Rodney was a stupid man - Groundings

The woman who had a book in her hand said that Rodney was a stupid man to believe that somebody would mek a bomb fuh he. She said she know that everything else was good. Another man said yes, there is jackass and educated jackass.

WPA is now in power with PNC and the date of Walter Rodney's death comes at the end of a week in which the Rodney Commission of Inquiry will be closed off, with the nation more amazed at the cost of the Commission than any of its findings.


Sherlina and I did the Groundings - remembering one year after the first one.

Time flies.

The banner is on the fence. The pavement is nice. Place hot and humid. I came with magazines and a few books.

First man has two pieces of wood, and a big black sack. Clothes also torn. He looks and looks away . I say come and take. He puts down the sack and the two pieces of wood and stoops down. He handles each book lovingly. Turns the books over, picks them up, puts them down. He spends the longest time before he picks up a magazine and two books and puts them in his sack. I say.. pass them on when you finish right? He nods yes.

We ask a woman what to do after elections . Love after elections. She says we have to pray and keep praying for Guyana.

A woman looks for a book for her grand child. We ask, what about you? Don't you read any more? She smiles.



Spread them out. Sean comes up. He recognises Lina. He says we need more things like this to engage people to read. He teaches steel band. He has a work as a security. He limes with us and gaffs and encourages people to come and collect the books.

He takes the Confessions of an Economic Hitman among other things.


The City Constables come up. They say no no. Things different now. They look surprised when we tell them what we are doing. They look at the books. I say, take one. They go to their supervisor and then come back. They are nice. I tell them, we don't want to make life hard for them.

Something is scary though . this "new." The pavement ouside parliament must be kept clear at all times. I have no problem with people sitting on pavements. Once there is no rubbish left.

Sherlina calls Hammie Greene. I am sorry we did not have Walter Rodney's picture on the fence. He comes around and probably tells the guard okay.  Atonement for Hammie?

Another man comes up. He is 'Hari Bol' he said. He reads all the Prabhupad books. He collects two books for his sisters who like to read.

I ask another man what he knows about Walter Rodney. He says just that he was from WPA. He picks up a novel.

Other people pass straight.   The city constables come back. Two police women pass and then come back and one picks up a book and leaves. They talk to each other but not to us.

Lina was determined to get people to read.  People ask if it is free. After one man picks up the book, she says. no, there is a price really. We have to talk for a few minutes.

A man laughs and talks for a bit.

I shout.. Read a poem and get a free book. Nobody bothers of course.

The books were gone in an hour.  The rain did not fall.