Dear Editor,
I attended the 100th birthday celebration Saturday, April 5 for one of our gentle great giants Eusi Kayawana at Buxton. It was a grand occasion. So as not to disturb the pleasant environment, I refrained from commenting on some half-truths by some of my friends intended to show a close bond and enduring friendship between Cheddi Jagan and Eusi Kawayana.
For brevity, I cite two examples – In the late 50s-60s, concerned about the maginot lines and hostility, particularly along the East Coast of Demerara, Kwayana proposed a partition along racial lines as a solution. Those who lived through that period would know that some of us were sympathetic to Kwayana’s proposal, but felt we should not give up on making Guyana a wholesome place with a space for every ethnic and religious group.
One other example is that at the 1957 General Elections, for the pivotal Central Demerara Constituency, Sydney King (Eusi Kawayana) decided to contest on his own. At that time Eusi was the most popular figure in that area which included the villages contiguous to Buxton. Further, the PPP was split into two factions, PPP Burnhamite (PPP/B) and PPP Jaganite (PPP/J).
Recall also that the divisive and destructive slogan ‘Apan Jaat’ has spread like wildfire. In order to give Sydney King (Eusi Kawayana) an easy victory, the PPP Burnhamite faction at a Meeting that I am aware of, decided not to field a Candidate. On the other hand, the PPP Jaganite brought in a little known political figure, Balram Singh Rai. The above named factors gave Rai, not as popular as Sydney King, victory.
The results were Balram Singh Rai Jaganite – 7,125 votes, Sydney King – 6,285 votes, and Charles Alexander Mc Kenzie – 904 votes. The above represents how the old folks will say the ‘true facts,’ to set the record straight and put our history in the correct perspective.
Only the truth, the whole truth can set us free. As and aside I hope that the Organising Committee has started to work on the proposal I made that we should build a Monument at an agreed location in Buxton to remember and honour our brother, the Sage of Buxton, Eusi Kawayana.
Yours truly,
Hamilton Green
Elder
