D-3-A-4a
Report on Prime Minister’s Reception, May 9, 1978
May 9, 1978
Deborah Touchette
Prime Ministers Reception
Timehri Airport:
a. Jim Jones Jr.
b. Terri Jones
c. Margaretta
d. Beverly Mitchell
e. Brenda Cobb
f. Debora Touchette
– A rep from YSM, a CADRE-person who is trained both in military & political knowledge, said he was interested in going to Jonestown along with a friend of his, their names are Cde. [illegible] Cde. Greaves. They are from the Kitty District Office [illegible] Cde. Mohammed’s home address is… 13 Sandy Babb St., Kitty [word may be missing] They said they had talked to Sharon some time ago, she was to call him back and he wanted to know when it would be convenient for us.
– Minister Green stopped me last night and asked how we were doing? I thanked him for his assistance with the doctor. He said we were welcome and we could get in touch with him at any time. He was very friendly.
– Later in the evening we ran into him again. He was talking to Mr. McClean, (Man in charge of National Service), I introduced Jim Jr., they both seemed impressed.
– McClean said we had rejected them (meaning himself and others in National Service) said we just didn’t come around anymore. I said we had not rejected them and he could come and visit our project or our home in Georgetown any time.
– He said he was going to Papaya within the next week or two and thought he would stop in and see Jonestown.
– Minister Green said he was going to go up sometime, but he didn’t commit himself to a time.
– Mr. Burnham, Jim and I welcomed her back on behalf of the Peoples Temple, she said Yes, she recognized us.
– Mr. Burnham, I shook his hand and welcomed him from the Peoples Temple. He said thank you. He seemed sick, he staggered a little and appeared slightly dazed.
– Dr. Reid, Jim greeted him and introduced himself and walked around the area with him for quite a while. He said Jim Jones, his father had spoken highly of him. Jim said Dr. Reid wasn’t unfriendly, but just shook his head in acknowledgement and approval and went
– Cde. Codette, came out of the VIP room with other ministers, I guess he’s back at work now. He stopped and greeted and asked how we were doing.
– Minister Mingo, I introduced Jim to him, he was friendly, but moved on quickly
– Minister Vincent Teekha [Teekah] greeted each of the people present, he was very friendly, he stopped us as we were walking about.
– Cde. Joe, Korean Embassy, I introduced him to Jim, Terri [Carter Jones] and all the people present, said he was glad to meet Jim. He wanted to know how long Terri had been in the country? I told him she was Lew’s wife and we would stop by the Embassy before she went into the interior. He said that was good.
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D-3-A-4b
– Ron Van Dyke, He was at Timehri, I introduced Terri and Jim to him along with all the rest of us, he was not friendly, very standoffish. I told him Sharon wanted to come in and visit him sometime this week, but she was going into the interior, that she needed to rest because she was an excitable person, and had pushed herself too much. He said making her rest would only make her get sicker because people like her could not slow down, like himself. I told him in a way she was like him, she pushed herself unnecessarily. We re-invited him to come to Jonestown.
– He said yes, but you know my situation, don’t you
– I said yes to move on, it was obvious he didn’t intend to get any friendlier, and he was standing right next to the task [Tass, Soviet news agency] correspondent
Task Correspondent… Introductions were made, I told him we were glad to run into him, we were trying to get ahold of him in ref. to the article.
– The article is already gone, he said, there’s nothing wrong is there?
– We said there were a couple of small things, but we didn’t have the details with us, we had to speak to Sharon first and could we call on him tomorrow? He said Tue. was a special holiday in the USSR and that he would not be working and that he would get in touch with the Embassy and call us on Wed.
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D-3-A-5
Prokes report on Temple delegation to Burnham, April 11, 1978
PR Report Those who went to see the P.M. off: Mike [Prokes], Both Debbies [Layton and Touchette], Karen [Layton], Shuanna, Isaac
From: M. Prokes
April 11, 1978
We were asked to go on a bus to Timehri Airport with other PNC members to see Burnham and entourage off. The bus was over capacity and the crowd was about 250-300 at the airport (350 at most)
– I introduced myself as JJ’s assistant to Hamilton Green and thanked him for assisting us. He said, “No problem. It’s a pleasure.” He was very friendly to us and when the plane had taken off and everyone was leaving he came back up to me and asked little Isaac, who I was holding, how he was doing.
– Debbie Touchette said hello to Vincent Teekah. He evidently recognized me, shook my hand and asked if it was me he heard on the radio that evening. I told him it was and thanked him, as he said it in a complimentary way.
Others with whom we exchanged greetings:
Mingo said hello to Karen Layton as she passed by him.
Karen also shook Viola Burnhams hand as she was headed toward the plane. This was good because I’m not sure the Prime Minister saw us amidst the crowd.
We were going to say hello to Reid when he left, but Debbie Blakey didn’t wait till he moved, instead she slipped past the security and greeted him and he responded, “Good, good, good…”
The Permanent Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Cde. Collins, was friendly to Karen as was Fitz who called earlier to talk with Rhonda [Fortson]. He may be in on the investigation of us.
Brigadier Price was friendly, particularly with Karen.
Karen spoke with Min. Jack’s son (Jack was leaving with the P.M.) and complimented him on his piano playing. He was cordial.
Karen talked with Martindale, head of the Peoples Militia.
I didn’t hear of anything negative that happened and I would say the main advantage of our going was that we made our presence and support known to a lot of key people.
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D-3-E-17c
List of tasks to do with Guyana government, March 1977
Work List With Follow-Up Reports
March 17, 1977
1. Rex McKay; (Senior Counsel) Lawyer
Tim Stoen, Paula, Mike & Deb met him March 11, 1977. He has a friend “Malcome Young”, who is a lawyer in Los Angeles that could be contacted through Claude Worrell. Rex said he was planning on coming to California the first of April. He said when he goes to the U.S. he’s always afraid he won’t return home alive.
Tim Inquiries: Qualifications to practice in Guyana,
- To practice anywhere in the Caribbean including Guyana, you must take a two year course which is available in Trinadad or Jamica.
- Rex said he would find some of his papers on the counsel for Tim.
- The course is offered at the “University of the West Indies” located in St. Augustine, Trinidad. Tim will write them about a correspondence course.
- You won’t have to be a solicitor before you become a barrister, they both take approx.. five years (5 yrs)
- Ail cases over five hundred dollars (500.00$ Guy) must have a solicitor. As a barrister you must show that it was dealt with by a solicitor, in court.
2. Eric Clarke (Clarke & Martin Firm) Rep. Peoples Temple
Paula, Deb, Tim & Mike met with him March 11, 1977. He is thinking about travelling on the West Coast. He will let us know before he leaves.
Permanent Residence processing;
a. Eric asked for a list of names and addresses before people leave the U.S. w/in reasonable time – seven to ten days (7-10 days). This should include passport information. He will try to expedite the process and get Home Affairs to have Immigration take care of Permanent Residence etc. at the airport upon arrival.
Tax Forms:
b. Presently the papers are lost on P.T. Tax Exemption. Eric Clarke’s Firm has submitted then to inland revenue and only last week inland approached them for three more copies of our corporate act because the others were lost.
Real Estate;
c. Negotiations have not begun between “Hoosain Juma” (owner of the property we are trying to buy) and ourselves. Eric said we should contact him and come to an agreement and let Hoosain and/or his lawyer draft the agreement and send it to Eric to read; and for us to sign. Not until this is done should there be any handling of monies. If we want immediate possession, a down payment of ten percent to thirty percent (10% to 30%) of the total price can be asked by Hoosain.
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D-3-E-17d
(2)
To familiarize you with the situation, Hoosain is asking for one hundred and twenty [thousand] Guy. Dollars (120,000$ Guy) and we are offering ninety thousand Guy. dollars (90,000$ Guy). Eric said not to mention the dock or the price will double. Tim Stoen to meet Ministers of Government:
d. Eric Clarke said he would help us meet “Winslow Carrington”, (Minister of Labour) he reconmends we hold off on Minister [Desmond] Hoyte, (Minister of [Development]) because we had an audience w/ him recently. Eric stated Hoyte said we are doing a wonderful job. Tim felt this should be relayed to you because of the misinformation we gave you the last time you were here. Tim suggested Hoyte didn’t like delegations, although he is positive. Perhaps this is why he was reluctant to meet with us in the past.
3. Dr. Reid (Deputy Prime Minister)
a. We are still in limbo as to if or when Tim’s appt. w/Dr. Reid will be. The secretary returned our call but only to find out when Tim was leaving. We told her possibly Wednesday, but it was depending on this call. Ministry of Agricultural called us today and said Dr. Reid’s appt. w/Tim had been delegated on to them, by Dr. Reid. So we are going to write it up and submit it tomorrow to Dr. Reid’s office..
4. Generally, Work Accomplished:
a. Paula and I attended W.R.S.M. (Women Revolutionary Socialist Movement) open meeting directed by Viola Burnham who is the president. March 9, 1977. It was attended by approx, four hundred (400) women and a few select men. Dr. Reid attended. We were acknowledged by his personal body guard with a smile and a nod. Dr. Reid was already seated with his back to us at the time. Speakers dealt w/such problems as child bearing and myths, orientating them to a new society w/new concepts. Spoke of Russia’s approach. Suggested women read and get involved politically. It was staged so the audience had points of view from different perspectives. A man his being the standard male approach to the duties a woman should perform in the home etc. as well as derogatory jokes about women’s Liberation, at which the majority of [illegible word] laughed heartedly. Steve Narine [Naraine] noted “As groups of individuals make decisions in the home rather than one or two (communal setting) a smoother transaction and quicker involvement on the part of women. The Cuban delegation spoke, told of progress in Cuba’s laws of equality, but stated inequality exist at times because of attitudes that don’t coordinate with the society. People were restless while the Cuban delegation spoke and showed little respect. The Cuban Rep. were very disgusted w/the meeting and the joviality over very degrading remarks by one of the speakers that Rep. the male sector.
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D-3-E-17e
(3)
5. Social Security: Tim, Mike & Deb checked into this:
If anyone already has social security they need only fill out a card showing a change in address and mail it into the [words crossed out: “American Embassy”]. No other limitations.
6. Profile Folders: Under Paula’s direction:
Patricia [Cartmell] & Liane [Harris] are bringing then up to date while they are in town.
7. Customs & Immigration: Medical Entertainment:
We’ve all kept very busy under these categories. The boat just arrived in Georgetown to go on drydock. Evidently it hit a rock while at low tide and scraped the bottom. Thus the people who just arrived will not be going to Jonestown until after the twenty-first (21st of March) this as a means of saving money. (The seniors will travel by plane, possibly on the sane date) They would have gone sooner, but all aircraft travelling to the interiors of Guyana have been out of commission for several days (under repair).
8. Minister Vibront [Vibert] Mingo (Minister of Hone Affairs)
Tim, Mike, Paula, & Deb met w/him March 16, 1977 Minister advises us:
a. One of the problems we face is not everyone excepts [accepts] our organization. He reminded us of “Hubert Williams” harassing us in our earlier stages. He states the following; “You are not totally accepted here. People have suspicion of American based organizations”. Even Ministers of Government have suspicion. “I am satisfied you are doing a good job”. Our system of [illegible word] is not quite the best. “I am concerned, not ne personally with your credibility, but there is some concern with our screening of members.” “What could cause fears or doubts is, unfortunately the other group of Americans, “Shalom”. He spoke with a special branch of the government (did not state who) and they felt Home Affairs should do special monitoring of people coming. He said he would do his best to expedite large groups coming (we explained forty-five to ninety (45-90) could arrive at one time, equalling eight hundred (800) approxx. We must submit names at least two weeks ahead of time w/background information on each person. (We explained our screening of persons conning in P.T. and the fact most people who come here to Guyana have been productive members for at least three yrs.)
b. Education; There is some complaint that we do not wish to intergrate into the Guyana school system. He asked us if we intended to provide our own schools, and if we had trained teachers? Paula explained that transportation was poor since we moved to Jonestown. But we intended to intergrate, but presently there is no secondary school in Kaituma.
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D-3-E-17f
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In fact our teachers are looking into getting credibility for their experience to work in the school system here. Paula said we did have a qualified school teacher here working w/the children temporally until the transportation could be rectified, and the secondary school opens.
c. There was also a complaint about our fishing trawler. It was reported once that some smuggling could have been done. There was some ideas there was gold. Paula explained, we didn’t know we were to check into Mabaruma (a place along the river where a custom agent is established). After we were told about it, we have followed rules and stopped each time. We have never seen gold around our area, although we’ve heard of its existence in the North West Region.
d. Minister Mingo states, “There are persons in some of the highest places that still find our presence unacceptable. When Tim asked how can we rectify this? He stated, “You should integrate in the community.” “Start a program to get people in to see what you are doing. Invite Official Heads of Departments”. He states, “Peoples Temple is a tremendous help to Guyana. This is one of the reasons Dr. Reid has suggested we come to Guyana. Minister Mingo states; they would be willing to expedite our immigration in Georgetown, but not in the interior. Also when the new boat comes to Guyana it must come through Georgetown Immigration. He also asked what relationship do we have with Ministry of Agriculture? Paula explained, none lately because we’ve been moved to a different Ministry, and Minister [Desmond] Hoyte, (Minister of [Development]) is now in charge of the North West Region.
Comments, Minister Mingo was very candid with us, but did not appear hostile towards us.