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Remembering the Ballot Box Martyrs…

 

Let us be united and inspired

 

TOMORROW, 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. 

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Neil Kumar

On that fatal day July 16, 1973, forty-one years ago, Bholanauth Permanand and Jagan Ramessar were shot and killed by a Guyana Defence Force Officer. Guyanese were fully aware of the People’s National Congress’ wicked approach to National Elections, specifically, their heinous intentions to rig the elections. 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 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 Guyana Defence Force under Captain Johnson.
Captain Johnson had his headquarters in the Compound of the Central Police Station in New Amsterdam. Captain Johnson’s men were further broken up into smaller groups and a platoon under the command of Lieutenant Henry was sent to the Upper Corentyne on the 7th June, 1973. The section consisted of two Sergeants, three Corporals, five Lance Corporals and nine Privates, that is twenty men in all, including Lieutenant Henry. The platoon pitched camp at No. 51 Backdam and remained there until the 19th June, 1973. From there they went to Plantation Skeldon, remaining there until the 27th June, 1973 when they moved on to No. 63 and bivouacked on the beach. On the 14th June, 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 17-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’

Yours truly worked on that polling day in Pouderoyen, and as we were coming out at 5:30 a.m. I recalled seeing GDF soldiers crawling on the roadside with their guns.
A physical manifestation of the PNC’s heinous intention to terrorize the population was unleashed in the form of thugs, police and the Army.
It is not by chance that Private London of the Guyana Defence Force was later known to Guyanese as “Blackie”! He was one of the masterminds among the criminal gangs that terrorized 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.


The 16th of July 1973, with Corporal Collins, Privates Mc Kenzie, Layne and London (Blackie) of the Guyana Defence Force 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 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 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, forty-one 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 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 is still alive and he is a genuine activist with the PPP.
During the campaign before July 16th it was clear that the People’s Progressive Party 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 terrorize the 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.
As we celebrate and recognize that our two comrades made the supreme sacrifice in the fight for free and fair elections, Mr. Motie said that he is disappointed and worried to see some people who were on our side only recently are today sitting in the Parliament with some of those who were in the Army and are fully aware of how brutal the PNC was towards the Guyanese people.


As we are preparing to celebrate the heroic memories of Martyrs Ramessar and Bholanauth, let us call on all Berbicians and Guyanese to struggle to stop all forms of rigging of elections in 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 the memories of Bholanauth Parmanand and Jagan Ramessar live on in us and let their sacrifice inspire us to rally with Comrade Cheddi Jagan’s People’s Progressive Party.
As we prepare for General and Regional Elections let us walk the walk, house-to-house and see that every voter’s name is on the voters list. Let us live and work for a better Guyana! Long live Bholanauth and Ramessar!

(By Neil Kumar)

We shall never forget.   May their souls rest in peace!

Replies sorted oldest to newest

Such is the legacy of the current president of Guyana!! This [seemingly benign] grandfather was part and parcel of the murderous PNC regime and to date has never taken ownership, instead prefers to talk of Sun Chapman!!

People who suffered at the hand of this racist regime should not sell themselves for a few trinkets and glass beads!

Some of these people belong in Den Haag!!

FM

RIP.

I will never forget this incident.

The GDF truck stopped in front of our home, The soldiers were kicking Jagan Ramessar and he was shouting "water, water" as they brutally kicked him while he groaned in pain. 

No one can even imagine what this young man endure until his final moment.

The truck then continued towards Skeldon.

I just cannot get this out of my memory, I just cannot. It was July 1973 as all of our relatives huddled in fear at the sight of the GDF truck with soldiers armed to the teeth and the ballot boxes clearly visible in the back of the truck.

I just cannot get this image out of my mind.

RIP.

FM
Last edited by Former Member
ba$eman posted:

Such is the legacy of the current president of Guyana!! This [seemingly benign] grandfather was part and parcel of the murderous PNC regime and to date has never taken ownership, instead prefers to talk of Sun Chapman!!

People who suffered at the hand of this racist regime should not sell themselves for a few trinkets and glass beads!

Some of these people belong in Den Haag!!

UNCLE TOM SOLD HIS SOUL FOR MUCH MUCH LESS!!!!!!!!!!

Nehru

1973 was perhaps the last time Guyanese truly expected free and fair general elections. As much as the elements were in place for free and fair general elections in 1992, I would wager that it still too many by surprise. From 1992 to 2015, Guyana had normal general elections. Time will tell if this trend continues or if we go back to the way of the old PNC.

FM
ksazma posted:
Chief posted:

Cheddi Jagan caused those kids to loose thier lives.

 

Chief, why do you say he caused them to lose their lives?

Dont listen to an ass kisser and Blood sucker!!!!!!!

Nehru
Nehru posted:
ksazma posted:
Chief posted:

Cheddi Jagan caused those kids to loose thier lives.

 

Chief, why do you say he caused them to lose their lives?

Dont listen to an ass kisser and Blood sucker!!!!!!!

Bai, Chief may have a different political viewpoint but I do respect him very much. Plus he has Knicks season tickets.

FM
Nehru posted:
ksazma posted:
Chief posted:

Cheddi Jagan caused those kids to loose thier lives.

 

Chief, why do you say he caused them to lose their lives?

Dont listen to an ass kisser and Blood sucker!!!!!!!

He is a low life fullah prick!!

FM
ksazma posted:

1973 was perhaps the last time Guyanese truly expected free and fair general elections. As much as the elements were in place for free and fair general elections in 1992, I would wager that it still too many by surprise. From 1992 to 2015, Guyana had normal general elections. Time will tell if this trend continues or if we go back to the way of the old PNC.

Under proper voting procedures and regulations, PPP/C will always win at the polls.

FM
Demerara_Guy posted:
ksazma posted:

1973 was perhaps the last time Guyanese truly expected free and fair general elections. As much as the elements were in place for free and fair general elections in 1992, I would wager that it still too many by surprise. From 1992 to 2015, Guyana had normal general elections. Time will tell if this trend continues or if we go back to the way of the old PNC.

Under proper voting procedures and regulations, PPP/C will always win at the polls.

Dr. Jagan said it many times and history proved him right.

FM

There is a problem with this thinking. Just like us Indians the Africans had a very long struggle to gain their political rights. Why would they agreed to one of us ruling them. We need to stop this foolish attempt to rule Africans. It is destroying our people. We have to concentrate on ruling ourselves.

Prashad

Let's not bash Chief. Here is an important fact: During the 1973 election campaign, Dr Cheddi Jagan told his supporters at PPP public meetings that they must "secure the ballot boxes bodily" on July 16. They must ensure that the ballot boxes were counted right there on the spot at the polling stations.

Dr Jagan knew full well that he was encouraging his supporters to engage in an unlawful act. The Representation of the People Act and the Guyana Elections Commission regulations ruled out the counting of ballots at polling places. Through police information from PPP meetings, Forbes Burnham got feedback on what Dr Jagan had urged his supporters to do. As a lawyer and politician with power, Burnham used state[army-police] resources to take the ballot boxes to central counting places in accordance with the laws his government had passed in parliament. And he decided to use force to thwart anyone who held on to the ballot boxes at polling stations, or anyone who attempted to block the transfer of those boxes.

Having regard to the above, Chief has a point though I would have worded it differently. By advising his supporters to flout the electoral laws of the time, Dr Jagan bore some moral responsibility for the disastrous consequences.

FM
alena06 posted:
Chief posted:

Cheddi Jagan caused those kids to loose thier lives.

iN LESS THAN 6 MONTHS HE WENT AND KISS bURNHAM.

Wow, you are an Einstein to figure this out...ignorant jackass!!

Hope after reading Gilly's post you find that chief isn't the ignoramus.

cain
yuji22 posted:

RIP.

I will never forget this incident.

The GDF truck stopped in front of our home, The soldiers were kicking Jagan Ramessar and he was shouting "water, water" as they brutally kicked him while he groaned in pain. 

No one can even imagine what this young man endure until his final moment.

The truck then continued towards Skeldon.

I just cannot get this out of my memory, I just cannot. It was July 1973 as all of our relatives huddled in fear at the sight of the GDF truck with soldiers armed to the teeth and the ballot boxes clearly visible in the back of the truck.

I just cannot get this image out of my mind.

RIP.

This young man died because of racial hate. There is no other way of looking at this issue.

Prashad
cain posted:
alena06 posted:
Chief posted:

Cheddi Jagan caused those kids to loose thier lives.

iN LESS THAN 6 MONTHS HE WENT AND KISS bURNHAM.

Wow, you are an Einstein to figure this out...ignorant jackass!!

Hope after reading Gilly's post you find that chief isn't the ignoramus.

Chief has completely lost his marbles.  I was witness to the mayhem that day at a very young age.

AJ

When someone tried to rewrite History for his/her personal gains, they are not only dangerous but points to a very flawed, corrupt, insensitive, immoral, ignorant and ruthless character!!!!!!!!!!!

Nehru
ksazma posted:
Chief posted:

Cheddi Jagan caused those kids to loose thier lives.

 

Chief, why do you say he caused them to lose their lives?

Chief blames the PPP for all the ill actions of the PNC which he supported.

FM
skeldon_man posted:
ksazma posted:
Chief posted:

Cheddi Jagan caused those kids to loose thier lives.

 

Chief, why do you say he caused them to lose their lives?

Chief blames the PPP for all the ill actions of the PNC which he supported.

Like Uncle Tom, the almighty dollar is what is important!!!!!!!!!

Nehru
ksazma posted:
Chief posted:

Cheddi Jagan caused those kids to loose thier lives.

 

Chief, why do you say he caused them to lose their lives?

Dr Jagan asked that folks must block the ballot boxes with their lives.

How can you block boxes with your lives and the GDF had machine guns?These two young boys like many other Indians,  grew up seeing their parents worshiping Jagan, so they follow his stupid instructions and  the rest is history.

 

Chief
ksazma posted:
Nehru posted:
ksazma posted:
Chief posted:

Cheddi Jagan caused those kids to loose thier lives.

 

Chief, why do you say he caused them to lose their lives?

Dont listen to an ass kisser and Blood sucker!!!!!!!

Bai, Chief may have a different political viewpoint but I do respect him very much. Plus he has Knicks season tickets.

My tickets will be in great demand this coming season.

My experience is no matter if we are losing the Garden is still full.

Chief
Demerara_Guy posted:
Chief posted:

Cheddi Jagan caused those kids to loose thier lives.

iN LESS THAN 6 MONTHS HE WENT AND KISS bURNHAM.

Usual ignorant, wild and senseless statements to deny reality.

Are you doubting that Cheddie did not instruct the kids wrogly.

Then to add salt to wound Cheddie turned around and kissed Burnham and made up.

 

Burnham out smarted Cheddie at every step of the way.

Chief
alena06 posted:
Chief posted:

Cheddi Jagan caused those kids to loose thier lives.

iN LESS THAN 6 MONTHS HE WENT AND KISS bURNHAM.

Wow, you are an Einstein to figure this out...ignorant jackass!!

Jagan is alive!

Were you one of them who shaved your head when he died?

Chief
Demerara_Guy posted:
ksazma posted:

1973 was perhaps the last time Guyanese truly expected free and fair general elections. As much as the elements were in place for free and fair general elections in 1992, I would wager that it still too many by surprise. From 1992 to 2015, Guyana had normal general elections. Time will tell if this trend continues or if we go back to the way of the old PNC.

Under proper voting procedures and regulations, PPP/C will always win at the polls.

The corrupt fools lost last year!

Chief
Gilbakka posted:

Let's not bash Chief. Here is an important fact: During the 1973 election campaign, Dr Cheddi Jagan told his supporters at PPP public meetings that they must "secure the ballot boxes bodily" on July 16. They must ensure that the ballot boxes were counted right there on the spot at the polling stations.

Dr Jagan knew full well that he was encouraging his supporters to engage in an unlawful act. The Representation of the People Act and the Guyana Elections Commission regulations ruled out the counting of ballots at polling places. Through police information from PPP meetings, Forbes Burnham got feedback on what Dr Jagan had urged his supporters to do. As a lawyer and politician with power, Burnham used state[army-police] resources to take the ballot boxes to central counting places in accordance with the laws his government had passed in parliament. And he decided to use force to thwart anyone who held on to the ballot boxes at polling stations, or anyone who attempted to block the transfer of those boxes.

Having regard to the above, Chief has a point though I would have worded it differently. By advising his supporters to flout the electoral laws of the time, Dr Jagan bore some moral responsibility for the disastrous consequences.

Oh my God!!!!!!

Thank you Gilly!

Chief

I have to agree with Chief. Mrs Jagan knew the election was going to be rigged. I heard it from her own mouth and how it was going to be rigged. If she knew then Dr. Jagan had to have known

 Why put East Indians lives at risk when you know you are going to be the opposition. East Indian lives matter.

Prashad
Last edited by Prashad
Abu Jihad posted:
cain posted:
alena06 posted:
Chief posted:

Cheddi Jagan caused those kids to loose thier lives.

iN LESS THAN 6 MONTHS HE WENT AND KISS bURNHAM.

Wow, you are an Einstein to figure this out...ignorant jackass!!

Hope after reading Gilly's post you find that chief isn't the ignoramus.

Chief has completely lost his marbles.  I was witness to the mayhem that day at a very young age.

The mayhem stemmed from PPP supporters blocking the polling stations on  the orders of Dr Jagan.

 

 

Chief
Nehru posted:

When someone tried to rewrite History for his/her personal gains, they are not only dangerous but points to a very flawed, corrupt, insensitive, immoral, ignorant and ruthless character!!!!!!!!!!!

hehehehe

The correct history:

 Burnham rigged the JULY 16TH 1973 elections 

Two months later Castro visited Guyana, he instructed Jagan to support Burnham.

One month after Jagan for got how many of his supporters were killed and beaten up and he declared critical support to the PNC.

Burnham and the PNC RIGGED EVERY ELECTION AFTER THAT.

Jagan and his wife was never touched by Burnham security forces.

In the meantime Burnham murdered Dr Rodney.

Doubt  the above  Nehru!

 

 

 

Chief
skeldon_man posted:
ksazma posted:
Chief posted:

Cheddi Jagan caused those kids to loose thier lives.

 

Chief, why do you say he caused them to lose their lives?

Chief blames the PPP for all the ill actions of the PNC which he supported.

Skelly I lay blame fair and square.

 

Chief

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