Posted June 11th. 2009

This article first appeared in the March 19 1995 edition of the Caribbean Daylight newspaper

More than a year after the PPP government's reluctant agreement to mount a proper investigation into the murder of Dr. Walter Rodney, a team of jurists from the International Commission of Jurists arrive in Guyana this week to begin the investigation. Those of us who believe in justice and cherish the contributions of this fallen hero to the struggle for decency, dignity and freedom in Guyana and elsewhere 'welcome this development. We sincerely hope that the eminent jurists would carry out an impartial investigation and recommend a just course of action to the government.

In a country with many blemishes in its modern political history, Walter Rodney's murder stands out as the most damning. A brilliant mind whose very presence in Guyana imbued the people with a new and fresh optimism that lifted the pride of a nation was senselessly cut down simply because he dared to stand on the side of the powerless. Oh, how evil those who we entrust, or those who entrust themselves with our destiny can be!

How do we know that the PNC has the blood of Walter Rodney on its hands? How do we know that they were the intellectual authors of this cowardly act? How do we know that they gave the instructions to callously and cold-bloodedly execute this man? Mr. Burnham in his famous speech at the foot of the Cuffy monument said his "steel was sharper" and called upon the WPA to "make your wills." Rodney was chased through the streets of Campbelville by PNC thugs after they broke up a WPA meeting. He escaped by seeking refuge in someone's home. Burnham publicly called Rodney an "upstart."

The entire state apparatus-the media, military, police, public service-- was mobilized against Rodney and the WPA. Rodney and his comrades were followed everywhere they went. Their homes were constantly searched; their cars were routinely stopped and searched and they were hauled before the courts on all kinds of charges, in one case a sympathizer being brought before the court for the possession of a bullet in her home, and another case a Radio Shack catalogue was taken away by the police as evidence of possible anti-government activity. These are just some of the public assaults that the PNC subjected Rodney and his party to. Other things were done behind the scene. These must be brought out by an impartial inquiry and somebody must answer for them. If Gregory Smith is the "trigger man" let him be charged for murder, He is bound to tell his story then.

If the PNC deny that they killed Rodney, then why have they tried so hard after his death to bury his legacy? Remember the madness on the day of his funeral? Military helicopters circling overhead and police and soldiers in combat readiness? The many versions of his death put out by the state. The charging of Rodney's brother Donald for Rodney's death. The PNC did not see it fit to honor Rodney in any way or fashion during the twelve years they ruled after his death? Why?

But the PNC are not the only ones guilty of Rodney's murder. The entire Caribbean, especially Guyanese in particular, must take responsibility for that crime. We allowed our Political culture to degenerate to the point where assassination became possible and acceptable. We remained silent after three PPP members were gunned down in 1973 as the PNC ordered the military to seize the ballot boxes during the elections. We turned our backs when Fr. Bernard Darke, a Roman Catholic priest was butchered in the streets of Georgetown by the PNC directed and controlled Rabbi Washington's House of Israel thugs, when Ohene Koarna, a WPA junior leader was gunned down, and when Edward Dublin, a WPA supporter was gunned down. We were indifferent when Vincent Teekah was murdered, thinking he got his due reward for crossing from the PPP to the PNC. By the time Rodney was murdered, murder had become an acceptable part of our Political culture, and we had lost our courage to stand up and be counted. Instead, we have indulged in all sorts of excuses. We engaged in any amount of rationalization to save our skin - "Rodney was a good academic, but a bad politician". "He was playing with mischief", "let the past be the past..."

It is this utter nonsense that has allowed the PNC to maintain its "innocence" over these years. It is time we stop this nonsense. Even our Present government is guilty of this. Every Guyanese and Caribbean Person must know that Cheddi Jagan publicly mocked Walter Rodney in 1980 when he told the faithful that instead of Rodney's Christmas present we got his body on a platter, referring to Rodney's exhortation to his followers that if they struggled hard enough, they might get themselves a Christmas Present, meaning the removal of the PNC dictatorship. We have living evidence that PPP leaders told their members in 1979-1980 not to bother with Rodney and "let the black people fight among themselves, we have been fighting long enough. " Oh, how sick can they get! No wonder they are opposed to an inquiry.

I am a believer in justice. We must not rest until justice is done in this case. I make three calls today. Fist, that we support the WPA's demand for Gregory Smith to be extradited and charged for murder in Guyana. Second, Dr. Jagan must publicly apologize for his 1980 statement about Rodney. Third, I hereby use this column to call for June 13, the day of Walter Rodney's assassination to be designated "Rodney's Day" and made a public holiday in Guyana.

Now that the investigation has begun, at least in the preliminary stages, we must let our voices be heard. If we believe that Walter Rodney must be properly honored in the land of his birth, let us fight for it. If you support you support a Rodney Day in Guyana, then write to the Guyana Embassies or directly to the government or the Caribbean Daylight. In honoring Rodney, we are honoring the best in us. All decent Caribbean people, all freedom loving people must join up in this campaign.

David Hinds lectures in Caribbean and African Diaspora Studies at Arizona State University in the USA. His writings on Politics in Guyana and the Caribbean can be found on his GuyanaCaribbeanPolitics.com website.