Former US Congresswoman Jackie Speier who survived an attack in 1978 that killed congressman Leo Ryan prior to the mass suicide in Jonestown disagrees with the plan to turn the north west area into a tourist attraction.
In an interview yesterday with ABC News affiliate, KGO in San Francisco, Speier said “I think it’s a bad idea. I don’t think it’s appropriate to aggrandize that kind of cult activity.”
The tour would take visitors into the jungles of northern Guyana where around 900 persons died in the mass suicide.
“The experience certainly had a powerful impact on my life in terms of never, you know, expecting a tomorrow and living every day fully. And being very vigilant about identifying cults, and looking at what happens to people when they got get engaged in that kind of an organization or involvement. And I think that it it’s another example of how our government really failed us,” Speier told KGO.
She says it differs from a memorialized museum.
“These people were taken against their will and were murdered and it’s an important life lesson for all of us….It’s such a bad story, such a horrible story. I don’t think you learn lessons by creating an adventure activity, wanderlust adventure?!”
Speier was shot five times in the attack that killed Ryan on an airstrip. She was a congressional assistant to Ryan at the time and later became a congresswoman.
The tour is to be run by a local organization called Wanderlust Tour.
In a letter to Stabroek News of December 9th, Roselyn Sewcharran, the Tour Operator for the Jonestown Memorial Tour defended the plan.
“Jonestown is undeniably a tragic part of Guyana’s history, but it is also an event of global significance, offering critical lessons about cult psychology, manipulation, and the abuse of power. Our tour does not seek to exploit or sensationalize the tragedy, it is a carefully researched and thoughtfully designed experience aimed at educating those who want to understand what happened, why it happened, and the lessons the world can draw from it. This initiative is not for everyone, nor do we present it as a typical tourist attraction. It is for those who are curious, reflective, and committed to ensuring that history does not repeat itself. Our work has involved extensive research, fact-checking, interviews, and community engagement. The people of Port Kaituma, who lived on the periphery of Jonestown, have been integral to this process and have welcomed the effort to tell the full story”, she said.
“As a nation, we should not shy away from history, however difficult it may be. To do so is to ignore the opportunity to educate others about the dangers of blind allegiance and unchecked power. Guyana has much to be proud of, but our history, like that of any nation, includes moments that demand reflection and understanding. It is important to clarify that our guides are thoroughly trained and knowledgeable. This is not a casual retelling of events; it is a carefully curated experience that contextualizes Jonestown within broader social, political, and psychological frameworks. We are committed to telling this story accurately and respectfully, ensuring that those who take the tour leave with a deeper understanding of the complexities surrounding the tragedy”, she added.