As the centennial (1923-2023) birth anniversary of the late Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham is being commemorated, it is instructive to observe the reaction of his distractors. Some are trying to erase him from the annals of Guyana`s history by not giving recognition to his achievements. Others are trying to demean him. While there are those who are trying to devalue his contributions to local, regional and international developments. Fortunately, there are historical records, institutions and physical monuments that are preserving the knowledge, evidence and impact of his contributions.
The recent presentation of Prime Minister, Mia Mottley, on the occasion of the 20th Annual Nelson Mandela Lecture can, beyond the shadow of doubt, place her in the category of those who would wish to diminish his contribution to African liberation and erase his legacy from the historical records.
Anyone can come to no other conclusion since she sought to highlight the contributions of the Caribbean and Caribbean leaders to the liberation struggle in Southern Africa and South Africa specifically, but completely omitted to mention Guyana and Burnham in particular, even as she mentioned those leaders and countries who made lesser contributions than, and/or worked alongside, Guyana and Burnham.
The Burnham Foundation does not view this omission as a mere mistake that can be forgiven, but rather as part of a broader political agenda designed to promote an anti-Burnham narrative and to destroy the legacy he bequeathed; and institutions built under his stewardship.
Mottley could hardly not have known of Burnham`s role in the liberation of South Africa, particularly since it was his stance and involvement in African liberation that pitted the Government of Guyana, under his leadership, against the West, including Britain and the apartheid collaborators at the time.
It is therefore fitting and appropriate, at this point in time, to publicly remind the Honourable Prime Minister of the following initiatives taken, by Burnham, in pursuit of the liberation of our brothers and sisters from the clutches of Apartheid in South Africa
- Burnham`s contribution to the debate in the British Guiana Legislature, in 1958, that led to the banning of exports to South Africa.
- Burnham`s arrest in London, in 1960, for protesting against the barbarous apartheid policies of South Africa.
- Burnham`s Government`s initial annual financial contribution of US$50,000 to aid the African freedom fighters and the subsequent sum of US$100,000 that was granted to the African National Congress. On the occasion of the Forum on the Liberation of Southern Africa, hosted by Guyana in 1981, that sum was increased to US$250,000.
- Guyana`s inauguration of African Solidarity Week.
- The conduct of a National Signature Campaign for the release of Nelson Mandela.
- Training opportunities and scholarships offered to South Africans.
- The naming of a major roadway in honour of Nelson Mandela
- The granting of diplomatic passports to Southern African liberation fighters.
- The refueling, in Guyana, of Cuban aircrafts which were airlifting troops and equipment to combat the South Africans, who were seeking to conquer Angola.
- Guyana`s chairmanship of the Commonwealth Sanctions Committee.
- Guyana`s co-sponsorship of five draft UN resolutions on Apartheid at the 27th session of the United Nation`s General Assembly; and
- Guyana`s ban of South African sportsmen; Caribbean sportsmen who toured South Africa; and the boycott of the Montreal Olympic Games, among many other acts of solidarity.
Guyana paid a heavy price, probably unmatched by any other CARICOM country, for its solidarity with Southern Africa. It was ostracized by the West, and aid from the multilateral financial institutions was denied.
It was none other than President Nyerere of Tanzania who referred to Guyana as a frontline state, albeit not located on the continent of Africa.
In the face of all of the above, Lady Mottley either feigned ignorance or purposefully sought to deny Guyana its recognition, even as she claimed to be bearing the baton of Caribbean leaders that preceded her. Her act flies in the face of her own contention that the ongoing struggle requires “moral strategic leadership” akin to that which was provided by Nelson Mandela. Burnham figuratively ran the first leg of the post- independence solidarity Southern Africa relay and stayed the course unto his death. He cannot be derecognized by omission. Mottley, at best, can only be described as hypocritical for laying claim to running the current leg of the relay for Liberation without acknowledging and recognizing a forerunner and quintessential member of the relay team. History will not deny Burnham; nor will it absolve her.
