Sam Hinds helped eradicate the poverty of Afro Guyanese and others
Dear Editor,
In other media, PNC’s strongest Hammie Green questioned Mr Sam Hinds, former President and Prime Minister, to explain what he (Hinds) did “to raise Afro-Guyanese”. I’m sure Hinds will respond with a list of items he presented to the nation that were of benefit to all Guyanese regardless of race. When Hinds were distributing goods and services, he did not think of one ‘race’, he thought of Guyana and of all races. Sam Hinds did much for Africa that no African leader could surpass. Hinds was a real Guyanese nationalist and patriot. He was not an ethno-nationalist like Green, Burnham, Hoyte, and other African leaders.
After he became Prime Minister in October 1992, Hinds helped save the national economy after two decades of economic malice and deep turmoil. Turning the economy after 1992 had been of great benefit to Africa and other ethnic groups. While PNC leaders, including Green, rammed Blacks and the nation into deprivation, Hinds helped pull Africans out of poverty. It transformed their lives and reduced poverty from 80% under the PNC, to less than 40% at the end of the first term of the PPP government. It wiped out a famine that was common before 1992; once again the country became self-sufficient in the production of food under the leadership of Jagan / Hinds.
Clive Thomas concluded in a study that it was under the PPP government that Sam Hinds served (October 1992 to May 2015) that Africans made the greatest economic strides. In contrast, under the PNC government, (December 1964 to October 1992), of which Green was Minister almost all that time, the standard of living of Africans and other Guyanese deteriorated significantly to one-fifth of what it was when Jagan was installed. from his post in December 1964. The presidencies of Jagan, Hinds, Janet, Jagdeo, and Ramotar that improved the lives of Africans and the rest of the nation.
Hinds also taught Africans to respect democratic governance and accept the result of elections, something Green and PNC leaders opposed. Hinds is no electoral criminal, no murderer, no thug, and no racist unlike many other leaders in Africa who rigged elections and ordered the murder of Africans like Rodney, Koama, and Dublin, and who sent donations to intimidate opponents. Burnham donations also killed prominent individuals from other ethnic groups, Portuguese and Indians. Green should know about the murders and the operations. Hinds condemned electoral fraud; other African leaders are yet to condemn fraud. And obviously, there are the Green angers who have been involved in electoral fraud since the 1950s. Was he also involved in political assassinations? Hinds is a role model, an example to Africa on qualities such as character, integrity, honesty, and professionalism, and good governance.
Green asked Hinds if he is qualified to speak on behalf of Africa. The same question can be directed to Green – who can speak on behalf of an Afro-Guyanese? Hinds is far more competent because of his life of morality and decency. Hinds have credibility; can anyone say the same about Green?
Green says there is a need to understand what happened in Guyana from the 1960s as a result of the Cold War. Does the Cold War justify rigging elections and murdering political opponents? Does it justify apartheid or racial or minority rule in Guyana? How can the White man be condemned for racial control in South Africa and Rhodesia while at the same time Green is justifying rigging and racism in Guyana because of the Cold War?
Green asked what Hinds did for Afro-Guyanese? The same question can be asked of Green who held the second highest position in the country, Prime Minister, although neither he nor the PNC were ever elected to office (alone). What productive measures did Green implement for Africa?
Green claimed that Hinds did not speak out when what he claims are hundreds of Africans killed in Guyana. What did he do when these alleged murders took place? (He was Mayor).
He accused Green Hinds of telling Africans to forget the history of slavery in response to others who sought redress from the White man. That is not correct. What Hinds said was, it would be almost impossible to get compensation from the White Man, and therefore, Africans should not rely or wait for redress to rebuild their lives. Indians, Chinese, Portuguese and Amerindians do not tie their futures to redress; they have rebuilt their lives wherever they are found. Also, most Africans have moved on from slavery and do not condition their futures on reparation.
The nation has some pertinent questions for Green that can help shut down some unsolved crimes. Who shot Dr. Joshua Ramsammy? Who killed Shirley Field Ridley? Why was he cremated so quickly? Was it to remove evidence to cover up the murder and murder? Who killed Vincent Teekah? Who killed Walter Rodney? Who planned an unsuccessful kidnapping Clive Thomas? Who put sugar and sand in the Rupert Roopnarine gas tank and other WPA activists? Who rigged elections between 1966 and 1992? What was his relationship with Rabbi Washington, the head of the notorious House of Israel terrorist group? Why did Green encourage Hoyte not to deport Rabbi? Green asks prominent Africans what he did for his fellow Africans. Is it right for Indians to ask their Indian political leaders what they did for them?
Truly,
Dr. Vishnu Bisram