Posted October 13th. 2002. - Special Feature by David Hinds

Kwayana called for Joint Premiership with Partition as a Last Resort

I am convinced that Mr. Walter Jordan is politically and intellectually dishonest. But this is no simple dishonesty, because it is part of a well-crafted script aimed in part at discrediting progressive African voices. As I have already pointed out, his preoccupation with discrediting Eusi Kwayana is very much part of the plan. Mr. Jordan continues to say that by condemning the violence in Buxton, Kwayana has abdicated his responsibility to the village. What nonsense! Kwayana has a responsibility to Buxton, not to those villagers and non-villagers who have been using the village, in particular the youth, to pursue their wild political schemes. And he has been discharging that responsibility to Buxton in the most effective manner by condemning the violence, pleading with the youth to lay down their guns, and urging the political handlers to leave Buxton alone. He has been exposing the criminality that has been visited on Buxton when others, including Mr. Jordan, have not mustered the courage to do so.

But according to Jordan's warped logic, condemning Black people for robbing, raping and killing Indian people and some Black people is tantamount to abdicating ones responsibility. No doubt, Mr. Jordan wants Kwayana to hail the violence as freedom fighting or perhaps go to Buxton and take the guns out of the "freedom fighters" hands. No Mr. Jordan, no decent minded person has any business being steadfast in support of racial bullying and other forms of racial violence "in season or out of season."

Mr. Jordan stretches his dishonesty further by bringing up "partition" out of the blue. He deplores Kwayana's call for partition, but, as is the habit of dishonest propagandists, he gives the story a wicked spin. Did Kwayana call for partition? Yes. But, that was part of a larger call. By talking about partition and not about the rest of the plan, Mr. Jordan is distorting the story.

Mr. Jordan obviously was around in 1961 (not 1964, Mr. Jordan) when the then Sydney King, on behalf of the African Society for Racial Equality (ASRE) and in the face of imminent racial warfare, laid out a plan aimed at addressing and arresting the situation. The plan was titled "Joint-Premiership with Partition as a last Resort." Mr. Jordan may not remember, but Mr. Peter D'Aiguar also called for partition-ideological partition-not as a last resort but as a first resort.

In other words the thrust of Kwayana's call was racial equality and unity with partition as a last resort. The last time I checked "last resort" means "when all else fails." Its like telling a couple in a troubled marriage to go to counseling, treat each other with respect, and don't bully each other, but if they don't want to try those then they should have a divorce.

Since Mr. Jordan knows the truth, but is simply playing political games, this quotation from the 1961 publication in which Kwayana laid out his plan is meant to educate those who really don't know the story. Here is the Kwayana writing in "The Villager" in 1961:

Our case is not far from Cyprus. Let us not pretend. Here is our special solution:

1) Joint and Equal Prime Ministership according to LAW, between the leaders of the Indian and the African peoples.

2) An Independent Watch Committee established by law, made up of people of all races and especially the minorities to supervise the spending of government funds and the benefits derived by various races. The same committee will keep a watch over jobs and employment at all levels to see that justice is done to all races.

3) A socialist program without foreign links and a state neutral by law of Russia and the USA. By socialism must be understood a system of cooperative in all fields, existing private enterprise and some state enterprise; production for needs; respect for all religions and for the religious tradition of our peoples.

OR

If the power drunk Jagan, wanting to be top dog as usual should agree to this plan, all well and good. If he rejects it we should refuse to be ruled by him and call for a division of the country, before Independence into three zones-an Indian zone, an African zone, and a free zone in which those who wish to live with other races may do so. The cities will be free.

That is the plan. Equality of rights and power for Africans and Indians as custodians of the whole. Justice by law for minorities. Socialism without the blackmail might or American bayonets on either side. Joint and equal premiership. Partition as a last resort. This plan can end all causes of racial antagonism and mistrust. Our coops will lay the economic foundation for better race relations.

Dr Hinds is a University Lecturer and Political Commentator and Activist. He currently teaches Political Science at Glendale College and Mt San Antonio College in California. Please send your comments on this article to dhinds6106@aol.com.

For more information about and analysis of Guyanese and Caribbean politics click here at guyanacaribbeanpolitics.com.