Dear Editor,
JUNE this year marks over 41 years since the assassination of Dr. Walter Rodney, one of the leaders of the Working People’s Alliance (WPA) and an opponent of the People’s National Congress (PNC) government under Forbes Burnham.
For too long this matter was never given serious action to bring a closure to this bloody action under the People’s National Congress. Former President Donald Ramotar did set up a Commission of Enquiry, which was boycotted by the opposition People’s National Congress. Ramoutar lost the 2015 elections and with the coming of the David Granger government, the enquiry was completed in an unsatisfactory way. The report was never made public.

Dr. Walter Rodney, a historian, was a lecturer at an African university. He later moved to Jamaica before returning to Guyana, where he was denied a job at the University of Guyana because of his criticism against the Forbes Burnham government who was rigging elections to perpetuate his dictatorial rule.
Dr. Walter Rodney, along with Rupert Roopnaraine, Karen De Souza, Eusi Kwayana, Moses Bhagwan and others, launched the Working People’s Alliance. Dr Rodney became popular, drawing huge crowds at his meetings. Burnham would have none of that. Dr Rodney’s meetings were broken up by PNC thugs and members of the House of Israel under Rabbi Washington. Many WPA members were beaten.

Moses Bhagwan one time got a few of his ribs broken. Dr Rodney was chased down and had to seek refuge in a yard. The police force and the army were behind him. In fact, a member of the Guyana Defence Force planted the bomb that blew Dr Rodney’s body apart.
The killing of Dr Rodney happened at a time when the country was governed by a dictator whose only objective was to hold on to power. It was a time when elections after elections were rigged; when our constitution was being abused to create an executive president; a time when political opposition and civil society persons were threatened, beaten and throw into prison. Many people were dismissed from their jobs for speaking out against the Burnham regime. It was a time when Dr Rodney was denied a job in his own country. It was a time when thousands of Guyanese were fleeing the country from the Burnham regime.
The Burnham government had a hand in Dr Rodney’s death.

Yours sincerely,
Baldeo Persaud