Dear Editor,
In your Jan.15 publication there is a commentary from the Diaspora on Brenda Dash who passed away recently and I would like to express my condolences to her close family and friends. I was arrested and placed on trial in Montreal with Rosie Douglass, Brenda Dash and many others after we challenged the racism which existed at the university we were all attending at that time in 1969: Sir George Williams University in Montreal. Our actions in combating entrenched racism at that University resulted in a long trial with serious charges that changed our lives forever, but most of all, it challenged the false perception that Canada was fair, friendly and tolerant to its foreign immigrant and foreign student populations. We shattered that false assumption by winning support in Jamaica, Trinidad and Guyana with wide-spread demonstrations against the Canadian authorities, who, in the end, admitted their racial policies at that university.
Editor, because of our actions in that period, we were faced with suspension from Sir George and unable to sustain ourselves because the authorities would not give us even temporary work permits seeing we were on trial in the Canadian courts and unable to attend any university in Canada – we were forced to get the most degrading jobs at low wages ‘off the books’. I myself was set back 3 years in my university education and was deported from Canada after our trials in the Montreal court. The two Guyanese arrested, jailed and tried in Canadian court were myself and Maurice Barrow and we were never regretful of our participation in that struggle – I was nineteen years old at that time and over the years, I have never regretted my support for my fellow West Indians who stood up to racism existing in the Canadian educational system.
Editor, the pertinent question to ask presently is whether racism still exists after our experiences which occurred over 55 years ago and furthermore, does racism and prejudice show their ugly faces against Caribbean peoples in Canadian society in general? I am sure it does but we lit the fire and the struggle will continue – rest in peace Brenda and God bless your soul and keep you safe.
Sincerely,
Cheddi (Joey) Jagan (Jr.)
