Dear Editor,
Sir Shridath Ramphal is praised as a “distinguished son of Guyana” and a “towering figure in global diplomacy,” and the government is honouring him with a state funeral.
But what role did this so-called “towering figure” play when his homeland was under Forbes Burnham’s dictatorship? During a time when Burnham’s regime suppressed freedoms, rigged elections, and pushed the country into economic decline, Ramphal remained a part of the system. Burnham’s rule was defined by political oppression and widespread hardship, yet Sir Shridath, who held prominent roles in the government, did not publicly speak out or distance himself from the regime’s repressive policies.
Given his complicity during such a dark period in Guyana’s history, he does not deserve the honour of a state funeral.
Sincerely,
Devanand Bhagwan
