The government views the recent utterances made by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) over the removal of Dr. Walter Rodney’s name from the National Archives building as an attempt to drive a wedge between the Working People’s Alliance (WPA) and other members of the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU). This is according to the Director-General (DG) of the Ministry of the Presidency (MoTP), Joseph Harmon.
Harmon said that those writing about the issue and lambasting the government are the “culprits” since the name was changed by the PPP/C but was never gazetted.
“There is no change of name of the National Archives… I see three persons [who] are in my view, the principal culprits in this matter writing extensively on this matter. That is the former President [Bharrat Jagdeo]; Mister [Anil] Nandlall; and former Minister of Culture, Mister Frank Anthony. They’ve actually made the building – The Archives – giving it that name (Walter Rodney) recognizing [fully well] that these things have to be gazetted. So, it was never gazetted,” Harmon said.
The DG said that as a temporary measure, the sign was taken down, and will be replaced when the “lawful” thing is done, which he confirmed to be the gazetting of the name.
The former State Minister said that the PPP/C making a scene at this time is a strategy to create division in the APNU camp.
“…Calling for a Commission of Inquiry just weeks before the general elections was in our view, an attempt by the PPP to drive a wedge in the APNU between the rest of the parties in the APNU, and the Working People’s Alliance,” he noted.
Despite this “attempt”, Harmon said that the APNU is stronger than before.
“I want to say today that our partnership, in which the WPA is an active and valued member, is as strong as it was when it first started. We are engaging the Working People’s Alliance and we will address that matter,” said Harmon.
He went on to note that no disrespect was intended to the legacy of Dr. Rodney, whom the government reveres as a “legend.”
