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This comment area is closed to new submissions. Visit ITVS.org to continue the conversation about this film.
9/24/2010
Pat
United Kingdom
Even though I left guyana years ago I still keep in touch with whats going on. I went back in 2002 and saw things I will cherish for the rest of my life. Guyana made a difference to me personally and any wrongs or rights in Guyana, for me, are to do with leaving an arduous past behind and living a life in the 21st century. Things I remember of Guyana: It was once the bread basket of the west indies; It was a great sugar and rice producer; In 2002 I saw the widest range of fruit and veg that I have ever seen; Sugar cane, raw and juiced and coconut water are fantastic. Kaiteur(amazing, amazing amazing); Rain forest (like nothing else) Boat trips (simply wonderful). Too many wonderful things. Its like no other place. Any incident that occurrred was too small to mention. Guyana ~ a small and wonderful gem
8/10/2010
Richard Wicka
Buffalo, NY
This was excellent. I learned a lot. Thank you for airing it.
5/11/2010
New York, NY
Guyana has had it's share of political and scoial problems but those are
mild compared to what other countries have experienced. Politicians and
foreign powers will always exploit differences to hold power and
influence.
The main problem is economic: a lack of exportable resources. You can't
be a subsistence economy and be able to lift the standard of living of
people. Fortunately, transfer payments and debt forgiveness have lessened
the burden, but to to raise the standard of living will require producing
goods which the rest of the world wants and for which Guyana has a
comparative advantage.
04/18/2009
Tasha
Brooklyn
Ok enough...now that we have blamed this one and that one, what is our plan for a brighter tomorrow? What would you suggest? Put your minds together and come up with a plan. Use you education and all other resources to come together. Stop wasting time bickering.
By the way. All kinds of people are struggling are struggling and treated unfairly around the world.
Guyana I will be home soon
07/02/2008
kerryan
i am so dissapointed with some comments on guyana that ppl wrote, i cann't even believe it, why must we as guyanaese keep attacking each other, yes i am afro-guyanaese and i do like my indo-guyanaese. it is sad to hear whats hang in guyana now. but these comments are so bias and one sided. we as guyanaese will never come together but guess what, we need a new form of government that will be there for both blacks and indians. blacks are oppress everyday in guyana right now, so as issome poor indians. and saying that the PNC is a terroris group is just wrong. ppp have been in government since 1992 nobody else have been able to get there. SO YALL NEED TO SOME ATTACKING EACH OTHER. THE MOTTO ONE PEOPLE ONE NATION ONE DESTINY. WHEN WILL WE LEARN. FORGET ABOUT THE GOVERNEMENT THEY JUST WANT TO KEEP THE SEPARATION OF BLACKS AND INDIANS. INDIANS OR SOME REASON ALWAYS FEEL THAT HEY GO IT BAD, BLACKS ARE SUFFERING AROUND THIS WORLD EVERYDAY. BUT FOR ALL OF U GO PICK UP A HISTORY BOOK ABOUT GUYANA.
11/19/2007
On my recent trip to Guyana, I had a few experience I would like to share with the public and visitors to this lovely land. First of all: The Traffic Police is getting rich off the backs of the guyanese people and gyuanese visitors. At one traffic stop, the driver had a defective head light which was broken after a dog chased a dondey in the path of the vehicle. The woman officer at Sp. Dam. told the driver that the fine is $7000.00. After explaining the cercumstanses under which the violation occurred, the officer asked for a \"raise\" to settle the matter. The driver offered $1000.00. The officer Said, \" What kind of petty, petty thing is this? Don\'t you see that there are 3 of us?\"
11/19/2007
At N/A stelling, I was taking some pictures of the ferry when a traffic cop called me up and asked me if I am taking pictures of him. I told him know, I an waiting for a visitor who is coming off the ferry. He threatened to take me in to central police station,lock me up and seized my camera if I had a picture of him. Guess What? He wanted a raise. I asked him How High? He drew a blank. I would have sent him to the paddock had he took me in to central. He picked on the wrong one.
10/24/2007
Andrew
Hollis, NY
I came across this web page by accident and thought it best to share my thoughts. Everyone has his say but, what good do you get out of this. Guyana was a beautiful country and still is. However, due to economics people had to migrate for better themselves. I had respected Burnham until I did my research on him. He was an excellent speaker but, was a demagogue. He wanted to create his "Kabaka". His men or it could be him that murdered innocent East Indians. One prime example was the murder of Dolly Baksh and her fiance. The PNC was and is still a terrorist organization. They only know how to protest and steal from the innocent East Indians. Why is it that East Indians can become successful in any part of the world, for eg, look at Richmond Hill and Flatbush. Richmond Hill is a thriving town full of East Indians and now Sikhs. On the other hand, Flatbush is still ghetto full of Afro Guyanese. The PPP have been doing a good job since 1992, however, corruption will always be there no matter who is ruling. Fifteen billion barrels of oil and 183,000 trillion cubic feet of gas that is projected as serendipitious will be great for guyana if the revenue does not go into the PPP coffers. Blacks left Guyana for a better lifestyle only to face descrimination from the white man. East Indians left Guyana only to face descrimination from American Blacks and the white man. Are guyanese better off in America? All guyanese should work together to build Guyana into a shining example it once was under Jagan in the 60;s. I visited Buxton many times and I can tell you guys that the people there were friendly and also they sure know how to cook good food. Instead of fighting with each other and pinning the blame on each other, all Guyanese should be proud of his heritage in America and abroad and in Guyana. Imagine what would happen when Guyana is the bread basket of the caribbean again!
10/01/07
What the filmaker omits to mention, is that Guyana at the present time under the PPP is experiencing some of the most violent times in its history, aggravated and gun related crime is at an all time high, the population is decreasing rapidly as people migrate at an alarming rate. Wages are still unrealistically low, Foreign investment is stagnant, there is a drug culture which has taken hold under this government that never existed before, and the corruption far surpasses the corruption in the days of the PNC. Our recent flood tragedy in Guyana bears witness to this. All the Aid money collected by the PPP, instead of being spent on maintaining the sea defenses, clearing the drains and canals, is going towards the big houses and high life-styles of the government ministers and their cronies. One thing the documentary also fails to mention, is the disregard of the PPP for the laws of Guyana, When Mrs Jagan, chose to swear herself in after the last election, before all the votes were counted, and when served with a court subpoena to halt the proceedings, threw it down on the ground, ignored it and continued with the swearing in. This is a completely one sided view of the situation in Guyana, and believe me Janet Jagan has no place in the hearts of Guyanese.
7/10/07
Ajay
Like many of the educated posters already said: both the Jagans and thier PPP along with
Burnham and his PNC are the reasons for Guyana's present situation. Indeed, Burnham was an
incredibly racist and evil bastard who, however, was smart enough not to attract the
imperialistic US and UK with Marxist/Lenninist/Communist rhetoric like the absolutley
naiive Cheddi Jagan. However, the PNC is a domestic terrorist organisation and should be
officially labled as such, while the PPP should be denounced as a state-sponsor of such
terrorism since it does nothing to help East Indian victims (who form the main support
base of the PPP) from black criminals.
All in all, both parties are evil and corrupt and incompetent, with the PPP possibly being
the lesser of two evils, but that is not saying much. Therefore, both of these socialist
dinosaurs who have been nothing but a festering demonic cancer to Guyana need to be wiped
out from Guyana's political culture by any means necessary.
The PPP also does more for blacks (maybe that's why more are working at the airport) than
for Indians (who blindly worship them). Just take a look at Demerara and Berbice. Notice
any differences? Demerara: paved roads, electricity, running water, airports, stadiums, do
I need to continue? Now let's look at Berbice: no airports, barely to no running water or
in-door plumbing, unpaved roads, rampant anti-Indian crimes which go unresolved,
dilapidated housing, poor infrastructure, once again should I continue?
And to those PPP stalwarts who said that Janet stayed while others left: I noticed that
all of you are writing from somewhere that's not Guyana. So why did you leave? Huh? Yeah,
I thought so. If the PPP were so great, then Guyana would no longer be the "co-operative
republic" which Burnham himself created. There would be constitutional reform. There would
be investigations into the Wismar Massacre and every race riot that resulted because of
every one of thier (PPP) election victories. There would be widespread capitalism. Most
importantly, there would justice against the PNC terrorist organisation, or does Janet,
Lil' Boy Bharat and company have sympathy towards their fellow communist comrades?
6/5/06
N. Sankar
Austin TX
Why should a soveriegn nation become a state of another soveriengn nation?
Guyana problem is the same problem America has: RACISM.
It is a cancer. When a cancer has become too infested you have to remove it from the body.
You are basically waging war on the damn disease.
3/28/06
Anita Sukhan
Brooklyn, New York
Reading everyone opinion, I think it�s time to stop the blame game and start giving your
opinion on how to save our beautiful Guyana. My personal opinion to save Guyana is to make
either a State or Territory of the United States. This is the only solution whereby
Guyanese living abroad will return to develop our Country.
2/8/06
Sunil Singh
Pocanoes , PA.
I would like to begin by stating, long live Janet Jagan, yesterday, today and tomarrow;
She is Guyana,s first lady and what Indira Ghandi is to India !
I would like to add, for everyone that ever spoke ill will and have questioned her being
Guyanese, just remember, while " you all" were applying for visas/ foriegn green cards,
she was living in Guyana, etc. etc. .......
I saw this documentry film and I was pleased to see someone has finally made the effort;
and it's accuracy 99%..I think the only facts that were left out were the gruesome actions
that were taken by the PNC.. the other 1%
7/28/05
PDM
Houston tx
it was a great documentary, given what resources Janet Jagan younger cousin had available
to her. Bless her heart!
I grew up in this place and detest what the foreign enemies of the jagans has done to
this beautiful land. They used the negroes to do the 'dirty work'. I wonder if they
realized how much of a tremendous pain, grief and hurt they have caused to numerous
countrymen and women of Indian descent.
I believe in the law or Karma(what goes around, comes around).
6/05
Samanta
Toronto, On
I saw the film a couple months back in Trinidad on PBS. It was indeed a great film. Me
being born in 1980 meant that I was not there when all those things were happening - thank
God. I saw a side of Guyana I've never seen before. My initial thoughts were that the PNC
regime was wicked to the Guyanese people, but then after doing some research I realized
that the film was indeed biased and one-sided. Burnham has made horrible choices, and so
have the Jagans. We as Guyanese have to stop living in the past and look to the future.
Like it or not, Burnham and Jagan will forever be part of our history; so the sooner we
accept it and move on the better off we'll be.
Let me leave with this adage from Malcolm X:
"There is no better than adversity. Every defeat, every heartbreak, every loss, contains
its own seed, its own lesson on how to improve your performance next time"
And remember also the other saying, "We cannot think of uniting with others unless we
ourselves are united."
Blessings to my Guyanese people and hope for a brighter future!
3/28/06
Anita Sukhan
Brooklyn, New York
Reading everyone opinion, I think it�s time to stop the blame game and start giving your
opinion on how to save our beautiful Guyana. My personal opinion to save Guyana is to make
either a State or Territory of the United States. This is the only solution whereby
Guyanese living abroad will return to develop our Country.
5/3/05
Cliff Sawh
NY
I read the account of the Wismar Disturbance for the first time today. I have to admit
that there were many incidents of violence that were omitted from this report. Also, I am
appalled that although some of perpetuators of this crime against humanity were
identified, none were brought to justice. Among the crimes that were not mentioned by the
Commission is the fact that several women were gang raped and after these henious crimes,
the rapists further humiliated their victims by putting bottles in them. The final insult
was that some of these perpetuators were rewarded by the PNC for their crime.
The following is my observation after having read the report:
01: I would like to suggest that that in the interest of racial harmony, that the
government appoint another commission to investigate the real causes of the disturbance of
1964.
02: To identify the people who participated and bring them to justice.
03: There shoule be no statue of limitation on rape and murder..
04: To re-open the investigation on the two Afro-Guyanese who were murdered in Buxton.
This crime has to be solved because it set the stage for the crimes in Wismar and the rest
of the country.
05: The explosion that killed 35 Afr-Guyanese. Who was responsible for this crime - was
it perpetuated by Indians or by those who who were trying to destabilize the country?
06: Did people from BUxton go to Wasmar solely to participte in this crime? If so, who
were they working for? Who gave the orders?
07: Why the Commissioner of Police was not charged for treason? Who was the person who
after touring the scene of the crime, sait, '...eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth'. Why he
was not arrested for inciting others to riot, loot, murder, rape and mutilation?
A long time has passed since these events and most a lot of the people who witnessed
these crimes would be willing to do now what they did not do then - talk about the
injustice they witnessed. A lot of the people who participated in these crimes may want to
confess before they face the Perfect Judge. Some of the victims who were afraid to talk
about what actually happened then may find courage not only to testify, but also to
identify the criminals. This inquiry will open old wounds in order that they be healed for
all eternity.
4/28/05
Paul
Toronto, Canada
It made my heart rejoice to finally see that someone heard and saw what injustice took
place in Guyana for years and are still occuring. As a young boy in Betterhope, Guyana , I
experienced the hardship and racism in school -being picked on as an East Indina, and
unfair treatments lining up for long hours for water, and at the Black operated co-op
building at Pleasance market being pushed out of line numerous times and others from beind
going infront of me just to buy some oil, flour,sugar, butter or rice to take home to my
mother and sister. My sister was also beaten up in school many times and when a complaint
was filed at the School's office, nothing was done. If a girl is hurt or raped by her
husband or girlfriend, the police does nothing. The entire police force or all police
stations are racist and unfair. Also the government has no East Indian working at the
"Cheddy Jagan Intenational Airport" and I wonder why this is so. Only powerful unfair
blacks are working at the airport and customs. this makes me scared to even visit back my
homeland with dignity and pride. I Wish to someday see many East Indians work at the
Airport so Guyanese returning don't have to be scared for their lives, but can be happy to
travel in peace and fear free. The government also sells your honest desevered VISA to
their own blacks to prevent Indians from going to the US or Canada.
PLEASE AIR THIS STORY AGAIN SO that the Tampering and Fraud and racism of Guyanese blacks
against East Indians can be exposed.
Thank fr. my heart.
4/27/05
Barbara Tomlinson
Seattle, WA
I wonder if someone has done a study or written up how the CIA set about defeating a
Marxist government, stirring up strikes and bloody riots, spreading dis-information and
fomenting racial hatred, as the documentary asserts. {And I believe it, the CIA has done
the same in so many other countries.} If this is true as I believe it is, it reminds me of
that book "What's Wrong With Kansas", people acting against their own real economic
interests by allowing themselves to be carried away by some kind of blindness and
hysteria. The CIA is attempting to do the same thing in Venezuela now, but at long last
the people seem to have caught on, perhaps learning from all the previous examples. I
think this is a separate subject that deserves a program of its own -- how the CIA
de-stabilizes governments it doesn't like, including that of the Jagans in Guyana.
4/19/05
Irvine, California
Unfortunately the power went out at the beginning of Your Program. It was so interesting
seeing old photographs of British Guiana. I, with my family left there before all the
Riots and other things began. I do remember seeing your cousin Janet when she first came
down to B.G. I have never gone back, and from what I hear, have no deisre to do so. I wish
your cousin would return to the U.S now that she is in ill-health. Her children and the
rest of her family are not there any longer. Come home, Janet.
4/19/05
brooklyn,ny
i really enjoyed reading the comments of all of the people who saw the film.i must say
that some of you are very wise and fair to the jagans. i lived through the riots in guyana
where my grandfather was killed in the mackenzie/wismar area. we had to run for our lives.
up until that time guyana was a beautiful and peaceful country under the leadership of
cheddi jagan. after the 1964 riots and burnham took power, things began to slide in guyana
and guyana has become a beggars land. it would take a miracle to repair the beautiful
country of guyana. if the people continue to burn and kill and destroy then guyana will
always be in a sad state.burnham was an evil man and guyanese should learn to accept that
and try to come out of the kind of thinking that he brainwashed some of us into thinking.
that killing and destroying others is power.
3/25/05
I knew nothing about the history of Guyana, other than hearing of the Jonestown tragedy
when I was a child, so it was an incredible learning experience to watch THUNDER IN
GUYANA. It has also been the same reading the Talkbalk submissions. The story of Guyana
and the Jagans' role in its history is a fascinating one. Being American and more than a
bit cynical about my country's foreign policy motives, I was disheartened at the way in
which the US undermined the Jagan's efforts. The Jagan's are by no means perfect, but I do
think they did what they thought was best (perhaps naively) for Guyana and all of its
population.
3/4/05
Vancouver, Canada
It,s OK for Ms. Wasserman to give a glowing report on Janet Jagan, however it was the
common man who, after being unable to put up with the corruption, waste, and racial
problems, voted with our feet and moved out. Thank you Janet, I'm better off now
3/2/05
Cynthia Roberts
I do believe that credit should be given where it's due and the Jagans sure deserves
credit for a tremendous amount of contributions to Guyana's history however; I totally
agree that they are equally responsible for some of the hardships Guyana has faced and
continue to face. Mr. Burnham is even more responsible for the total breakdown of all
structures. If Guyanese are true to their hearts they will accept what they already know
but many are living in lala world and simply cannot find the courage to accept. Most
Guyanese are cowards and can only fight among themselves instead of fighting for what is
good and true. All Guyanese should fight the tyrants and make the necessary change for a
better Guyana. We need to find the courage to rid ourselves of the PPP and the PNC (they
are old news) and seek new leaders for these new times.
God bless Guyana and god bless Guyanese wherever they reside.
3/2/05
Jim Dubar
Gormley, Ontario
I read with pain all the comments regarding THUNDER IN GUYANA. I see the yesteryears of
our political past with a different perspective. As a youth during the early sixties, I
was part of the Guyanese audience unable to influence the outcome of our political
landscape, not because of my youth, but rather because of my fear of the then power
brokers. Turning the pages of my memories, I reflect with profound sadness the journey
which brought us where we are today. The question is one of economic comparision. Is
Guyana better off today than it was in the sixties? None of us who left Guyana are
qualified to answer this question, or any other question(s) pertaining to the welfare of
Guyana, be it Indian, Africian, or any other of the seven races who share the geographics
of Guyana. We RAN !!!! and because we did, we therefore, automatically forfeit any and all
rights to formulate any opinion on Guyana, politically or otherwise. Not to say we are not
Guyanese. We all are, at HEART. In retrospec, the way I see it is....Both Dr. & Mrs. Jagan
were very young in political gamesmanship. My dad died following the promises of the
Jagans. They went to Guyana with very little knowledge of the dynamics of England & USA
politics. There is an old saying:- YOU KISS ASS UNTIL YOU ARE IN A POSITION TO KICK ASS.
What Jagan should have done is to stay center instead of the far left. This is what
America was afraid off. Given the recent Bay of Pigs Invasion fiasco, Jagan should have
known better. In the early years of the fledgling PPP center right should have been Dr.
Jagan's plan of action. Burnham was a master at this game. He played Jagan at this game
and won. This is in no way giving crediance to the reign of Burnham, in fact, Mohamed Ali
was correct when he said, Give a white man a slum and he will make it into a city, give a
black man a city and he will make it into a slum...how true. We all have missed the bus on
this one...the only person who could have done economic miracles for Guyana back then, was
no other than PETER D'AGUIAR. This man was a centralist, and a capitalist. In conclusion,
and as the son of Rambarran, one of the Enmore Martyrs, its nice to sound the drum beat of
CULTURE, ROOTS, AND RELIGION, however, at the end of it all, we need to understand that
the dollar drives (all) that which we need and want, materialistic acquisition.
2/28/05
The adulation of Janet Jagan symbolises the continued brainwashed state of East Indians
in Guyana.
As an Indian myself, I watched as good people lives were destroyed. What our greatfathers
struggled for on the plantations were completely nihilated by the selfish actions of Janet
Jagan.
When the conflict in British Guiana started, the Jagans had the luxury of sending their
children abroad to "capitalist countries" for protection. How ironic! They still live
there.
One of my earliest childhood memories was us hiding in our house, terrified, and
witnessing my parents fear. The Jagans wanted to destroy the middle class in Guyana and
they succeeded. Our short-sightedness and greed as Indians will destroy us ultimately and
prevent us from seeing the truth. Don't let us use Forbes Burnham and the PNC's wickedness
from seeing what was the lesser evil.
Let those who really know the truth about the Jagans and their impact on our lives speak
out. Let also Mrs Jagan's real perception of Guyanese be revealed by those who know her.
The truth will prevail.
2/28/05
Ontario, Canada
This documentary on Janet Jagan was very well made and one-sided for obvious reasons. No
metion was every made of the 3rd politcal party and the fact that the brain drain not only
involed educated people of all the races of Guyana but most if not all of the Guyanese
people of Portuguese, Chinese, Dutch, French and English descent. I grew up in Guyana
between 1946 and 1964, when I left for college. What a surprise when British Guiana was
mentioned by my political science professor during my class at this little known, out of
the way college I was attending, as a country to watch! I think he meant it in a positive
way. Unfortunately, Forbes Burnham true self was not be known until later on, when he took
the country on a road of destruction. Like most 3rd world countries who have been given
the freedom and right to govern themselves, they cannot do it because their leaders are
egotistical tyrants. Money and power go their heads. Guyana has been ruined!
2/25/05
The documentary aimed to portray Janet Jagan as the Mother of Guyana. On the contrary,
history will judge the Jagans as being instrumental in bringing destruction to a beautiful
and peaceful country.
In the fifties, when Guyanese were still a trusting, politically naive people, these two
people appeared on the scene spouting schoolboyish and schholgirlish Marxist rhetoric and
promising the impoverished people the moon. (It really reads like a bad socialist
novel!)
The Guyanese people put their trust in Cheddi Jagan and his wife and lived to regret it
as riot after riot hit the country.
The Jagans own political naivite and ambitious egos cleared the way for the despot Forbes
Burnham.
Some points to note:
References to Jagans own capitalist tendencies (ie ownership of Gimpex and their children
enjoying the land of capitalist countries have already been mentioned. They should have
remained with those poor suffering Guyanese to enjoy the legacy of their parents).
The documentary failed to show what the Jagans or Mrs Jagan achieved for all their
struggles. The question is, did the lives of Guyanese improve in any way?
Finally, the most damning legacy has been the racial divide of Guyana. It is time that
Guyanese awake and realise that all their heroes, the Jagans and Burnham had "clay
feet".
Guaynese people, wake up and unite against the tin gods of the past. It is time to find
genuine leaders.
2/25/05
Scarborough, Ontario
I compliment Suzanne Wasserman for doing this Film, I think it is a true relection of
Janet's life in her second home Guyana. I never thought of her as a foreigner, she did and
still continue to do a lot for all peoples of Guyana. Her loyalty to the Guyanese people
has never wavered. This is also a great love story - for a young woman to go to a faraway
land she knew nothing about to be with the person she loved, it took a lot of courage,
there is no doubt she truly loved Cheddi. Janet I sincerely wish you, happiness and good
health always.
2/25/05
Mark
New York
I haven't seen the film, I hope to see it when it is aired again. I think that Mrs. Jagan
is quite a remarkable lady and has played a very important role in Guyana. I was very
interested in all the feedback from the diverse viewers.
I am also happy that Guyana has finally become a democratic country where it is governed
by the people through elections.
2/25/05
Sunita Pooran
Shirlleysburg PA
The film was truthful but somewhat onesided. Immigrating from there in early 1982 @ age 19
I know how rough it was growing up under Burnham.
Guyana should be a great small country with all its natural resources nice climate. Being
that it is the only English speaking country in South America it should be a great
destination for tourists from the US, Canada,& England.Instead people with connections
immigrate out of there as quick as they can.I should know I am one of them.I would like to
talk more.
2/25/05
Mohamed Z. Rahaman (Breado)
Silver Spring, Maryland
Roger De Freitas is right about the PPP and their politics and they certainly must share
some of the blame for Guyana's problems. By the same token, however, one must be fair to
the Jagans. Cheddi and Janet were both Honourable and Noble in their fight for British
Guiana to be free and for free and fair elections. Did they have their faults and make
mistakes? You bet. But that is nothing compared to what the PNC did to Guyana.
The Afro Guyanese have been better off in Guyana with The PPP in power and yes, they even
have more freedom now than under the PNC dictatorship. How soon some forget.
Yes, Guyana is still struggling and the PPP refusal to remove certain language from theit
party's manifesto is a lingering problem, but it's not easy to recover from 26 years of
Brain Drain and destruction wrought by the PNC. And let us not forget the PNC is still a
hinderance to foreign investment and good governance in Guyana. Their former leader's
rethoric of "More Fyah" and refusal to accept the results of the free and fair elections
created a host of problems and only recently have they returned to parliament or have
they? Sadly for all Guyanese, the arming of the Afro Guyanese in the 70's and 80's by the
PNC regime has come home to roost.
In closing, let me say that Cheddi and Janet are two Guyanese (by conviction and choice)
that deserves to be honoured and they are indeed the Father and Mother of the Nation that
we forever will call home - Guyana.
Thank you.
2/25/05
i am neither ppp nor pnc but if i had been old enough to vote in the guyana elections
around 1980, i would have voted for that stalwart, the mighty Dr. Walter Rodney!!! but
thanks to burnham and the pnc, he was brutally assassinated!
(the sad thing is that on my way to school one morning, right near to the pioneer record
bar not far away from st. georges cathedral, i overheard 2 tall black men, walking in the
opposite direction to me, talking and laughing that, "that would be the end of the wpa..."
and a few days after that, the assassintion took place... i hadn't known enough to put
that 2 and 2 together then!!!)
anyways, from what i have seen happen to guyana under the leadership of the pnc i would
be stupid to want to be burnt like that again so i would never vote for them. who would
want those extreme shortages, hunger, lines,empty supermarket shelves, 'land of nothing',
not even rice and sugar days back again!?!
that leaves basically the wpa and the ppp. the wpa, sad to say doesn't have the vibrancy
and vitality that it once had under my man, walter, so not wanting to throw my vote away,
who am i left with? right, the ppp.
the ppp will be the lesser of the 2 evils... but i don't know if i can honestly call the
ppp an evil!?!
they have done a million more good things for guyana than the rundown the pnc put us
through! and yes, they do seem to be a whole lot fairer than the pnc used to be, when and
if they can get support from a few bad apples who are constantly trying to bring them down
with protests, picketing and street marches, 'riots' and fear. (and the rest of us should
be blamed for the unrest too, because by not speaking out, we are silently condoning those
actions!)
always striving to speak truthfully as my lord Jesus would want me to, i would have no
other choice but to gladly vote PPP.
therefore to stir a lot of my brothers out there, the ppp does have non indian voters!!!
(i may not be an activist for the ppp but i will happily vote ppp until i see a better
party out there to become proactive about!
ps1. for all my brothers who don't live in guyana, how would you like it if the countries
that you do happen to be living in decide to send you back to guyana because they don't
think YOU are american, british, canadian, venezuelan, etc????? let's not get silly when
we argue, let's try to be honest. honesty, truthfulness, peace and love are the
ingredients direly needed if guyana is to move forward as rapidly as i know we can.
ps2. by the way, janet jagan is a true guyanese. she was born elsewhere but when so many
of us were running away and so many more will run first chance we get, she chose to remain
in poverty,danger and sometimes real hatred and animosity to battle for the betterment of
guyanese. can we honestly do the same?
let's stop with the race game. it is not real. reality is living in peace, love and
harmony for the betterment of the world. look around you... race doesn't matter anymore!
we all have family and friends from other 'races'! do we hate them? no, my man, we love
and understand them so how can we hate them?!! hatred comes from ignorance. love and
understanding spell tolerance... the new wave of the future!
peace my brothers all.
2/25/05
Washington, DC, USA
Outside of a superficial understanding of the Jim Jones genocide, I have no knowledge
whatsoever about the history or current events of Guyana and so have no frame of reference
from which to judge the balance of the Independent Lens story "Thunder in Guyana."
That said, I found this hour-long show utterly compelling--well-narrated and well-edited,
my attention wandered not for a second.
The varied stories of Independent Lens have become some of the several on PBS I now try
to make a point to watch.
2/25/05
rudy madho
toronto, canada
I think that the programme was good. I cannot see anyone doing a better job in condensing
some forty plus years into an hour. Janet and the late Cheddi Jagan dared to challenge the
British masters. However the worst monster was Forbes Burnham who really showed his true
colours through his election rigging and dictatorial overtures. Guyana is divided along
racial lines and this will continue for a long time, barring some miracle.
2/23/05
We seem to have had a comment from the PNC gallery and one from the PPP gallery. Here's
one from the Putagee gallery. Go Janet. At least your party wasn't the one to ruin the
country. It sure is hard work to pick up the crap laid down by 26 years of PNC abuse.
Especially since the Brain Drain isn't coming back. We sorry about dat. For the poor
shmucks who continue to lambast the current Government, here is a thought. Georgetown is
being Mayored by Hammie Green. Where is the outcry againist this staunch former PNC
Minister for not maintaining the infrastructure of the City and it's drainage canals? Why
the constant bombardment of the PPP which is the ONLY POLITICAL PARTY TO HAVE LIGITEMATELY
WON ALL FAIRLY RUN ELECTIONS IN GUYANA'S HISTORY??? The PNC has NEVER won a fair election
and will NEVER ever get into power again. People have long memories and Guyanese of all
Races will NEVER forget the PNC Dictatorship that RUINED our Fair Country. So, suck it up
and get a life. Go Janet!
2/23/05
I think Janet Jagan is a person who fell in love and then found her convictions -- over
and over again in different ways. I think she's brilliant. No one does anything much, but
she did everything more. She's a good girl and I send my best wishes to her.
2/23/05
Michael Rahaman
Chicago, Illinois
I just finished watching the film, Thunder In Guyana - a very beautiful and honest film.
Congratulations to Suzanne Wasserman for giving such an accurate and intelligent portrayal
of events in Guyana during its struggles against colonial rule and, later, against
dictatorship and racism.
Janet Jagan is, indeed, the Mother of Guyana. She is a sterling example of selfless
devotion, of dogged determination in a just cause and, above all, a paragon of womanhood,
as a mother and a wife.
I was born in Guyana and lived there for the first 26 years of my life. I now live,
ironically, in Janet's home town of Chicago. I was one of the numerous Guyanese who fled
the country at its nadir in the mid 80's. It's true that Janet is more Guyanese than most
of us.
Once more, my heartfelt congratulations go to Suzanne Wassermann for setting the record
straight.
2/23/05
I have just discovered that this movie is on tonight, and I fully intend to tune in! But,
I must say that I am totally appalled at some of the comments I have read so far. As a
Guyanese born and raised in Guyana, under the regime of the same PPP Government that
Cheddi Jagan led, I am at a loss to understand what these jokers are talking about.
Let me say here that that I have great respect for the memory of President Jagan. I think
he was a strong leader, a grass-root politician and a respected statesman. But when he
died, all hell broke loose. I still think that what happened next could only have happened
in a country like Guyana where some people are so brain-washed they cannot even remember
their own name sometimes. I grieve for my country, for reasons more than one! I lost my
father in the early '60's riots. I do not want to lose anyone else!
2/23/05
Roger De Freitas
I was born 1943 and raised in Guyana [formerly British Guiana] to Dutch
Shepardic/Ashkenazi Jews. Our opinion of Janet and Cheddi is not the same as that being
portrayed by revisionist history.
They established the Gimpex agency whereby they alone could control importation of
merchandise. How ironic that the same captilists they raged against is home to their
children and a whole lot of their supporters who loved to call each other comrade.
Finally why do you have to mention Janet's religious heritage? I did not see you mention
others as Christian, Muslim or Hindu. I mentioned mine just to establish that Janet was
not unique in being in Guyana.
2/23/05
I THINK THIS FILM WAS VERY BIAS. JANET JAGAN AND HER PPP FRIENDS ONLY TAKES CARE OF THE
INDIANS IN GUYANA, NOT THE BLACKS. WHAT THEY HAVE DONE TO BLACKS IN GUYANA IS A DISGRACE.
SHE IS NO GUYANESE! HOW FAIR WAS IT WHEN SHE BECAME PRESIDENT AFTER HER HUSBAND'S DEATH.
THEY HAVE DRAG GUYANA DOWN. SHE NEED TO COME BACK TO THE USA WHERE SHE BELONGS!
2/18/05
guyanese love janet. she is called the mother of our nation. ... we love her, we adore
her and we admire her in every way possible!
she has done more for Guyana and sacrificed more than anyone of us who were actually born
in guyana.... therefore, she is more guyanese than either you or me! she has lived there
longer than anyone of us! what have you done? set strife and lie and live off the backs of
poor hardworking guyanese people?!?
why don't you go and see for yourself where govt. officials live? those little hovels are
nothing in comparison to where burnham and other pnc cronies live. and.... why don't you
check their bank accts. while you are at it? check if they have swiss accts too! how soon
we forget, eh?
have you forgotten the kick down the door bandits under the beautiful pnc dictatorship
when you and many like you turned a blind eye to the other half of the population?
have you forgotten all the long winding russian line ups for basic food items?
have you forgotten all the stupid, unqualified, nincompoops who were running the govt
offices, etc.?
and where was your voice raised in outrage when half of the population of guyana was been
brutalized, victimized, etc.? where? where?
no wonder guyana dropped from being the breadbasket of the caribbean to a basket case for
intl aid!
no wonder our literacy rate dropped from a 99.5% to zilch! it was thanks to people like
you!!!
you may choose to forget but not me and countless like me who lived through it, so smoke
that too!
let me tell you something! the ppp does more for ALL!!! Guyanese people than any other
party has ever done or can ever do! they are definitely not racist! they are very fair!
the country can't progress as much as it tries to because there are a whole lot of
drowning asses who would clutch at any passing straw to create havoc and set the progress
back. i wonder if you know who these people are!
stop linking the govt. to the drug trade! i thought you were smarter. you sure want to
make it look like you are! look around you! drug problem is an ongoing pain all over the
world now! not in Guyana alone!
we should be coming together to see how we can help guyana and wherever we are are living
now get rid of it, at least for the sake of future generations!
if you must open your mouth, then speak the truth. don't let your ignorance and racism
show through. thank you kindly.
peace and love to all guyanese. God bless all
2/17/05
What the filmaker omits to mention, is that Guyana at the present time under the PPP is
experiencing some of the most violent times in its history, aggravated and gun related
crime is at an all time high, the population is decreasing rapidly as people migrate at an
alarming rate. Wages are still unrealistically low, Foreign investment is stagnant, there
is a drug culture which has taken hold under this government that never existed before,
and the corruption far surpasses the corruption in the days of the PNC. Our recent flood
tragedy in Guyana bears witness to this. All the Aid money collected by the PPP, instead
of being spent on maintaining the sea defenses, clearing the drains and canals, is going
towards the big houses and high life-styles of the government ministers and their cronies.
One thing the documentary also fails to mention, is the disregard of the PPP for the laws
of Guyana, When Mrs Jagan, chose to swear herself in after the last election, before all
the votes were counted, and when served with a court subpoena to halt the proceedings,
threw it down on the ground, ignored it and continued with the swearing in. This is a
completely one sided view of the situation in Guyana, and believe me Janet Jagan has no
place in the hearts of Guyanese.
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