Guyana’s Independence Date is bitter-sweet for some

BY MICHAEL THOMAS

Guyana recently celebrated its 53rd. Independence on May 26^th, 2019, with great fanfare and pride. It was seen by millions in the country as well as on television by those living overseas. However, there are some Guyanese who disagree with the May 26^th date, as it was a week of tragic events for many Indo-Guyanese. Some have testified and seen the date as more of a reflective symbol of the horror that they endured at the hands of some of their fellow Afro-Guyanese around that time in 1964.

The story of the Wismar Massacre is well documented in the Guyana Times Newspaper (https://guyanatimesgy.com/the-wismar-massacre/0 ) as well as in the report of the Wismar, Christiansburg and Mackenzie Commission (http://www.guyana.org/features/wismar_report.html).

According to the report, an inquiry of a Commission was appointed in September 1964 by the then Governor of British Guiana, Sir Richard Luyt. It was given the task to investigate the causes of the racial violence on the May 25^th 1964, by Africans against the minority East Indian population residing in Wismar, Christianburg and Mackenzie, the bauxite mining communities in the upper Demerara River, 65 miles south of Georgetown.

During the course of these attacks, several Indians were murdered, scores of others brutally beaten and injured, and women and girls publicly raped. These violent acts were accompanied by large scale arson, which saw the destruction of more than 200 houses and business places owned by Indians  At the time very little was done by the Police and the British Guiana Volunteer Force to protect the East Indian population at those locations, the report revealed.

The report closed by saying, “We have come to the conclusion that the disturbances which took place in the Wismar-Christianburg-Mackenzie area on May 25^th, 1964, were politically and racially inspired. Although there is a difference of opinion among the security officers who gave evidence before us on the point, the thorough-going destruction of East Indian property, and the fact that the security forces were in no case able to apprehend arsonists, force us to conclude that the destruction was not “spontaneous” but was organized, and well organized.”

Toronto Caribbean Newspaper spoke extensively with Mr. Ram Jagessar one of the researchers of the Wismar Massacre Research Group here in Toronto, who said that the issue was not with Guyana’s Independence itself, but with the date that was set to celebrate the event. Jagessar told Toronto Caribbean Newspaper “This Massacre, which  destabilized the government at the time and tore the country apart was responsible for the mass evacuation and migration of Indo-Guyanese from Guyana  to places like: the U.S.A, Canada, Brazil, Trinidad, and even Venezuela,  where they now reside to this day.”

“The worst part of this tragedy is that very few victims want to speak of their ordeal for fear of reprisals against their families who have remained in Guyana, and as a result of this, it is very hard to raise awareness of this ugly era in Guyana’s history.”

Mr. Roop Miser is the exception when it comes to telling his story. He spoke briefly with Toronto Carriben Newspaper about his ordeal around that same time in 1964, when he was coming home from school and an angry mob almost got him; but as luck or fate would have it, he was rescued by a black man and escorted to safety. When asked what he believed would have happened to him if he was not rescued, Miser said, “I would have been in heaven looking down.”

“It is important to note that even though the opposition party of the day was blamed for influencing this sad chapter, it was never proven that they had anything to do with it. What’s more troubling,” said Jagessar, “is the fact that the guilty parties do not seem to want to come out and acknowledge that this mass racial attack took place. There has been no apology for this 55-year old attempt at ethnic cleansing.

As a united community, people have come together and voted to celebrate their country’s Independence Day on May 19^th, instead of May 26^th. Their hope is that this date will be acknowledged by the larger Guyanese community both here in Canada, and in the Guyanese Diaspora.