Dear Editor,
I respond to letter published in the Kaieteur News captioned, “Is this the same Max Mohammed” (KN Nov 12), derogating and making unsubstantiated charges against the United Republican Party (URP) and myself. It is replete with inaccuracies.

In fact, it is fake news as may be the name of the writer. I write to set the record straight.
Let me state at the outset that the United Republican Party (URP) did not, and has not received funds from any source (or government) of the United States as suggested by this letter writer. Also, the URP never received funding from Mr. Max Mohammed or the PNC or the AFC or the PPP. I, Vishnu Bandhu, as political leader, have provided much of the funding for the activities of the organisation (party), since its founding in 1985 and until now. The URP also received some funding from Guyanese Americans and a few others, and the party is grateful for that assistance. I thank our supporters.

Max Mohammed never recruited me to form or join a party. He was never a source of funding for the URP. He was not a founding member of URP. Dr. Leslie Ramsammy was a member of URP before Max. Dr. Prem Misir was also a member of URP. I met Max after the URP was launched. I know he was in the oil business and believe he is qualified to provide guidance to the oil industry in Guyana. I have not seen Max Mohammed for years.

The URP’s founding was a joint idea of several individuals; it was not Robert Gangadeen’s idea. I approached several Guyanese living in the USA, including Bob Gangadeen, to form the party to fight for free and fair elections in Guyana. It was launched in March 1985, at my business location on Broadway, East New York, Brooklyn. The party lobbied the US Congress, and Presidents Reagan and Bush to help us obtain free and fair elections in Guyana. We also approached former President Jimmy Carter and the Carter Centre.

The URP was launched as, and is still pro-American. How could Guyanese living in America, that has been so kind and generous to Guyanese, be anti-American like the PNC, the PPP, the AFC, and WPA. That is the epitome of neemakharamism (ingratitude). America has provided a home, food and clothing for Guyanese during the period of the PNC ethnic dictatorship.

Almost every Guyanese wanted to migrate to America during the 1980s, and they still do, in light of what passes as governance over the last four years. Yet, Lisa Ally, a PPP supporter, remains anti-American while receiving benefits from the US. President Trump is right to close the border to the Lisa Ally’s of the world. America is the guarantor of democracy, and as such the URP is proud to be pro-American. We are thankful and grateful to America to come to our rescue.

I do not know of any Guyana People’s Party (GPP). The GPP was not a constituent of URP; URP had no linkage with any party. It is true that the URP was founded on democratic and capitalist principles as Ms. Ally charged, unlike the PNC and the PPP. We are proud of our democratic credentials. The URP remains anti-communist and anti-socialist. We believe in free press and peoples’ right to own businesses. We are proud to be a capitalist oriented party like America.

How could we be anti-capitalist when so many Guyanese are living in capitalist America and when most Guyanese support capitalism; there are more Guyanese living in America than in Guyana; few Guyanese live in socialist Cuba and the Soviet Union. The USA was so kind and generous to Guyana and responsible for our democracy. What else could we be but capitalist and democratic? To be otherwise is to disrespect the USA. The PNC, the AFC and the PPP have proved to be ungrateful to America; they are not reliable to defend America’s interests or to protect democracy in Guyana.

I am not aware of Dr. Leslie Ramsammy being a member of National Republican Party (NRP), as claimed by Ms. Ally. He was always a member of URP. The NRP was a spin off from the URP. In late 1986, Max Mohammed joined the URP; he was not a founding member. He became the secretary replacing Deo Gangandeen, brother of Robert, when he fell ill. Rohan Somnarine was elected as treasurer at the party’s founding. I was elected as the chairman. Dr. Kamal Roy Narine of Chicago and Mr. James Melbourne (former Chief Inspector in Guyana) were members. The URP participated in rallies and marches in Washington D.C., at the United Nations, and at the India Day Parades in Manhattan.

We also held other activities like Diwali pageants, Phagwah and Indian Arrival Day celebrations. And, we organised Guyanese concerts featuring local artistes including one (Beauty Pageant and Cultural Evening) at Brooklyn College in May 1986. We worked with other organisations to bring about free and fair elections in Guyana. Without URP’s contribution in the struggle, Guyana would not have experienced FFE and the PPP would not have come to power in October 1992.

The URP was launched in Guyana in March 1987. The executives of the party had committed to re-migrate to Guyana. I was the only one to honor that commitment, resettling in Guyana and being harassed by the dictatorship.
There was a conflict in the URP in 1989. Bob Gangadeen was brought up on charges and a trial held by the members. He was disciplined with expulsion, according to the party’s constitution. Max Mohammed left the party with Bob Gangadeen, and they formed the NRP. The URP was without a leader for a brief period. Dr. Ramsammy who was a member of the party since early 1986, was subsequently chosen as the leader in 1990. As best as I know, Ramsammy was not a member of NRP.

I never had Real Estate Business in Queens. Ms. Ally must be condemned for scandalising names of reputable people and the URP. Her attack on me and URP will not discourage us from continuing to educate Guyanese about the misrule we are experiencing.

Regards,
Dr. Vishnu Bandhu