THE month of June can be described as Martyrs’ month. It is the month which saw the brutal and cold-blooded murder of five sugar workers at Enmore Estate in June 1948 by colonial police for having protested against poor conditions and an exploitative system of remuneration. Indeed, it was the death of the five sugar workers that served as a catalyst for the formation of the People’s Progressive Party on January 1, 1950. In his book the ‘West on Trial’, Dr. Jagan recounted the agony suffered by the relatives and friends of the sugar workers and the lasting effect which the killings had on him and other leaders of the party. It was at the graveside of the murdered sugar workers that Dr. Jagan made a solemn pledge that he would dedicate his entire life for the cause of the working people.
It was in the month of June also that Guyanese historian and political leader,  Dr. Walter Rodney was assassinated by the Burnham regime for daring to challenge the dictatorial and oppressive policies of the PNC regime. Apart from his academic credentials, he was passionate about the need for democratic changes in the interest of the Guyanese people, in particular the working people.  Despite his academic brilliance, the University of Guyana Council denied him a teaching job at that institution. After the PNC was removed from office in 1992, a decision was taken by the University Council to establish a Walter Rodney Chair at the very University which denied him employment, an indication of how far we have advanced as a nation since his assassination some thirty-one years ago.
The WPA has issued a declaration on national reconciliation and shared governance to mark his death anniversary. The need for national reconciliation is worth pursuing, but it must be based on the principle of trust and genuine democracy. The PPP is on record as openly saying that the question of reconciliation and inclusive governance  that a governance mechanism must emanate from political discourse involving all segments of the Guyanese society and must not be an imposition on the electorate.