ON THE morning of Friday July 17, 1964, the Premier of British Guiana, Dr. Cheddi Jagan and the leaders of the two main opposition parties, Mr. L.F.S Burnham and Mr. Peter D’Aguiar, were locked in a peace bid conference at the Premier’s office when a highly lethal bomb exploded at PPP headquarters, Freedom House.

From the daily newspapers of the day, the Guyana Graphic and the Chronicle we have been able to reconstruct the incident. The explosion which rocked the heart of Georgetown occurred at about 10:45 a.m. The force of the explosion dismembered Michael Forde, sent an old house crashing to the ground and smashed glass windows at the nearby Metropole Cinema. The eastern portion of Freedom House and furniture in the building were also damaged. The windscreens of cars parked in the area were also shattered.

Michael Forde was a 22-year-old Progressive Youth Organisation (PYO) activist and was one of the leaders of the historic Freedom Marches in February of 1964.

The death of Michael Forde in the explosion was the second in the Forde family that week. His father had died on the previous Sunday. His elder brother, Kenneth, who was at the scene of the explosion, declared, “I told him about this party life”. He then burst into tears and was taken away from where his brother’s body lay by a policeman.

It was reported to the police that a young man went into the Progressive Bookshop, housed in the Freedom House building with a small carton. He placed the box on a bookshelf, purchased a book and without waiting for his change, hurriedly left the shop leaving his box behind. Seconds after the man had left, Michael Forde, an employee, called out to the manager, Miss Euna Mulzack, an American citizen residing in the country, and informed her that the young man left hurriedly without collecting his change and also left a box behind.

Becoming suspicious, she told him to throw the box out of the building. Forde responded and was rushing through the eastern side door of the shop when there was an explosion. The lower part of Forde’s left hand was hurled some 50 yards away back of the pit entrance of the Metropole Cinema. His mutilated body was found face upward lying across the entrance of Freedom House with just strips of clothing dangling around his waist.

At the time of the explosion there were around 40 persons in Freedom House, some of whom were injured. Among the wounded were Mrs. Mary Nunes, wife of Minister of Education Mr. Cedric Nunes, Mrs. Patricia Christian, Miss Euna Mulzack, with a damaged eye and Miss Bispat with a suspected fractured spine. The Premier’s wife, Mrs. Janet Jagan, General Secretary of the PPP, escaped with slight injuries to her hands.

Mrs. Jagan, who was in the office speaking on the telephone when the explosion occurred, said, “Everything happened so quickly. I ran out of my office to find people weeping and bleeding. I decided to rush them to the hospital while I asked a party comrade to summon the police. On my way out I passed the body of a young man laying across the entrance.”

Mrs. Jagan paused then continued: “I later learnt that it was our devoted and reliable comrade Michael Forde….He was a hero. There were about 36 people in the building at the time, about 21 of them on the third floor. All of us could have died had he not the courage to rush out with the box.”

In a statement the following day, Mrs. Jagan said: “A grim and determined effort by some elements in the opposition had been made to destroy FH head quarters of the PPP. Since 1962, Freedom House has been the target of those opposed to the PPP and three efforts were made that year to destroy that building. It is believed that the perpetrators of the bombing were seeking not only to destroy the symbol of the PPP and thus prevent its functioning, but to destroy the lives of the leaders and activists of the PPP who work at Freedom House.

“It is now known that a man came to the Progressive Book store on the lower flat of Freedom House, purchased a book, did not wait for the change and left a parcel on a chair. Due to the quick thinking and brave action of the employees, Michael Forde and of the manager, the parcel was taken out of the shop; Michael Forde was killed when the time bomb exploded.

“It was due to his quick and brave action that the lives of some 40 persons were saved. It was also due to the clear directions of the Manager that two men, who were coming out of Freedom House, were saved from certain death. Unfortunately, they suffered serious injuries.

“The PPP wishes to place on record its appreciation of a gallant and devoted member who gave his life to save others. Michael Forde was a trustworthy and respected member who had for long devoted his services to the members of the party and particularly by the youths who held him in high esteem.

“It is significant that the bombings at Freedom House and Gimpex, which were carefully timed, took place at the same time that the leaders of the three parties were meeting at the Premier’s office. We believe that the intention was to prevent any action which might lead to a solution of the present crisis.

“The work of the PPP goes uninterrupted, despite the dastardly efforts to curtail its activities. Volunteers immediately offered help to clear the debris and rebuild the destroyed parts of the building.

“In the spirit of the PPP, our work goes on as usual. Neither dynamite bombs nor death will deter the party from its goal of seeking a peaceful solution to the problems of Guyana.”

In the eulogy comrades paid tribute to and remembered a friend and brother.

Michael Forde lay in the debris where he died; his hands blown off and his face an ashen mask of horror, and is today hero. Forde’s act of disposing of the death-dealing device saved the lives of dozens of persons who were in Freedom House. Michael Forde lived in peace and Michael Forde died in violence sacrificing his life for the cause of life.

Michael Forde was one of the most gentle among our comrades of the PYO, almost reclusive, but nevertheless ready to assist whenever his services were needed. His short and disciplined life was modeled on the belief that patience is indeed virtue and man lives by the rules of honour and decency.

When Michael Forde walked in that historic freedom march from Springlands to the Rifle Ranges on Thomas Lands, his desire then was to show the people of his country and world that there is dignity in being human and Guianese.

Michael Forde lived a clean honest and good life. And therefore his death must not be forgotten. He must be remembered as he lived and died thinking of others and himself.
Today, Michael Forde is dead, but his image is still with us. We must preserve this image in trying to emulate his way of life, not only in the PYO of which he was an active and militant member, but for all the youth of Guyana who strive for the betterment of their country and the ultimate eradication of the forces of evil who have claimed his life.
We must remember Michael Forde, comrade, friend and brother man. Michael Forde’s father died three days before him. Say farewell brother comrades. Let the earth rest lightly on you.

Michael Forde, a former national council member of the PYO, was buried on Guiana’s national day of mourning and reconciliation. The last rites of Michael Forde were performed in an atmosphere of respect, although among the hundreds of curious spectators there were a number of antagonists, who booed and handclapped in an obvious attempt to stir up opposition and provoke disorder and disrespect for the dead. It was also noted that as hundreds looked on reverently, some opposition hooligans shouted vile abuse. That was as far as they dared to act.

In recalling this incident, Cde Janet was to describe the jeers of the opposition as one of the most disturbing moments of her political career.

All of the ministers of the government were at the funeral parlour and the graveside and wreaths were sent by the PPP, the WPO and the PYO. The cortege moved down Lamaha Street with members of the PYO marching behind the casket draped in the black, red, gold and white flag of the PYO. It turned into Carmichael Street, headed by a police patrol wagon and was conducted into Robb Street with patrol cars and mounted trooper accompanying the cortege.  The cortege stopped outside of FH for a minute of silence as the PYO marchers sang the “Freedom song” and “O Fighting Men”.

The police investigation into the death of Michael Forde resulted in charges being laid against Emanuel Fairbairn. On August 10, 1964 Emanuel Fairbairn aka Batson gave the following signed statement to the police. “On Friday the 17th July, 1964 at 10:30 a.m., I received a parcel bomb from one Clive Wilson of East La Penitence Housing Scheme at Congress Place, Camp St. Georgetown. He told me to carry it to Freedom House at Robb St., Georgetown. One George Roberts was with me when Clive Wilson gave me the bomb. This George Roberts belongs to Ann’s Grove, carried the parcel bomb on a bicycle and went into the book shop at Freedom, Robb St., met some people in the book shop and I took down some books and looked at them. I had the parcel bomb with me and I put it on the counter in the book shop. I bought a book for 5¢ and paid a woman there with $1 note. I went away with the book and my change I rode away to Camp St., and when I was opposite Congress Place the bomb go off”.

Mr. L.F.S Burnham and Mr. Hoyte among other prominent lawyers represented the accused from August 1964 until December 1964 when the People’s National Congress obtained 22 of the 53 seats in the new House of Assembly and formed a collation with the United Force. Mr. LFS Burnham became the head of the new Government as Premier.

The PPP will never forget the sacrifice of Michael Forde and to this day the bookshop carries his name in honour of a fallen comrade.