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In a statement, the WPA said, “We want to put on the national agenda the renaming of our national university to the Walter Rodney University of Guyana. While some small and mostly opportunistic steps have been taken to recognise his contributions, his name is not affixed to a prominent national institution.”
The WPA argues that renaming the university after Dr. Rodney is a fitting tribute to a scholar and educator who played a significant role in connecting Guyana to the broader world of education as a means of liberation.
Dr. Rodney was killed in a bomb blast concealed in a walkie-talkie while seated in his Mazda Capella car (license plate number PBB 2349) on June 13, 1980, outside the Georgetown Prison on John Street. Evidence later revealed that his brother, Donald, had collected the walkie-talkie from then-Guyana Defence Force (GDF) electronics expert, Sergeant 4141 Gregory Smith. Days later, Smith fled to French Guiana, where he lived under the assumed name Cyril Johnson until his death from cancer in 2002.
At the time of Dr. Rodney’s assassination, Guyana was experiencing a civil rebellion against the dictatorship of the People’s National Congress (PNC) led by Forbes Burnham, to achieve change “by any means necessary.”
The WPA and the PNC-Reform have since formed coalitions in 2011, 2015, and 2025, despite the history of this assassination.
The WPA stated, “Although four and a half decades have passed since that tragic event, the wounds are still fresh for those who experienced that time, especially for Rodney’s family and close associates. His assassination forced Guyana and the Caribbean to confront the contradictions of post-plantation societies. Walter Rodney was a victim of the political decay that accompanied the struggles of post-colonial nation-building.”
Dr. Rodney, a world-renowned historian, was previously barred from taking a teaching position at the University of Guyana, which was established by the Cheddi Jagan administration in 1963, during the PNC’s time in power from 1964 to 1992.
As Guyana approaches its general and regional elections scheduled for September 1, 2025, the WPA expressed its commitment to the “Rodneyite vision of National Unity and Reconstruction,” which is often referred to as coalition politics today.
The party added, “Our steadfast advocacy for a grand coalition to contest the upcoming elections is not merely an electoral strategy; it is deeply rooted in our historical push for national unity. The WPA will prominently wave the banner of Walter Rodney for People’s Power and against dictatorship in the imminent campaign.”
The WPA remembers Rodney as a “fighter, visionary, and advocate for people’s power.” They believe that although Guyana and the world have changed since 1980, his revolutionary ideas and example remain relevant to our shared future. As the country continues to grapple with the challenges of its post-colonial status, Rodney serves as a constant reminder of both the potential pitfalls and the possibilities for transformation.
The WPA reaffirms its commitment to the “Rodneyite vision of a free and independent Guyana grounded in racial and class equality and equity.” Dr. Rodney confronted issues of class and race, not through denial, but through active engagement both intellectually and as an activist. He sought a multiracial approach without negating his own racial identity.
The WPA believes that Dr. Rodney worked towards the empowerment of the working class while acknowledging the significance of racial identity. “WPA remains committed to this approach as we navigate the intricate landscape of the post-plantation petrostate.”