THE occasion was the showing of a film or movie in honour of the renowned and brilliant historian and revolutionist, Dr Walter Rodney. In that movie in which persons expressed their involvement with, and paid tribute to, that great scholar, Dr Rupert Roopnarine made a statement that Dr Walter Rodney had resorted to armed struggle against the Forbes Burnham’s regime.
It is a fact that my knowledge of, and involvement with Dr Walter Rodney, exceeded and goes beyond what his colleagues in the WPA have knowledge of.
I therefore wish to state that Roopnarine’s statement is not only erroneous and misleading, but it is also treacherous and most capricious. I state categorically that Dr Walter Anthony Rodney never used, or cause to be used, any kind of weapon against Mr. Burnham or his followers.
I implore Dr Rupert Roopnarine to immediately withdraw that offensive remark which besmirches the character of a very great man.