Dear Editor,
I write in reference to Mr. Hamilton Green’s missive titled “On these occasions the least we can do is acknowledge and recognise those whose idea it was” as published in KN of 6-19-26
Mr. Green claims that it was Prime Minister Mr. Forbes Burnham’s idea for the erection of the Enmore Martyrs monument.
Mr. Green’s assertion is most incorrect. The idea for the construction of the monument was birthed by Mr. Ranji Chandisingh, the former PPP Marxist Leninist ideologue who had crossed the floor and joined the PNC. It was common knowledge that Mr. Chandisingh was the PPP’s party ideologue and had been knighted by PPP leader Dr. Cheddi Jagan to be his successor.
Because of his socialist credentials Mr. Chandisingh had persuaded the PPP leadership in the 1970s to offer “critical support” to the PNC government of Prime Minister Forbes Burnham. Actually, Mr. Chandisingh had pushed for the merger of the PPP with the PNC but this was rejected.
Mr. Chandisingh’s crossover was a PNC coup and that party was most beholden to him in embellishing their party’s socialist credentials. The PNC changed its party’s constitution to reflect a Marxist Leninist thrust and this policy is still on their books.
Mr. Burnham was only too willing to accommodate Mr. Chandisingh’s suggestion to build the Enmore Martyrs monument.