WE are in the midst of a Commission of Inquiry into the murder/assassination of popular historian, Dr. Walter Rodney, and what a time it has been for the victims who had to relive that horrible experience all over again. The events surrounding Dr Rodney’s death were indeed traumatic and troubling, to say the least, but irrespective of the brutality of that era, we can still tell an accurate story. Right now, PNC Attorney, Basil Williams, is trying his utmost to badger and somewhat confuse the witnesses, but try as he would that goal will not be achieved as each witness kept on course to tell a consistent story of intimidation and torture. It is evidence that would go down in history, which further exposes the vile reputation of the PNC Party.
The shocking disclosures coming out of the COI is nothing new to those of us who are familiar with this case. That incident is fresh in our minds as if it were yesterday, but the only reason we’ve waited thirty odd years to reveal it is because: (1) The climate is now conducive for our story to be told, and (2) We are revealing to the whole wide world how despicable and reprehensible the PNC was and still is. They are known for their torture and inhumane treatment of persons who had dissenting views. Those who opposed the PNC (however mild their criticism) were either rounded up, tortured, or even killed, and Rodney’s murder is a case in point. Talk about man’s inhumanity to man, those were the days – days of extreme police brutality as some persons just simply disappeared and, to add insult to injury, no one dared question the actions of the police. The police was “owned and controlled” by the PNC Regime. So, when I hear present day jokers the likes of Freddie Kissoon and Ramjattan speak of police brutality and extra judicial killings I gasp in disbelief and wonder which part of the world these guys lived when the ‘PNC brigade’, that’s the name I called the police then, held sway. So let me sarcastically answer that question by saying they occupied an alien existence during that time, but landed just a few years ago to learn of the idea of police brutality in Guyana. Interesting!
Now the acts of torture and mayhem are too numerous to mention. However, I shall delve into one of them to hammer home the point. Soon after Rodney’s murder, all members of the WPA had to literally run for their lives or suffer the consequences of torture and intimidation ad infinitum. One notable event leading up to his assassination was the PNC concocted story of catching Dr Rodney and associates red handed in the alleged torching of the National Development Ministry building. One of the so-called eyewitnesses at the alleged crime scene was the security guard Arnold Mollyneau. The PNC chose Mollyneau because it would shore up their story that Rodney did commit the act. So, Mollyneau’s “independent” testimony of seeing Rodney with the flammable liquid thinners on the night of the arson was sold on the news as solid evidence. Well, things did not go as they had planned because that man’s physical endurance was stretched to the limit in telling a lie and he finally collapsed and died of high blood pressure. But do you think that Mollyneau’s death would cause the PNC to stop and ponder? Certainly not! The morbid shocker of a man dying as a result of not being able to cope with a big lie did not stop the PNC, so they pressed on with their vile accusations nonetheless, determined to bring in Rodney guilty of arson. Ultimately they succeeded in raising doubts in the minds of persons that Dr Rodney was indeed the arsonist and a subversive element that should be gotten rid of quickly. Soon after that we woke up to the chilling report of Rodney’s murder. That arson story was a precursor to his killing.
I pause here but will continue this discussion in another letter as I further expose the reprehensible acts of a party and people we call the PNC.
NEIL ADAMS
