The US barely tolerated Jagan’s visit in 1961

Dear Editor, The US Embassy in Guyana on its official social media page, shared a vintage photograph of the late Dr Cheddi Jagan engaging with President John Kennedy during his visit to New York when he was Premier in 1961. The photograph was captioned ‘Celebrating 50 years of diplomatic relations’.

Ironically, Jagan’s visit was barely tolerated and he even suffered character assassination, as he was presented to the American population as evasive and a potential communist threat. If anything during that visit, Jagan was diplomatically mocked, and development funds declined to a meagre US$5M, as opposed to the US$12.5M later released for the commencement of another US installed South American dictatorship under Burnham.

The late Kennedy might be a hero in his country, but for this Guyanese woman he was an instigator of dictatorial oppression and ethnic cleavages in a land which was never his. The Embassy should think twice before boasting of diplomatic relations when the only thing the US has done in this part of the world, is overthrow governments, install dictatorships, and then use our resources while trapping and buying us with ‘aid’ that has proven useless for lifting populations out of poverty.

If the US Embassy wants to make a valuable contribution to the Guyanese people, they should start by being honest (as incredible as it sounds) and share information which enlightens us. For instance, declassifying documents on CIA covert operations and how they supported the Jagans being jailed, might be a good start.

Yours faithfully, Anna Correia