Home

The Programme of the Walter Rodney Commemorative Groundings, 2005

THE THEME: Another World is Necessary: Sharing, Applying and Extending Rodneyite Teachings

THE MISSION STATEMENT
(CLR James, "there is always something that can be done"):
To bring together women, men and youth from grassroots organizations and academia in Guyana, Latin America and the Caribbean, Africa and beyond who share Rodney's core principles to examine today's social, economic and political environment and to renew our commitment to the struggle for another world. Walter Rodney's main arenas of struggle and work were Guyana and the rest of the Caribbean, Europe and Africa. The core principles of the groundings are to re-examine and renew commitment to anti-imperialism, sovereignty and unity of the region; the multi-racial unity of the working people; the self-activity of the working people.

OUR OBJECTIVES:
1. To remember Walter and what he fought for, and to introduce him to new generations.
2. To promote and extend Rodneyite ideas, the method of enquiry that shaped them, and their application to the tactics and strategy of creating another world 3. To draw out the implications for current politics from the direction Rodney took over 25 years ago.
3. To draw out the implications for current politics from the direction Rodney took over 25 years ago.

THE FORMAT:
The groundings will be collective discussions and deliberations. Our intention is not to replicate the structure of an academic or other kind of conference with a few 'talking heads' or 'experts'. We come to this grounding with the commitment to exchange, share and learn from each other; as workers all of us whether waged or not, as experts all of us whether formally accredited or not. We need to set the example of another world by ensuring that our discussions are as open, involved, energetic and uplifting as possible, to reflect the creativities which have sustained us and which also are key to working for another world.

Each grounding will be widely advertised in Guyana and on our website. The topic will be introduced by one or two speakers; the discussion will be facilitated so as to ensure maximum participation, a focused and practical discussion, a sharing of information and experience.

PARTIAL LIST OF ATTENDEES:
Oscar Allen - St. Vincent, Andaiye - Guyana, David Abdulah - Trinidad and Tobago, Sara Abraham - India/Toronto, Moses Bhagwan - NYC, Humberto Brown - Panama/NYC, Dennis Brutus - South Africa/Pittsburgh, Horace Campbell - Syracuse, Bill Fletcher - DC, Cecilia Green - Dominica/Pittsburgh, David Hinds - Guyana/Arizona, David Johnson - Trinidad/NYC, George Lamming - Barbados, Josanne Leonard - Trinidad and Tobago, Rupert Lewis - Jamaica, Ali Mazrui - Kenya/Binghamton, Brian Meeks - Jamaica, Marcus Garvey Youth - Jamaica, Wazir Mohamed - Guyana/ Binghamton, Jai Parsam - Guyana/Toronto, Tiffany Patterson - Binghamton, Cecil Paul - Trinidad and Tobago, Glen Ramjag - Trinidad and Tobago, Alan Rickards - Jamaica, Bill Riviere - Dominica, Asha Rodney - Guyana/Atlanta, Patricia Rodney - Guyana/ Atlanta, Rupert Roopnaraine - Guyana, Malaika Scott - Guyana/UK, Raffique Shah - Trinidad and Tobago, Issa Shivji - Tanzania, Rickey Singh - Guyana/Barbados, Richard Small - Jamaica, Lincoln Van Sluytman - Jamaica/NYC, Tajudeen - Uganda, CY Thomas - Guyana, Red Thread - Guyana, Alissa Trotz - Guyana/Toronto, Tony Weis - US, Michael West - Binghamton, Halycon Westmaas - Guyana/Binghamton, Nigel Westmaas - Guyana/ Binghamton, Rodney Worrell - Barbados, Selma James - London, Kamala Kempadoo - Toronto

______________________________________________________________________

Groundings June 4-14

LINDEN: JUNE 2
10:00 a.m., Lichas Auditorium
Student Groundings
VISITORS: David Hinds

BERBICE: JUNE 4-7
June 4-11
8:00 - 4:00 p.m. Book and materials display at the Library

Invitation to schools in the Community - Lower Corentyne, Chandi, Comprehensive, Manchester Winifred Gaskin and open invitation to all schools in Region 6

Saturday 4th June 2005
Bar-B-Q and Concert - Campus Grounds

Monday June 6th
1:00 - 4:00 p.m.: Video: In the Sky's Wild Noise

Tuesday June 7
1:00 - 4:00 p.m.: Video: Terror and the Time

Wednesday JUNE 8

BERBICE
9:00 - 11:00 a.m. Sugar and the future of Berbice/Berbice and the future of sugar: PLENARY

Discussant: CY Thomas

1:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Collection of Community Groups, individuals and organizations for a free and open "grounding" about Walter and his vision for Guyana

VISITORS TO BERBICE: Kamala Kempadoo, Nalini Persram, Raffique Shah, Horace Campbell, Jai Parasram

ANNA REGINA
1:30-2:30 p.m.
Anna Regina Multilateral School, involving 3rd and 4th formers from that school and the secondary school: Student forum with 2 or 3 short presentations and a photo exhibition

4:00 p.m.
Groundings at Damon Square, with cultural presentations (African and Indian drumming being arranged up there) plus some short presentations

VISITORS TO ANNA REGINA: Wazir Mohamed, Lincoln Van Sluytman, Michael West, David Johnson, Cecilia Green, Gavin Myers, Arnold Gibbons

GEORGETOWN: RODNEY HOUSE
7:00 p.m.:
Race/ethnic relations in Guyana: Challenges and Solutions
Speakers: Ravi Dev, Tacuma Ogunseye
Moderator: David Hinds

THURSDAY JUNE 9
KABAKABURI
12:00 p.m.
Student grounding.

VISITORS TO KABAKABURI: Arnold Gibbons, Gavin Myers, Lincoln Van Sluytman, David Johnson, Wazir Mohamed

BERBICE
Sugar and the future of Berbice/Berbice and the future of sugar
9:00 -11:00 a.m.
Panel Discussion
Speakers: GUYSUCO, NAACIE and Raffique Shah
Discussion

Lunch: 11:30 - 12:30 p.m.

12: 30 - 2:30 p.m.
Panel Discussion
Speakers: Ramon Gaskin, GAWU and Ravi Dev

TURKEYEN: EDUCATION LECTURE THEATRE
9:00 - 10:30 a.m.: Rodney and New World: The Role of the Intellectual
Speakers: Rupert Lewis, Cecilia Green, Michael West, David De Caires
Moderator: Tota Mangar

BREAK: 10:30-11:00 a.m.

11:00-12:30 p.m.: Men and Violence in the Caribbean
Speakers: Linden Lewis, Kampta Karran, Vidya Kissoon
Moderator: Tiffany Patterson

GEORGETOWN: UMANA YANA
4:00 - 6:00 p.m.: Students' groundings: The life and scholarship of the young Walter Rodney. Opening remarks: Minister or UNESCO
Poem/music - Janus Young Writers Guild.
Remarks - Nadine Spence, Marcus Garvey Youth, Jamaica
Readings by students and youth of Rodney's work (Kofi Baadu, Lakshmi).
Speaker: Nigel Westmaas
Launch of essay competition.

Evening, 7:00 p.m.: GUYANA TEACHERS UNION
Rodney and Guyanese Politics: Lessons for the Present
Speaker: Rupert Roopnaraine
With responses from selected youth activists
Moderator: Alissa Trotz

LINDEN
5.30 p.m. - 7.30 p.m.: From Mackenzie to Omai: Coming full circle - CY Thomas, Carolyn Brown, Lester Facey

VISITORS TO LINDEN: Horace Campbell, Glen Ramjag, Rupert Lewis

FRIDAY JUNE 10
BERBICE
Book Display and Video: In the Sky's Wild Noise

GEORGETOWN
10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.: CROSSROADS WOMEN'S CENTRE
A Women's Speak Out, with women from flooded communities

GEORGETOWN OPENING CEREMONY: QUEEN'S COLLEGE AUDITORIUM
6:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Music, slideshow, live drumming
Vic Insanally: MC
Welcome, acknowledgements and salute to Rodney family - Horace Campbell (Chair)
Response: Patricia Rodney
Remarks:
Ali Mazrui
Andaiye
Dennis Brutus
Keynote - The Walter I Knew - Ralph Gonsalves

RECEPTION ON PREMISES.

SATURDAY JUNE 11
BERBICE
Book Display and Video: In the Sky's Wild Noise

WEST COAST DEMERARA
3:00 p.m. Gathering at Cornelia Ida for procession to Uitvlugt community centre for music, drumming, presentations on Walter

VISITORS: Alissa Trotz, Nalini Persram, Ali Mazrui, Rodney Worrell, Jean Bond, Aubrey Bonnett, Dawn Bonnett

GEORGETOWN: GUYANA TEACHERS UNION
New faces of an old oppression

9:00 -10:30 a.m.: Haiti: the coup, the occupation, and the fightback.
Speaker: Pierre La Boissiere
Moderator: David Commissiong

BREAK - 10:30 - 11:00am

11:00 - 12:30 p.m.: Racial and ethnic conflict in the world today: Thinking with Rodney
Speakers: Sara Abraham, Tajudeen, Andaiye
Moderator: Alissa Trotz

LUNCH: 12:30-2:00 P.M.

2:00 - 3:30 p.m.: Caribbean integration, the movement of people and global change
Speakers: Nelcia Robinson, Kamala Kempadoo, CY Thomas
Moderator: Locksley Edmondson

BREAK 3.30 pm-4.00pm

4:00 - 5:30 p.m: Small farming sectors and regional food security
Speakers: Gle.n Ramjag, Tony Weis, Seeraj, Oscar Allen
Moderator - Wazir Mohamed

8:00 -11:00 p.m.: Rhythm for Rodney: CASTELLANI HOUSE
Congo Nya, with presentations by Ras Cali and Horace Campbell on Rodney and Rasta; Cove and John Ashram Musical Group; Lorna and Kojo McPherson with spoken word and drums, readings from the work of Martin Carter - poet of the 1953 and 1979 rebellions; Keith Waithe, Arturo Tappin, and Nrityageet dancers and others to be confirmed

SUNDAY JUNE 12
GEORGETOWN: GUYANA TEACHERS UNION
Rising Movements: The self-activity of the working people:

9:00 - 11:00a.m. - Struggles across the Americas
Speakers: Humberto Brown, Norma Jackson, Andaiye
Moderator - Jerome Branche

BREAK 11:00 - 11.30a.m.

11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. - Struggles in Africa
Speakers: Tajudeen, David Johnson, Ali Mazrui
Moderator: Rodney Worrell

LUNCH 1:00 - 2:00 p.m.

2:00 - 3:30 p.m. Artists in the struggle for another world.
Speakers: Micere Mugo, Jerome Branche, Kampta Karran, Ruel Johnson
Moderator - Al Creighton

BREAK 3:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

7:00 -10:00 p.m. RODNEY HOUSE
Re-opening of Rodney House with the launch of Eusi Kwayana's book, The Morning After; panel discussion on the politics of Eusi Kwayana; dedication of reading room to Brian Rodway and other rooms to Ohene Koama and Edward Dublin
Speakers: Rupert Roopnaraine, Horace Campbell and David Hinds.
Moderator: Sase Omo

David Hinds book launch: Race and Political Discourse in Guyana: A Conversation with African Guyanese in the Presence and Hearing of Indian Guyanese
Responses by David Granger, Alissa Trotz and Chris Ram

EAST COAST DEMERARA
1:00 - 6:00 p.m.: - PARADISE PRIMARY SCHOOL
Groundings.

VISITORS: Tajudeen, Wazir Mohamed

MONDAY JUNE 13
7:00 a.m.: Graveside ceremony - family, friends, sisters and brothers, music
Brief remarks: George Lamming

9:30 am -12:00 p.m.: - GUYANA TEACHERS UNION
WAYS FORWARD
Selma James and Horace Campbell
Moderator: Tajudeen

1:00 - 2:30 p.m.: - GUYANA NATIONAL LIBRARY
Opening of Guyana United Artists art exhibition and exhibition of photos and other material on Walter Rodney (Guyana National Library)

4:00 -5.30p.m. - Interfaith service at Ursuline Chapel
Officiating: Malcolm Rodrigues
Main speaker: Richard Small

Readings/tributes by Kanini Rodney, Malaika Scott, Jai Parasram and others

Procession and laying down of marker at site of assassination.