Dear Editor,
The coincidence of the Abraham family fire taking place on a Friday, the 12th June 1964, and that this Friday marks the 62nd anniversary of that tragic event allows me to ask the media to reprint, unchanged, a letter published in 2020. It must serve to remind those who were not yet born or were toddlers, that we must work together to avoid this type of tragedy taking place again. Next, we must be strong and wise enough to forgive, but not be weak and foolish enough to forget.
Let us remember this day and date in 1964, Friday, 12th June. The news reached us that the Abraham family had perished in their Hadfield Street home. They were burnt to death, obviously, the work of arsonists. The nation was shocked.
On this day, I ask that we pause to reflect on the significance of this horrible incident and turn away determined that as a people, we ensure that this and succeeding generations do not experience a repeat of this kind of occurrence. Further, as we imagine the burning of human flesh and the suffocation of the innocent, let us also regard the Abraham family as martyrs of that period.
There is no Monument for the Abraham Family and I offer for consideration that a plaque or marker be placed at the spot on Hadfield Street to remember their martyrdom. Next, that special prayers at the Brickdam Cathedral be offered or that the Roman Catholic Bishop Allen recognise this anniversary in some form. The Abraham family members were staunch Roman Catholics.
Further, this date should be placed in our National Calendar as another Black Friday.
Arthur Alexander Abraham was a dedicated son of Guyana. A man of unquestionable integrity and a public servant of competence, highly respected by one and all.
Arthur Abraham lived in a comfortable three-storey colonial-styled wooden building on the southern-side of Hadfield Street. Arthur Abraham was a graduate of St. Stanislaus College and made his career in the public service. He rose to the highest level within the administration of the public service, when he became Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Premier.
On his return from vacation leave in Brazil, he teamed up with the likes of A. J. Seymour of the Guyana Information Services (GIS) to produce leaflets to inform citizens about the upcoming National Elections due later that year.
In early 1964, there was a lateral transfer of Mr. Abraham from Office of the Premier to the Ministry of Works and Hydraulics. At that time, Peter D’Aguiar and the United Force Party, had gained popularity as a viable third political force in the country. Peter D’Aguiar was a staunch Roman Catholic.
In certain quarters, it was suggested that Mr. Abraham may have been passing sensitive information to Mr. D Aguiar. Other reports said certain documents disappeared from Mr. Abraham’s desk. Mid 1964, with General Elections to be held soon, it was a testing time in the country.
To paint a picture of the environment at that time, I quote from Pages 95 & 96 – From Pain to Peace (1953-1964): -“In May 1964,Trinidad’s Prime Minister, Dr. Eric Williams, tried to help find a solution to our problems. He invited delegations from Guyana’s political parties to Port-of-Spain to discuss ways to help Guyana get over its political impasse. The PNC team consisted of Forbes Burnham, Winifred Gaskin, David DeGroot, H.M.E. Cholmondeley and Hamilton Green.
The PPP team was led by Dr. Jagan and consisted of Brindley Benn and Dr. Fenton Ramsahoye. The UF Team was led by Peter D’Aguiar and consisted of Randolph Cheeks and Hariprashad.”
Dr. Eric Williams met with the delegations separately. In spite of his efforts, he failed to break the deadlock existing between the three political parties. The delegations returned home empty handed.
“Seeming to coincide with our return to Guyana, an Afro-Guyanese, Joslyn John, of Meten-Meer-Zorg was blasted to death on his way to board a train at De Kinderen. Later, a young Afro-Guyanese Buxtonian was hacked to death.”
At Wismar, there was an outbreak of racial violence – Indo-Guyanese were killed and hundreds of business places and homes demolished. Sadhoo, an Indo-Guyanese selling his stockfeed ventured into Casbah – a predominantly Afro-Guyanese village – he was killed.
Of significance, was that five persons were charged for the seditious writing of an article headed “Attention Indians” – these were Gool Khan, Shakoor Manraj, Balwant Singh, Doodnauth Hetram and Janki Persaud.“ The language of the publication was inflammatory and tended to worsen an already racially divided the nation.
“June 12, 1964: In the early hours of the morning, an incendiary device was thrown into the Hadfield Street home of Mr. A.A. Abraham, former Permanent Secretary to Dr. Jagan and Permanent Secretary, Works.
Mr. Abraham and seven children perished in the fire, which engulfed his home. Mrs. Abraham and his daughter, Ann, jumped through a window and escaped. The only survivors of a beautiful family.”
After this incident, several persons were detained.
Let us use this anniversary of the Abraham martyrdom to call upon our political and business leadership to avoid the beating of war-drums.
We must remain optimistic, even though we live in a world where leaders everywhere east, west, north and south of every epoch make decisions and initiate actions, not necessarily in their own best interest and the promotion of a nicer world.
Why did the Americans wage a fruitless war in Asia?
Why did Chiang Kai-shek not realise that the voices for reform ought not to be ignored?
Why did the Trojans pull a suspicious looking wooden horse into their city breeching their formidable defences?
Why did the Trojan leaders not recognise that the huge wooden horse was a Greek trick?
Why did Hitler not recognise the resilience of the Russians when he launched a surprise attack this month in Russia in 1941, losing one of the fiercest battles in modern history as he tried to capture and control Stallingburg?
Why did our leaders in Guyana not appreciate the intensity and significance of the 20th century Cold War, allowing for the manipulation by these super-powers? A condition which unhappily may be extant.
Why some of our leaders appear to have great faith in foreign concepts and personality, all alien to our culture. Our leaders on both sides of the political divide would be well advised to devote their time and efforts, working together to release the creative energies of our young people and push the older ones to the limit of their physical and mental capabilities.
On this Day, we hope that all of our leaders recognise that the challenge of democracy requires maturity, integrity and a passion to ensure that the welfare of Guyanese must be of primary importance.
Yours truly,
Hamilton Green
Elder
