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Thursday, March 31, 2005

Today's Stabroek News runs the conclusion of Cecilia McAlmont's two-part profile of Valerie Hart, a key figure in the 1969 Rupununi Uprising (read part one here). As "President of the Essequibo Free State", Hart was both the public face of the rebellion & the rebels' envoy to the Venezuelan government. She's supposed to be still alive, living in exile in Brazil. Surely some intrepid researcher should try to track her down & interview her thoroughly, as one of the first steps towards writing a comprehensive history of this crucial but murky event in Guyanese history?

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Nicholas: 8-13-06
I hope this isn't too late to get
a reply from you on Valeria Hart.
First, I would like to contact
Cecilia McAlmont. Her article on
Valeria was very reveling. I have
been told that Lawrence Hart is still alive and lives in Brazil.
He is one of Basil (Ben) Hart's sons. The whole story of the Hart's and their ranching in Guyana
is the stuff that movies are made of. After reading other news reports about what happened in Guyana in the years between 1960 and 1969, I understand why the cattle ranchers felt like they did.
Would you and could you pass this
on to Cecilia. News people have a
way of finding people like Valeria.
The political climate down there
was not too friendly to the foreign
land owners.
Thanks for any help.
C. A. Curtis