Kaieteur News (12/06/19) reported that the President of the Republic of Ghana, Nana Akufo-Addo laid a floral tribute at the monument to the founders of the Non-Aligned Movements, and listed the founders as Josip Tito of Yugoslavia; Jawaharlal Nehru of India; Julius Nyerere of Tanzania; and Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana. The insertion of Julius Nyerere is incorrect and highlights our lack of knowledge regarding our own history and development. The other bust at the site where the visiting President laid his floral tribute, is that of Gamal Abdel Nasser, Egypt’s second President and a great revolutionary Pan-Africanist, who provided early support for the liberation movements fighting apartheid and Portuguese colonialism in Southern Africa.
Julius Nyerere was also a great leader, but he does not belong there. Getting it right is extremely important, especially for this generation, who, due to our sadly lacking school curriculum, already know very little about these great freedom fighters. What they must know is that if these leaders were around today, they would certainly have held their ground against the bullyism and international lawlessness of the Empire.
Our former president, Forbes Burnham, had these busts erected because of his support for, and active involvement in the historic Non-Aligned Movement. That was when Guyana was a leading and influential force both regionally and internationally. The Hon. Marcus Garvey reminded us: “If we as a people realized the greatness from which we came, we would be less likely to disrespect ourselves”.
Gerald A. Perreira
Organization for the Victory of the People (OVP)