Professor Mars remembered

Dear Editor,

IT IS so sad to learn of the death of Professor Perry Mars. But what is so shocking and alarming is the manner in which he died -– tied up and then ruthlessly murdered by fiendish thugs, who seemed to have delighted in their act of evil and savagery.How much more precious blood will have to be spilled before real and concerted actions are taken against these brutes, who are increasingly becoming a menace to our society? It must be recognised that violence in all its forms and manifestations is the real and ultimate evil.

It is our moral obligation to speak out and fight this evil, and those in authority have the foremost duty to confront and overcome this evil on a daily basis. We cannot become complacent in this battle because, in the words of our national poet, “We are all involved; we are all consumed.”

Not only in Guyana, but in practically every country, violence and aggressive behaviour are on the ascendancy. Indeed, the greatest threat to mankind and to our fair world is this growing scourge of violence.

Perry Mars was an outstanding intellectual, and one of the finest political theorists in the Caribbean. He taught at the University of Guyana, which in those days boasted of a teaching faculty rich in talent, with names like Professor Clive Thomas, Professor Joshua Ramsammy, Dr. Harold Lutchman, Dr. Maurice Odle, Professor Bill Carr, and many others of like intellectual stature.

I never missed any of his lectures in Politics 100 because they were so impressive, and what was particularly fascinating was the skillful manner in which he integrated political theories into the real political landscape of Guyana, the Caribbean and the wider world.

I vividly recall his series of lectures on “Violence, Politics and Aggression”, and it is so distressing to note that he would be cut down by a most loathsome act of violence.

Above all, Perry Mars was a fine human being and a humble and affectionate person. He never distanced himself from his students, but was very approachable and had a very likable disposition. He actively encouraged discussion and participation in his classes, and the interaction and debates were very lively and interesting.

Again, Guyana has lost an outstanding son by an act of wanton cruelty. Perry Mars was broad-minded in his thoughts and ideas; may this type of thinking and vision guide the present leaders in Guyana.
Sincerely,
CECIL RAMKIRATH

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