Today marks the 38th death anniversary of Guyanese scholar and political activist, Dr Walter Rodney, who played an integral role in fighting against political oppression and racial divisiveness in Guyana.
Rodney believed strongly that if Guyanese were serious about fast-tracking the socio-economic development of an independent Guyana, which had not so long before he returned in 1975 managed to break away from British rule, then it had to abide by international best practices, which encouraged rule on the basis of democracy rooted in the need for adult suffrage and respect for human rights. This is despite his belief that socialism was the answer to the eradication of socialism.
Dr Rodney, who was a social and academic icon, also worked alongside the People’s Progressive Party/Civic’s Founding Leaders Dr Cheddi Jagan and Janet Jagan to rally the masses against the seemingly dictatorial tendencies of the then ruling People’s National Congress (PNC) Government, which appeared bent on the marginalisation of certain ethnic groups, independent voices and stakeholders who did not support its political and economic ideology on many fronts.
The political activist throughout his career understood the complex relationship that existed between the haves and have-nots in society so much so that he believed that the power to reduce poverty and fight underdevelopment rested not only with the individuals and the prevailing economics of a society but with the measures and policies taken and implemented by the State.
In fact, books and pieces of his writings like “How Europe Underdeveloped Africa” and “Groundings” are indicative of the importance that Dr Rodney attributed to class struggle, ending the politics of oppression and racism, and the need for reparations.
In order to continue his work and vision at home in Guyana, Dr Rodney formed the Working People’s Alliance (WPA) party in 1974 with persons who believed in delivering a higher quality of leadership and political direction given Guyana’s complex political culture at that time.
While many may not recall or admit the party was also formed as an alliance of the Working People’s Vanguard Party; the African Society for Cultural Relations with Independent Africa (ASCRIA); the Indian Political Revolutionary Associates and Ratoon. It only became a legitimate and locally active political party in 1979 when a decision was made for the party to compete in the 1980 elections.
Unfortunately, Dr Rodney was not killed or did not die mysteriously as some historians and other political parties would want the younger generations to believe but was assassinated in 1980. This development amongst others forced the party not to compete in those elections but to stand in the 1985 elections.
And despite pulling out at the last minute because of the belief that there was widespread rigging and electoral fraud, the party still received 1.4 per cent of the vote and won a seat. It subsequently retained that seat in the 1992 elections where it increased its share of the vote to 2.0 per cent.
As the leaders of the WPA became fewer and more distant from the policies and ideologies adumbrated by Dr Rodney before his assassination, the party started to lose critical support among the masses especially its middle-class following and those from the mixed ethnic groups. This is evident in the elections result of 1997, which saw the WPA teaming up with the Guyana Labour Party and only managing to secure 1.2 per cent of the vote which still resulted in it winning one seat. It bounced back by winning two seats at the 2001 elections.
In a turn of events, one of its members walked away to join the Alliance For Change (AFC) in 2006 and then the party opted to join an alliance with the PNC in 2011 which was the party that was rumoured to be responsible for the assassination of its founder in one form or the other.
Many believe that Dr Rupert Roopnaraine’s decision then was a betrayal of Dr Rodney’s legacy and the beginning of the transformation of a party with a proud history into a submissive and compliant political unit unable to influence or change the dynamics of its senior political partner.
Today, Dr Rodney’s party has all but disappeared on paper even though there are those who sit within its leadership that are fighting to defend Rodney’s legacy and redirect the course of the WPA away from the malpractices, corruption, and political missteps of the PNC, which forms a major part of the A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government that won the 2015 Elections.
Divisions and infighting run high within the party as its apparent leader, Dr Roopnaraine clings to a ministerial post for which it is still not clear whether he serves at the behest of the WPA or the leader of the PNC who is also the country’s President. The party is in a worse place than Dr Rodney left it and should undergo a process of introspection and change.
