Statement by the Rodney family with respect to the Oliver Tambo Award

On 21 April 2013, the Rodney Family wrote to President Jacob Zuma, President of the Republic of South Africa, requesting that the South African Government withdraw or rescind The Order of the Companions of O.R. Tambo (Oliver Tambo Award) to Linden Forbes Burnham, a late President of Guyana.

In its letter, the family noted that it is critical to examine the historical basis for this national award. In 1998, the South African Presidential Advisory Council on National Orders revised its orders to reflect the spirit of a non-racial, non-sexist democracy where a culture of human rights prevails. As such, the conduct and character of Forbes Burnham juxtaposes the reasons the award was established. The family’s letter stated that it was the people of Guyana who made personal sacrifices to contribute to and stand in solidarity with the South African people in their struggle against apartheid.

A timely and critical article by Dr. Horace Campbell galvanized widespread support.

Global petitions and grassroots action initiated in South Africa, Tanzania, the United States, Germany, Jamaica, Trinidad, the United Kingdom and Canada, to name a few, also called for cancellation.

Consequently, President Zuma and the South African government deferred the award indefinitely. On 30 April 2013, the Rodney family expressed its gratitude for the immediate intervention. The family is steadfast in its opposition to the Oliver Tambo Award being given posthumously to Forbes Burnham at any future date.

The Rodney family would like to thank everyone who expressed their commitment to human rights and social justice by opposing the award. The solidarity and continuing efforts to uphold the legacy of Walter Rodney are greatly appreciated.

Please circulate widely
Patricia Rodney, PhD, MPH
Chair, Walter Rodney Foundation
http://www.walterrodneyfoundation.org

South Africa’s Burnham Faux Pas: Jeffrey R. Thomas Letter to President Zuma (jacobsfotos.wordpress.com)
Time for Burnhamites to defend the former president’s legacy (kaieteurnewsonline.com)
The O.R.Tambo Award and Forbes Burnham (bajan.wordpress.com)

One response to “Statement by the Rodney family with respect to the Oliver Tambo Award”

Jocelyn Dow goes to copenhagen in search of walter rodney killers | mark jacobs lives!

2014.08.29

[…] back in may the rodney family and accolytes dusted off their muskets and launched a successful campaign to deny the family of forbes burnham picking up the oliver tambo award from the south african govt. it went a likkle sumting like dis there’s a jamaican hintellect whose name slips me now, but dis guy and the rodney brigade appealed to president jacob zuma to rescind the award to forbes burnham. why? “it was the people of Guyana who made personal sacrifices to contribute to and stand in solidarity with the South African people in their struggle against apartheid” as a consequence burnham not being people or Guyanese is not qualified to receive such an award and it was signed Patricia Rodney PhD, MPH. […]

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