IT is quite refreshing to be reminded of the old adage that beckons people to ‘learn from the past’ lest ‘they repeat the follies’ and ‘be damned.’ And since PNCR ‘mouth-piece’ Lurlene Nestor is so fond of examining ‘associations’ then it is only fair that we peek into the PNC and its violation of basic human rights, during the nightmarish days in Guyana. These evil and bestial acts were perpetrated not only by the Police and GDF against Guyanese citizens, the now infamous ‘House of Israel’ ‘did quite a number’ on the local citizenry. And during which era?  The PNC.

If one has the time, all he/she has to do is to peruse the US Library of Congress and read what it has to say about this matter (as there was so much denying). The Jan, 1992 US documents unequivocally states about ‘The House of Israel’: ‘Informal Paramilitary Group: House of Israel,’ during the 1970s and 1980s, a religious group became an informal part of the security apparatus and engaged in actions such as strike breaking, pro-government demonstrations, political intimidation, and murder. ‘

Of course it is common knowledge that ‘The House of Israel’ was led by an ardent PNC supporter, David Hill, locally known as Rabbi Washington. Hill (please note) was an American fugitive wanted for blackmail, larceny, and tax evasion. Despite its name, this House of Israel was neither Israeli nor Jewish-oriented, and for sure, not religious. So what was it? It was, instead, a black supremacist cult claiming that Afro- Guyanese were the original Hebrews. The adherents further believed and advocated that modern-day Jews were, in fact, descendants of other non-Jewish biblical peoples and that they were occupying Israel illegally. This inauspicious and incredible body was serving as a paramilitary force for the PNC. Just imagine!

Unofficial counts and estimates suggested that the House of Israel had 8,000 members, including a 300-member guard force known as the “royal cadets.” A 1979 incident illustrates the intimate and evil nexus the House of Israel had with the Burnham administration. On that dark day (July 14, 1979), a member of the cult, a/k Bilal Ato, (in front of numerous eye witnesses) murdered a reporter working for an opposition newspaper. The hapless reporter had been taking photographs of an anti-government demonstration. During the episode, Bilal Ato stabbed him to death. This entire incident was filmed by other journalists, yet the government took three years to bring the case to trial. When the trial finally took place, a former state prosecutor defended Ato (the murderer). The colluding judge then reduced Ato’s charge to manslaughter and sentenced him to eight years in prison. Ato’s furtive trial and sentencing were deemed farcical. It remains doubtful if he actually served out his sentence.  This era was indeed sombre.

Later in the post-1979 period (leading all the way up to the mid 1980s), the PNC government used the House of Israel to drive fear and intimidation into the populace, to  break strikes and disrupt public meetings of any opposing group; create mayhem among innocent sleeping citizens, via the ‘kick-down-the-door’ henchmen. Neutral as well as local observers claimed that House of Israel members were accompanied by police during their violation of the Guyanese people. The members sometimes wore police uniforms during the evil exercises.

One is reminded of the 1985 House of Israel blockade. The wicked puppets prevented delegates from entering the annual general meeting of the Guyana Council of Churches in Georgetown. On that occasion, many made the comparison of Hitler’s Germany with Burnham’s Guyana. Reason: The parallels were mirror-like-Nazism equals Cooperative Socialism. Men have always been venal, and thus, they have and would serve if and when the price is right. The acts unleashed by the House of Israel clearly showed the tactics and brutality of their methods. First, just like the Nazi, they used to beat up upon the supposed ‘enemies of the state’ and provide ‘Scab Labour and Terrorism.’

One thinks here of the Father Darke murder, but other heinous acts were served out: Mike James (also from Catholic Standard ) and Gordon Yearwood, who was a fierce, well-known critic of Burnham were also beaten and stabbed respectively that fateful day. One is reminded of how the police, instead of seeking to apprehend those responsible, went and set up guard at the House of Israel premise to prevent angry members of the public from retaliating. Should people forget this? Be reminded that ‘a dog accustomed to sucking eggs, never stops.’ Also one must be cognisant of the fact that David Granger and Robert Corbin came through these evil days. Can one be sure that they will change their personalities and tactics? No one should take that chance.