PPP urges PNC to account for Rodney's death



Guyana Chronicle
June 15, 2000


THE People's Progressive Party (PPP) says the time is opportune for the opposition People's National Congress (PNC) to come forward and account for the death 20 years ago of the historian/politician Dr Walter Rodney.

In a statement on the death anniversary Tuesday, the major partner in the governing PPP/Civic alliance suggested that the PNC "must come clean if it wishes to contribute meaningfully to unity and reconciliation."

Rodney, a co-founder of the Working People's Alliance (WPA) party, was an avowed critic of the PNC when it was in government.

He was killed in a car bomb-blast on a Georgetown street on the night of June 13, 1980 at the age of 38.

In a statement to celebrate the life of "one of this nation's finest sons", the PPP said it stands in solidarity with all peace-loving Guyanese in doing likewise.

It said the PPP/Civic government "shall continue efforts, at the highest level, to bring to justice the perpetrators of the shameful act inflicted on a Guyanese in the dark of night, in the land of his birth, on June 13, 1980."

According to the statement, June 13 will be memorialised in the annals of Guyanese history, as it had cast a giant shadow over the nation and is a reflection of the brutality of the times.

It noted that the PPP, throughout the difficult days of PNC authoritarian rule, had formed part of, worked with progressive sectors of the society and stood in fraternal solidarity with Rodney.

The late fellow patriot and freedom fighter, the PPP said, was not merely a brilliant historian renowned for his writings, but a Guyanese whose intellectual accomplishments have been recognised and who continues to have greater currency for his contribution towards understanding the plight of working peoples, the poor and the disenfranchised worldwide.

Rodney was also an active participant who made the ultimate sacrifice, given to the benefit of all Guyanese, it said.

The PPP, in recognition of that sacrifice, said it is committed to ensuring "a life given in struggle shall not be forgotten, but that the memory goes toward cementing the pillars of democracy, peace, justice and freedom."

Also, that the principles which were intrinsic to Rodney's ideas and the acts he sought to implement, must remain sacred.

Peace, justice, freedom and above all, racial unity are indivisible tenets on which Guyanese place a high premium, the party said.

The PPP said it is committed to working with the progressive elements of the Guyanese society to achieve these tenets and more importantly, racial unity.

It said it intends to continue to demonstrate solidarity with members of the Rodney family to attain this objective.


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