us. At any rate, as political activists, we should not be given special privileges as well- known political activists.
During the reign of the dictatorship, there was a list at immigration that had the names of political activists. Chuck Mohan and Karshan would attest that whenever we protested in front of the Guyana Consulate and UN in New York or anywhere else against visiting PNC government officials, a photographer sent by the regime would take our photos and threaten: “We would deal with you all when you come to Guyana”. Political activists were subjected to secondary screenings under the PNC. I was searched for banned foods and gold and the amount of currency bringing in and taking out. We were harassed and intimidated.
I was never subjected to secondary screening at immigration under the PPP government. However, I was told by the late Mr. Boyo Ramsaroop (PPP activist who broke with the party) that my name was on a special list and that I was a target of the PPP leadership. Others (I prefer to protect their identity) attached to the PPP revealed information of a similar nature. No untoward incidents ever happened to me at the airport, and I was never harassed by any PPP agents at the airport or elsewhere. I was told by PPP friends that my critiques of the PPP were viewed as minor irritations and not as a threat to the regime. My political analyses (including findings of polls) were largely dismissed by the party. The PPP did not view me as supporter.
Yours faithfully,
Vishnu Bisram
