Dear Editor,
I HAVE always had a very high regard for Peeping Tom’s articles, in particular his/her pieces on the recent history of our country 1940 – 1970s.

That is why I have decided to make some remarks on his column of September 11, 2022.

In this piece he attributed much plaudits to Sonny Ramphal for the rise of the late Rashleigh Jackson. There is no doubt that this is true. However, it is not the whole story.

When the PNC/UF coalition government assumed office at the end of 1964, they did not have to begin from scratch in establishing many important branches of government.

A lot of work in preparation for independence was done by the PPP government from 1960. That year was the time when the first Independence Conference was held. It was there that a commitment/decision was made about British Guiana becoming independent. All the parties involved, the British, the PPP and the PNC agreed that independence would be granted after the elections of 1961. It was stated explicitly that whichever party won those elections would lead the country to freedom.

Therefore, immediately after those elections, Dr Cheddi Jagan was focused on establishing conditions for that eventuality. One of those areas he had to focus on was the creation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Dr Jagan began creating that ministry from the premier’s office and the ministry he then headed was the Ministry of Development and Planning. His office was in the Public Building which is now used solely for the functioning of the National Assembly.

He began searching and recruiting suitable persons to begin the new ministry. Rudy Insanally, one of our most distinguished and accomplished diplomats, recalled how he was recruited in his book “Dancing Between the Raindrops.”

He called that he was on his way home from Jamaica, where he was working, when he met Dr Cheddi Jagan and Mrs Jagan in Curacao, who were on their way home from Europe.

It was during that meeting with the Premier, which Dr Jagan was at that time broached with Mr. Insanally the idea of coming to work with him. This is how Rudy Insanally put it “…We had quite a long conversation during which Dr Jagan indicated to me that Guyana was on the verge of independence and consequently, would need people with my skills to form the diplomatic service…”

In November of 1963, the PPP organised with the UK to train diplomats in preparation for independence. Eighteen persons were sent abroad for training, they were: R.E Jackson, BA; SR Insanally, BA; HE Dyett, BSc; K. Bhagwandin, Barrister-at-Law; K. Harrisingh, B.Sc Post Graduate certificate in International Relations and Diplomacy; A.R Ali; W.D Wyatt; H.W Josiah; A.N Storey; Miss. E.A Mancell; B.G Bacchus; J.S.M Worrell; H.A Von Eeden; H. Sahadeo; K. Ramlall; R.F Kirton; H.K George; and L.E Johnson.

It is also a good time to pay tribute to Mr. H.R Persaud, another very brilliant Guyanese, who was recruited by Dr Jagan to be the Permanent Secretary in his ministry with responsibility for the Department of External Affairs.

He ably helped Dr Jagan to set up what became the foundation for the new Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which came into existence after independence.

The above I hope would give the readers a fuller picture of the early history of the Ministry of Foreign affairs. It may also help to revive the memory of Peeping Tom who provides readers with really important historical events.

Yours sincerely,
Donald Ramotar
Former President