Dear Editor,
My name is Desta Kweku Makonnen. On March 10, 2011, there was a feature article in your newspaper about a T. R. Makonnen. The title was “Ras Makonnen” The Unsung Hero of Pan Africanism”. First of all, I would like to extend a delayed appreciation for the article. I am the son of Ras Makonnen and I feel that not enough is known of, or he has not been heralded enough as one of the doyens of the liberation for black people all over the world during the time of occupation. One of his most notable acts during his time in England was the defence of wrongly accused black people. There is an instance where he paid for the defence of a Jamaican seaman by engaging the services of Norman Manley, whom he brought from Jamaica for this case, to represent the seaman called Beard. Beard was acquitted in a spectacular manner and this case helped Mr. Manley in his rise in the Jamaican political arena.
Now, the reason I am writing is I feel that Guyana has not recognized a son of its soil and we must work together to make this happen. I know, for example, that not long ago the Head of State of Ghana paid a visit to Guyana, and no mention was made of the son of Guyana who played an immense role in the liberation of Ghana, was of great contribution to Ghana during and immediately after independence and many African nations through his activism and financing abilities. I am hoping by this email that we can begin an engagement that will end in the recognition of this great son of Guyana at the highest levels, and that Guyanese will be proud of the contribution of one of their many sons and daughters to independence for Africans and peoples of the Caribbean. A good start would be a read of his book “Pan Africanism From Within” By Ras Makonnen, edited by Kenneth King.
Sincerely,
Desta Makonnen
