Summary prepared by Fielding M. McGehee III. If you use this material, please credit The Jonestown Institute. Thank you.
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FBI Catalogue Identified individuals speaking
FBI preliminary tape identification note: None
Date cues on tape: May 29, 1978 [Day and month specified]
People named:
Public figures/National and international names:
Mrs. Thomas (speaks)
Bunny Boyer [phonetic], local Guyanese man (speaks)
Gladys Boyer [phonetic], local Guyanese woman (speaks)
Trenton London [phonetic], teacher in Port Kaituma (speaks)
Rafael Lucas [phonetic], teacher in Port Kaituma (speaks)
Colin McAllister [phonetic], engineer with Guyana National Engineering Corporation (speaks)
David Patrick, Guyanese from Barima Bridge (speaks)
Bella Patrick, Guyanese from Barima Bridge (speaks)
Arlex [phonetic] Patrick, child from Barima Bridge
Hector Joseph, local Guyanese (speaks)
Jonestown residents:
Johnny Jones (speaks)
Laurence Schacht, Jonestown doctor
Richard Tropp (speaks)
Bible verses cited: None
Summary:
(This tape was transcribed by Jason Dikes. The editors gratefully acknowledge his invaluable assistance.)
Members of the Peoples Temple leadership – Dick Tropp, Sharon Amos, and Johnny Brown – ask a number of visitors who live and working in Guyanese villages near Jonestown, about their impressions of the American agricultural project in their midst. All laud the community’s facilities and remark favorably upon the progress Jonestown has made. One local government official said he initially had doubts that the community would survive, and recognizes there is work to be done, but says he is impressed.
A couple of men offer more candid opinions about Jonestown – “To me, the project that’s going on here now still has a long way to go, and they have problems,” one teacher observes – especially, as one of his friends notes, the muddy roads leading into the facility. Nevertheless, the third person in that group of interviewees offers the most enthusiastic endorsement on the tape, when he says, “As a matter of fact, I think I’m truly in the middle of true socialism.”
FBI Summary:
Date of transcription: 6/8/79
In connection with the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s investigation into the assassination of U.S. Congressman LEO J. RYAN at Port Kaituma, Guyana, South America, on November 18, 1978, a tape recording was obtained. This tape recording was located in Jonestown, Guyana, South America, and was turned over to U.S. Officials in Guyana and subsequently transported to the United States.
On May 26, 1979, Special Agent (name deleted) reviewed the tape numbered 1B69-28. This tape was found to contain the following:
Interviews of HERBIE THOMAS and Mrs. THOS, Ministry of Regional Development, Port Kaituma, SHARON AMOS, DICK TROPP, GLADYS and BUNNY BOYER, on their impressions of Jonestown.
A radio broadcast by DICK TROPP on impressions of Jonestown on May 29, (no year stated).
Differences with FBI Summary:
The summary is accurate and meets the FBI’s purposes.