BB-32-h
[Editor’s note: The numerous typographical errors in these meeting notes have been corrected.]
Deborah Touchette
May 21, 1978
David, Prime Minister’s guard
Fitz, Prime Minister’s guard
w/ Deborah Touchette
– They both came to our open house and had not been invited, although we did invite the PM and his wife through calling his residence.
– I told him, David, that we were surprised to see him.
– Later in the evening he approached me and said he didn’t understand why I had said he wanted information from me, when we had argued the last time he came over. He asked me if I hung up on him the last time I called (When he called me and asked if I wanted the gift he had brought? I had asked if it was for Cde. Jones, for Peoples Temple generally or for me? He said for me and did I want it? I didn’t say anything and he hung up the phone. I was obviously irritated) He told me he had brought me a gift from the USSR and wanted to know what had gone wrong between us? I told him I didn’t appreciate his approach to friendship, and that I would have to hand it to him, because he was one the most persistent people I had ever met, but I felt he was being phony in his approach.
– I told him that I realized anyone in his position was an information gatherer and that was understood.
– He started to protest me calling him an information gatherer and I told him we shouldn’t play games and don’t try to deny that because in his position we could see how that would be necessary.
– He just smiled slightly
– But we have nothing to hide, but I was vindictive when we spoke last because of his approach in that I said I was married and every time he called he said “I love you, do you want to marry me etc.” I will be a friend as all members of the Peoples Temple, we have welcomed you into our home, but don’t come on to me, I don’t appreciate it.
– David said he would not talk that way when he called here again.
– He said he tried to appeal to me on a… I’m black, you’re black basis and he felt we should get along
– He said he traveled a lot and has always been curious about people and places, he said he and Fitz traveled with the PM to different countries
– Fitz asked me for Rhonda [Fortson]? He said he felt Rhonda and him liked each other equally, but Rhonda was hesitant in that she felt commitments to the Peoples Temple.
– I told him of course she felt commitments to the PT, but that wouldn’t stop her from having a relationship that she wanted one, but that her husband [Hue Fortson] had come into the country and they loved each other very much, at least when they greeted each other, I would have to say that they appear to love each other a lot.
I told him we realize there are cultural differences, but in the US normally if you say you’re married, men will say all right and move on, but in Guyana they say so what! And we don’t know how to deal with that.
– Fitz said he appreciated me explaining cultural differences, but what was wrong with being married and loving or caring for someone else?
– I told him that I was not judgmental of that type of relationship, but what often happens unless there is an agreement between the two and equal agreement, one is going out and having a good time, while the other is staying home taking care of the house and children etc. and it doesn’t work out fair, but if people make a mutual agreement, I wasn’t judgmental, but I just happen to love my husband very much for example and didn’t want to go out with anyone.
—–
BB-32-h-1
– Rhonda was in the airport at the time.
– David seemed more relaxed and less hostile this time I spoke to him, previously, he was very hostile, while pretending to come on to me, strange combination? Probably he was told that I had reported him for wanting to go to the US and was trying to follow instructions to make it up, but with time, the daggers of hate are somewhat less centered around me, hopefully I will see less and less of him.
– I ask Fitz if he thought the Guyana would not receive loans or funds as result of their trip to the different countries?
– He said yes, he thought they would.
– I told him maybe he could tell us in time of his experiences.
– He said okay sometime, but he had to run.
– They stayed a couple of hours and left.