Do not discount a role for the Diaspora in this messed up affair

Dear Editor,

It is fashionable for some Guyanese to think that because a Guyanese resides in another country that that person is not conversant with the crucial issues that face Guyana. I have heard it said on occasion, “Oh you people deserted the ship, but the rest of us stayed in Guyana and weathered the storm. You didn’t make the sacrifices; we did. And we struggled under very adverse conditions. Now, you want to come back and take the good jobs.”

Editor, this is a summation of the arguments that were made. However, let’s take a look at the situation with Dr. Walter Rodney. Rodney was a Guyanese in the Diaspora and look at the impact that he made in Guyana when he came back. Under the dictatorship of Forbes Burnham, people lived in great fear. They couldn’t criticize the government because they were fearful of losing their jobs or they were fearful of being targeted by the government for victimization or some other form of punishment. Even the PPP under Dr. Jagan was very coy and subdued in their criticism of the government. During this time, Dr. Jagan had even agreed to give the government their critical support.

The country was crying out for a strong and courageous leader to challenge the dictatorship of Forbes Burnham. Well, Rodney not only challenged Burnham but he confronted him and told him in as many words, “Let my people go. We need justice and democracy in Guyana. You have no right to treat people like this. Your time is over Forbes.” Rodney came from the Diaspora and did what Jagan couldn’t do or refused to do. In doing so, Rodney had become the de facto leader of the opposition and for the first time Burnham was forced to respect someone and he started to shake in his boots. He was afraid of Rodney and the rest is history.

For his courage and daring, Rodney paid the ultimate price. Burnham and the PNC never quite recovered from Rodney’s vicious attack and it was only a matter of time before Guyana once again got free and fair elections. Thanks to Walter Rodney. He came from the Diaspora but he did a great service to Guyana and bequeathed his life in the process. So, there is a lot that Guyanese in the Diaspora can do to help the country of their birth–a country that they still love dearly.

Respectfully,
Rudy Vyfhuis