Startling revelations by Hamilton Green denies involvement in the deaths of Shirley Field-Ridley, Vincent Teekah
IF Forbes Burnham did not die unexpectedly on August 6, 1985 the People’s National Congress (PNC) and the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) would have merged or at least have a national front government in order to work in the interest of the Guyanese community.
This was one of the startling revelations made to me by former PNC strongman Hamilton Green, who served as Prime Minister, General Secretary of the PNC and held many ministerial positions. He is currently the Mayor of Georgetown.
Green, who celebrated his 80th birthday on Saturday November 8, is now in Texas for medical attention to his eyes.
Vincent Teekah
In an exclusive interview with me, Green said that he was the leader of a small group which included former Political Adviser to President, Burnham, Elvin Mc David, who worked on President Burnham for years to agree to a national front government, and he had eventually agreed just weeks before his demise, but unfortunately he passed before it became a reality. This, Green said, was the biggest setback of his lengthy political career.
The controversial politician also disclosed that both Burnham and Cheddi Jagan, the architects of British Guiana/Guyana politics, were not racial as some critics feel, but their ideologies were a bit different since Jagan was a more leftist and Burnham was a socialist and was a strong supporter of the Non- Aligned Movement. In support of his contention, Hammie said that when the PPP and PNC split in 1955 several prominent Indos went to Burnham including Dr. Latchmansingh,
Jai Narayan Singh and Neville Bissember while Afros like Sydney King (now Eusi Kwayana), Ashton Chase, Brindley Benn, “Cocoa” Wilson and many others remained with Jagan.
He also said that Janet Jagan “was the fly in the ointment” in the merger because she “shot down” many suggestions agreed to between Burnham and Jagan in the 1960s and 1970s.
Green said that Janet never trusted Forbes. She said he was too smart and wondered if he had supernatural power and one time questioned him (Green) if he (Burnham) carried “compelling” seed in his pocket.
In response to questions about the deaths of Vincent Teekah and his wife, Shirley Field-Ridley, the one time powerful politician said that there is absolutely no truth about the false allegations about his involvement. He said he was/is prepared to do a lie detector test in this regard. He put it this way to me… he said in those days if “a rat bit a cat” the critics
would say it was Hamilton Green – the man who was dubbed as the “axe” man in the Burnham administration. He said that the false allegations were part of the PPP propaganda smear campaign.
He said that he heard of Teekah’s death as well as Walter Rodney’s demise just like any other Guyanese. He said his wife Shirley suddenly became ill while at home with her mother. He said he was with Desmond Hoyte at the time and said that allegations of his involvement were wicked and politically motivated.
Shirley Field-Ridley
The former political stalwart, who was in politics for more than six decades in his interview touched on numerous controversial topics and the problems he encountered. He also raised several issues about the PPP/C administration.
It might be surprising to many that Green is a kind and generous person. He assisted Shivnarine Chanderpaul in his early days. A party supporter of his from the East Coast of Demerara told Hammie that there was a lad in the village who could bat all day and he should be encouraged.
Hammie brought the youth bat, pads, gloves, etc. The lad a few years later in the person of Shivnarine Chanderpaul played for Guyana under 19 and later made the national side and moved up to test cricket where he excelled, Hammie said that Shiv was/is always grateful to him and calls him on a regular basis.
He added that he has been following Chanderpaul’s performance and said that he is the only reliable and dependable batsman in the West Indies squad and was disappointed why he is not being selected for the ODIs.
It should be noted also that Hamilton Green as Mayor renamed New Garden Street the ‘Shivnarine Chanderpaul
Drive.’
(More on the Mayor’s interview in subsequent articles. There are quite a few important disclosures to come.)
