Dear Editor,
As many of us seek to heal the wounds of the past in Guyana, some seem determined to put salt on those wounds by distortions and untruths. Here I refer to statements made in a letter titled, ‘A reminder of a bit of History’, February 17, 2022, by Harry Narine Nawbatt in referring to the Anniversary of Black Friday, 1962. He refers to it as the most violent attack on Indian businesses. His mention of ‘Indian Businesses’ is unfortunate and clearly only intended to be mischievous and to put salt on our wounds.
He states, inferring the handiwork of Burnham and D’Aguiar, that mobs started setting fire to Indian businesses. Untrue and ridiculous. Mr. Nawbatt, who claims he was there, should tell us the names of the other businesses that were destroyed. I was there, and I don’t know of the dozens of businesses destroyed, that there were more than two business establishments.
He has forgotten the spark was set on Valentine’s Day, 14th February, when the PPP sponsored emergency measures restricting the movement of the people in Georgetown and elsewhere. His memory does not allow him to recall the bullet fired from a rifle, in the vicinity of Freedom House on Robb Street, which killed the British Police Superintendent, Ian McLeod. He remembers the horrors of the Wismar massacre, but not the horrors of the Sun Chapman, which claimed the lives of almost four dozen Afro-Guyanese.
It is not my wish to recall those horrible days, but for anyone to suggest that one ethnic group suffered is untrue, nonsensical and unhelpful at this time. If he wishes to help, we must not be one-sided. We were all victims of the 60s’ because of the arrogance and stubbornness of those in charge, of those who told the public servants and government workers, who requested a reasonable increase – not a cent more. To Mr. Nawbatt and others, let us promote Peace Not Conflict.
Sincerely,
Hamilton Green
Elder
