Dear Editor,
On July 16, we will be commemorating the brutal murder of our two exemplary comrades: Bholanauth Parmanand and Jagan Ramessar. These two young men were ruthlessly and brutally gunned down as they were among their villagers who were struggling for free and fair elections in Guyana.
On that fatal day, July 16, 1973, fifty-two years ago, Permanand and Ramessar were shot and killed by a Guyana Defence Force (GDF) officer.
Guyanese were fully aware of the People’s National Congress’ (PNC) wicked approach to national and regional elections, specifically, their heinous intentions to rig them.
Investigations by the Justice Dhanessar Jhappan Commission of Inquiry revealed the high likelihood of a PPP victory if the elections were run in a free and fair manner. The commission cited the massive public meetings held by the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) and the overwhelming public display of support for Dr Cheddi Jagan as evidence of this. The PNC, in order to ensure their victory by any means necessary, deployed the security forces, both army and police, to all parts of the country.
In addition to the regular strength at the police stations in Berbice, a battalion was deployed from the GD under Captain Johnson. The PNC was fully prepared to rig the 1973 national elections.
Captain Johnson had his headquarters in the compound of the Central Police Station in New Amsterdam. His men were further broken up into smaller groups, and a platoon under the command of Lieutenant Henry was sent to the Upper Corentyne on June 7, 1973.
The section consisted of two sergeants, three corporals, five lance corporals and nine privates; that is twenty men, including Lieutenant Henry. The platoon pitched camp at No. 51 Backdam and remained there until the 19th of June, 1973. From there they went to Plantation Skeldon, remaining there until the 27th of June, 1973, when they moved on to No. 63 and bivouacked on the beach. On the 14th of July, 1973, they left No. 63 Beach and set up camp in the compound of the No. 51 Police Station.
They had with them self-loading rifles, submachine guns, tear smoke grenades and steel helmets.
Bholanauth Parmanand and 18-year-old Jagan Ramessar were shot by armed agents of the PNC dictatorship at No. 63 Village, Corentyne, during the 1973 elections while peacefully protesting the illegal removal of the ballot boxes from the place of poll at the end of voting. Berbicians were protesting the PNC/Army hijacking of the ballot boxes.
Yours truly worked on that polling day at West Demerara Secondary School in Pouderoyen, and as we were coming out at 5:30 a.m. I recalled seeing GDF soldiers crawling along the roadside with their guns.
A physical manifestation of the PNC’s heinous intention to terrorise the population was unleashed in the form of thugs, police and the army.
It is not by chance that Private London of the GDF in 1999 was later known to Guyanese as “Blackie”! He was one of the masterminds among the criminal gangs that terrorised the Guyanese people. “Blackie” was killed in a shootout with the police, and the PNC draped his coffin with the national flag and gave him a PNC farewell funeral.
On the 16th of July 1973, with Corporal Collins and Privates McKenzie, Layne and London (Blackie) of the GDF; Sergeant Ross and Police Constable Seecharran of the Police Force; Lieutenant Henry took along with him tear smoke, grenades, respirators, steel helmets, two submachine guns, rifles and bayonets. He himself was armed with one of the submachine guns. Corporal Collins had the other.
The PNC thugs, with all their armed might, descended on the Corentyne with the clear intention to take full control of the ballot boxes and remove the representatives of the other three political parties from around the ballot boxes.
Bholanauth Parmanand was killed, and his dear wife and four children had to endure the death of the breadwinner of their home as their loving husband and father was ripped from them in the most brutal manner possible.
Young Jagan Ramessar was shot and killed, and the army threw him in their vehicle and drove him around as he was kicked and stamped upon. He was paraded to send a message of fear and threats to the people in Berbice.
Approximately five hours later, after his corpse was unspeakably desecrated, he was taken to New Amsterdam Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. Jagan Ramessar, only eighteen years old, was brutally murdered, and his parents and other relatives are today still crying.
Parmanand’s immediate family and his comrades, fifty-two years later, still vividly recall the unbelievably brutal and monstrous debacle that was the 1973 elections.
My dear comrade Rishi Ram Motie and his friends tearfully recounted for me what they witnessed on that fatal day. Motie suffered a broken nose. His body was black and blue as he was cuffed and kicked. Scores of persons were badly beaten and threatened. Families were humiliated and separated. Rishi Ram Mote was a genuine activist with the PPP.
During the campaign before July 16th, it was clear that the PPP meetings attracted massive support while the PNC had a sprinkling of people. Motie, as he sobbed, told me that when the election results were announced and the PNC was the winning party, nobody accepted the results.
The PNC terrorists continued to terrorise Berbicians, as hundreds of people fled their homes and went across to Suriname, while others went into hiding for weeks and months. As a result, thousands of Berbicians and other Guyanese were forced to leave Guyana.
Guyanese must never forget that many eminent persons, such as Dr Walter Rodney, were assassinated and murdered during the dark days of the PNC rule. Today, we must draw strength, unite and work together for the maintenance and further development of the democracy we now enjoy. We must ensure that Bholanauth Parmanand and Jagan Ramessar are remembered, that their sacrifices, which inspired us to rally with Comrade Cheddi Jagan’s People’s Progressive Party, continue to motivate us to protect the hard-won democracy we enjoy today.
We must never forget that the Guyana Elections Commission was fully under Burnham/PNC control. Several attempts were made to rig the elections by the PNC rulership in the year 2020. However, through the stewardship and guidance of Dr Bharrat Jagdeo, our country united, and with the assistance of international observers, democracy prevailed, and the PPP obtained its rightful position as the ruling party of our country to date.
As we are preparing for national and regional elections this year, let us work resolutely to ensure free and fair elections.
All the alleged riggers who are before the court for the shameful events that unfolded after the 2020 elections must face the full force of the law. It is indeed most shameful to know that the PNC/APNU riggers who kept their knees on our peoples’ throats for five long months are still awaiting trial for their attempt to steal the Government.
Guyanese must be united against rigged elections. We must, with one voice, call upon the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) to ensure that these unscrupulous riggers are placed before the court and face lawful justice for their heinous acts against democracy and the Guyanese people.
Five years of waiting for justice is far too long. This unacceptable delay defaces the memory of these brave Guyanese that gave their lives for democracy. The JSC must act now.
Let us never forget the Ballot Box Martyrs! Guyana must unite to ensure that our democracy, won with the lives of many brave souls, remains forever strong.
Yours sincerely,
Neil Kumar
