[Editor’s note: Insofar as is possible, the letters and notes of Peoples Temple’s contacts with other government ministers have been arranged below in chronological order.]
B-1-D-1
Sharon Amos
Rudy Collins (Anita, Tim, J., Sharon) 14/6/78
– we brought him a gift of shaving lotion, he said he was quite surprised by the letter and the gift/ said he realized that he hadn’t exactly been one who had collaborated with us (said he knew Cde. [Foreign Minister Fred] Wills had worked with us)
– asked about the project
– We asked if he had any suggestions to offer for us/ he said that the one thing he has sone fear about is that we would be a sepaprate world to ourself/ wondered what our goal is/ is it to be integrated in Guyanese society or stay to ourself
– I told him that of course our goal was to come here to be integrated with Guyanese people, that we had to become self-sufficient so we could feed and take care of our people and not be dependent but we were inquiring already about our young people going to Guyanese colleges for their training and we intended to be integrated. Told him about the many Guyanese people who stayed with us in Georgetown and Jonestown and people who live permanently with us
– he said that it is a fear with a little “f” and yet he had sone concern about this but it was good if we were doing it/ but said we ought to publicize it more
– I told him that we had been advised by Shirley Field Ridley to take it slow on integrating into Guyanese life and so we try to not push ourselves on anyone but we do mention about our integrated life on the radio and to whomever we talk to
– he was a very hostile but smooth nan, covers his hostility with a thin veneer of politeness but it seems to seethe out in a sly way. Bothered me a lot and I felt angry at him but tried to be friendly
– we asked if he was going to have to learn Spanish first in Venezuela/ he said he had a theory that it is better to learn Spanish by just involving oneself in talking to people rather than to depend on a class and then not pay attention to regular conversation
– that’s about all that happened except that Wills’ old secretary Bridget was there working at the Foreign Affairs Annex where Collins was and I was a little worried that she would tell Wills that we came to talk to Rudy. She has talked to Wills on the phone a couple of times and writes him, he still is following up on his medical care. I told her that we had been expecting him back any day but wanted to write him. She said she could get a letter to him from us if we sent it in the diplomatic pouch.
– we bought him some shaving lotion, packed it and gave it to the foreign affairs ministry –where Bridget told us to go
– the reason he said that people would object to us being separate is that he said that “some Guyanese who are nationalistic try to say we are separate”
– I said the problem is that we often seem to spend all our tine counteracting; what people say and he agreed at first but said that we should do more to promote what we do/ we mentioned the cultural, show radio, band but agreed we would try to do more
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B-1-E
File folder for MINISTRY OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
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B-1-E-1 (1)
Matthews Ridge,
North West Region
21st July, 1977
Mr. Charles Touchette,
Jonestown, Port Kaituma,
North West Region.
Dear Sir,
I am informed that on Thursday 7th July, 1977 at 7.30 p.m. an aircraft landed at the Kaituma airstrip and was contacted by a vehicle from the People’s Temple Settlement.
Neither the Regional Administration nor the Matarkai Authority had any knowledge of the identity or business of the aircraft. However, I am informed by the Clark-in-Charge at Kaituma that on the morning of Friday 8th July, on enquiring , he had been informed by personnel of the People’s Temple that the aircraft was a Guyana Defence Force aircraft and it had been engaged on a mercy flight at the request of the People’s Temple, Kaituma.
I take this opportunity to let you know that it is considered irregular for such arrangements to be made by private parties without the courtesy of informing the Regional Administration or a responsible Officer of the Matarkai Authority.
I shall be grateful if in future the People’s Temple would observe the normal courtesies in such matters.
Yours sincerely,
/s/ W.D. Wyat
W.D. Wyatt
Regional Development Officer
Region #1
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B-1-E-1 (2)
Matthews Ridge North West Region
21st July, 1977.
Mr. Charles Touchette
Jonestown
Port Kaituma
North West Region.
Dear Sir,
It has been brought to the attention that the People’s Temple conduct a school at Jonestown.
I am not aware that authority has been given for a school to be conducted in that location. In the circumstances, I regret to inform you that permission cannot be granted for such activity, as it is considered that there are adequate school facilities in the Port Kaituma area for all ages of children from nursery to secondary levels.
Yours sincerely,
/s/ W.D. Wyatt
W.D. Wyatt
Regional Development Officer
Region #1
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D-1-F
File folder for MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE
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D-1-F-1 (3)
[Letterhead of Ministry of Agriculture]
13 August, 1977
Pastor Jones,
The Peoples’ Temple of the Disciple of Christ,
Kaituma River,
North West Region.
Comrade,
The Ministry of Health, Housing and Labour has drawn this Ministry’s attention to the fact that forty-three (43) persons attached to your organization recently entered Guyana without the necessary health certificate. The situation has been aggravated by the fact that the parties in question proceeded in haste to the North West Region without awaiting the result of their X-ray examination.
The production of a health certificate for persons wishing to take up permanent residence in Guyana is an absolute necessity and I have to advise that unless members of your organization are prepared to adhere to the Laws of Guyana, they would not be permitted entry.
Yours co-operatively,
/s/ C. Cumberbatch
C. Cumberbatch
for Permanent Secretary
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D-1-F-1 (1)
Chief Agricultural Officer
P.O. Box 1001
Georgetown, Guyana
South America
August 8, 1978
Dear Comrade:
Peoples Temple Agriculture Project is a non-profit organization, located in the N.W.D. We are a Co-Operative which will be self-sufficient within the next 3-4 years. We are helping to develope this vast hinterland by producing many varieties of food crops as possible. All of us work voluntarily without pay. Recently, we set up a free medical clinic in which our doctor and large medical staff serve the community on a daily basis. To expand our land development we have been successfully experimenting with such crops as rice, pines, Kidney beans, Cuban Black beans, and different varieties in the citrus family.
Last month, a representative of our organization, Erin Watkins, spoke to the Agriculture Officer at Timehri Central Horticulture Station, Cde. Peters. She requested 1500 Robusta Coffee Seeds. This variety should do very well in this part of Guyana.
Your cooperation and assistance will greatly be appreciated. Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
/s/ Sharon Amos
Sharon Amos
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D-1-F-1 (2)
[Letterhead of Veterinary & Livestock Science Division, Ministry of Agriculture]
5 January, 1978
Dear Comrade,
I wish to thank you for the information sent me on the work of your organisation. I have only met a few of your members, but I have been truly impressed with their sincerity and dedication. I hope that I will soon be able to see your good work at Jonestown that so many persons are already talking about.
Co-operatively yours
C. L. McKenzie
Principal Agricultural Officer
(Veterinary & Livestock Science)
Cde. Richard Janaro,
Peoples Temple Agricultural Project,
P.O. Box 893,
GEORGETOWN.
[Handwritten note at bottom of page: “Attn: Carolyn [Layton]. He is the head of the Livestock division in the Ministry of Agriculture”]
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D-1-O-1
[Letterhead of Peoples Temple Agricultural Mission in Guyana]
20th August, 1976
Mr. Claude Worrell,
Embassy of the Republic of Guyana,
2400 Tracy Place, N.W.
Washington, DC 20008
Dear Claude,
Enclosed you will find photocopies of letters submitted regarding the importation of the two airplanes and the printing equipment,
I approached Ministry of Home Affairs. The permanent secretary and the minister informed me that they did not handle such matters. This left me in somewhat of a quandary. Where to start?
I decided to speak to Maurice King, permanent secretary of Agriculture. He said that his ministry must recommend the importation of the airplanes before anything could be started on their importation. He gave me no indication of support or nonsupport and said he would have to discuss the matter with the Minister.
In regard to the printing equipment; I spoke with Lambert Philadelphia about the radio licenses (which have been approved) and mentioned the printing equipment because he is the Executive Chairman of the newly formed Communications and Information Services Guyutac Corporation, which controls government media. He asked me to put it in writing and he would look into the matter.
Again we are seeking your assistance in the expeditious granting of the importations. I don’t know how long these matters may be held up in “review’’, but both being policy considerations makes it difficult for anyone to give a commitment.
Gene Chaikin is in Georgetown presently and hopes to get in contact with you on his return to California regarding citizenship and immigration law. Should he not be able to contact you, would you send to me the case and date of the woman who held office in the East Asian country and returned to the U.S., and would you recommend a good firm on the East Coast on immigration and citizenship law.
We always end with how much we appreciate your friendship and assistance. It truly can never be over emphasized. If there is anything re might be able to do for you either here or In California, don’t hesitate to ask.
Sincerely yours,
/s/ Paula Adams
Paula Adams
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D-1-O-2 (1)
[Letterhead of Embassy of the Republic of Guyana]
June 10, 1976
Ms. Jean F. Brown,
Peoples Temple of the Disciples of Christ,
7600 East Road,
Redwood Valley, Ca. 95470.
Dear Ms. Brown,
I will be travelling to Guyana during mid-July, and at that time I will discuss the question of your radio licence.
With reference to cutting the red tape for bringing in your agricultural equipment and the personal effects of those persons resident there, you must realise that the Government cannot issue to you any permission in advance to bring any and/or all items into the country. You must also realise the reason why the Government has had to institute the sometimes time-consuming regulations. It is because of the fact that the Government had placed certain restrictions on importations, and necessarily must follow through in an attempt to control any importations of what has been termed a contraband item into the country. However, on going to Georgetown, I will discuss with the persons involved in the issuing of licences all of the matters discussed in your letter. The key to the entire situation is whether or not the items are to be considered personal effects of the persons receiving them. Should this be so, I visualise no problems in their getting the items, subject, of course, to the paper work which must be completed.
With reference to Mr. Blakey, his problems are entirely with the Government of the United States of America. Guyana has absolutely nothing to do with the issuances of visas for permanent residence, and has absolutely no influence with the United States Government in that Government’s handling of visa applications. It occurs to me, however, that the equities in
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D-1-O-2 (2)
the situation should redound to the benefit of Mr. Blakey. Having practised some immigration law myself, I will be happy, during the time that I am in Georgetown, to review the matter with Hr. Blakey to determine at what point his application is, and to advise him as to any steps which he should take to expedite his return to the United States of America.
With best personal regards to you, and please convey my highest esteem to your Pastor.
Cooperatively yours,
/s/ C.V. Worrell, Sr.
C.V. Worrell, Sr.
Counsellor
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D-1-O-3 (1)
[Letterhead of Embassy of the Republic of Guyana]
March 26, 1976
Ms. Paula Adams,
Peoples Temple Agricultural Mission,
P.O. Box 893,
Georgetown, GUYANA.
Dear Paula,
I regret the delay in replying to you ere now. I trust that you will forgive such delay.
With reference to the penultimate paragraph of your letter, if you wish you may send the pictures to me properly labelled, and I will see to it that they are delivered into the proper hands. Of course, this will be the long way around, and I would like to recommend that the pictures be printed in duplicate, that a set of the pictures be sent to me, and that a set of the pictures be delivered to Dr. Reid for his information. I will then use the set which I would have in communicating with the Agriculture Ministry.
I received a call from California a couple of days ago indicating that you were having some additional problem about having certain items admitted into the country duty free. I would suggest that you contact Mr. Bertie Orderson, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, and discuss the fact with him that all of the items coming in relate to your agricultural work in Guyana and, as a consequence, should be admitted duty free.
Cooperatively yours,
/s/ C.V. Worrell, Sr.
C.V. Worrell, Sr.
Counsellor
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D-1-O-3 (3)
[Letterhead of Peoples Temple Agricultural Mission in Guyana]
31st May, 1976
Mr. Claude V. Worrell, Sr.
Embassy of the Republic of Guyana
2490 Tracy Place, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20008
Dear Mr. Worrell,
I wish to apologize to you for the long delay in submitting the photographs of our farm. I did not have a duplicate set of photographs for Dr. Reid which you requested, nor am I in possession of the negatives of the first set which were set aside for you. I, therefore, had to repeat the photographing exercise and I am still waiting for the film to be developed.
Everything is going quite productively here. Peoples Tempie is waiting for the time when we can give you a “guest of honor” tour of Jonestown. There is an open invitation anytime you are in Guyana.
In the many times I have heard Pastor Jim Jones speak about you in both our large congregational and smaller council meetings, I have never heard anything but his highest respect and admiration for you. He has not lightly made these statements calling to our attention your total commitment in taking up your new post with the government of Guyana.
In closing, let me again apologize for the delay in my response to your last letter. I will get the pictures to your office at the earliest possible date.
Sincerely and cooperatively yours,
Paula Adams,
Administrative Secretary
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D-1-O-4 (1)
[Letterhead of Embassy of the Republic of Guyana]
4th February, 1976
Ms. Paula Adams,
Peoples Temple,
121 Third Street, Alberttown,
Georgetown, REPUBLIC OF GUYANA.
Dear Miss Adams,
On returning to my desk in Washington I discovered that I still had in my possession your letter of January 21, 1976 addressed to Dr. Reid.
I had intended to discuss with you during the time that I was in Georgetown the fact that I did not intend to deliver the letter to Dr Reid, inasmuch as I was of the opinion that the matter discussed therein had been resolved.
I am writing this letter to you so as to advise you of that decision and the further fact that I will retain the letter in my files pending the final outcome of the matter discussed.
It is to be hoped that by this time the maps have been filed and the necessary leases have been issued. Should experience any further difficulty in the matter, please in the first instance contact Mr. Bertie Orderson, who is the Permanent Secretary of Agriculture, and advise him of your problem as he is prepared to assist you. In the second instance, please advise me of all problems as they arise, in order that I may assist, albeit from a distance.
Best personal regards to both you and those members of The Temple whom I have met.
Co-operatively yours,
/s/ C.V. Worrell, Sr.
Claude Vibert Worrell, Sr.
Counsellor
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D-1-O-4 (3)
[Carbon copy, with space for Letterhead of Peoples Temple Agricultural Mission in Guyana]
15th February, 1976
Mr. Claude Worrell
Embassy of the Republic of Guyana
2490 Tracy Place, N. W.
Washington, D. C. 20008
Dear Mr. Worrell,
I received your letter, dated 4th February, 1976, and wish you to know that the matter of the survey being submitted has been resolved, with the survey being surrendered to the Commissioner of Lands on Thursday, 12th February, 1976.
We cannot thank you enough. Your direct intervention and aiding the assistance of Mr. Sherlock Delph was the deciding factor. Mr. Delph went to great lengths speaking with our surveyor, Mr. Matthews, and eventually had recruited a party to redo the survey which assured Mr. Matthews (along with a letter from our solicitor) that he had tarried long enough. Mr. Matthews complied.
The lease has not yet been issued, but we have been given assurances by the Commissioner of Lands that it will be reviewed forthwith and should take one to two weeks for all paperwork to be completed.
I am sorry that I did not get the information and pictures on the agricultural project gathered before your departure. I do have all of the information you requested at hand now if you are in a position to receive them. If not, perhaps you could advise me as to who to see in the matter of doing an article on the agricultural program. I am sure it would not have the effect of your personal attention, but I do realize the benefit it would have on improving the efficiency of our program by people simply knowing it exists.
We have told Pastor Jones of your assistance to our mission and he again wishes you to know that he appreciates your friendship beyond words and if you should ever need our assistance in any way in the United states or Guyana, feel free to call on us.
Co-operatively yours,
/s/ Paula Adams
Paula Adams,
Administrative Secretary
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D-1-O-5
[Letterhead of Peoples Temple in San Francisco]
May 29, 1976
Hon. Claude Worrell
Embassy of the Republic of Guyana
2490 Tracy Place, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20008
Dear Mr. Worrell:
I am writing to follow-up on the conversation of last week when our associate minister Michael Prokes called you from California. I believe he addressed himself to two points: one, the trouble we are having in regards to radio licenses in Guyana and two, the expediting of procedures we must comply with in order to import our agricultural equipment.
The first issue is particularly troublesome to us since our link with Jonestown is dependent entirely upon our radios. I have enclosed for you a copy of Paula Adam’s radio license as issued in the U.S. Albert Touchette’s call sign is WB6-MID/8R3. Mrs. Adams operates the radio in Georgetown, and Mr. Touchette operates the set based in Jonestown. The fact that their U.S. licenses have not been officially recognized by the government in Georgetown not only puts us in some legal jeopardy, but also causes us a great deal of uneasiness, (as I imagine you can understand). We have proven ourselves sincere in our intentions. Our desire is to work in complete co-operation with and on behalf of the Guyanese government. We are concerned that our own commitment in time and money is not reciprocated in this small matter of approving the radio licenses so vital to the continuation of our project.
Further, we have requested that items related to the development of the project, in particular agricultural equipment, be allowed into Guyana without the extensive importation procedures that we must deal with. We can certainly understand the need to declare what we are in fact importing into the country, but since the goods are not for resale and have specified uses in our non-profit project, we had hoped for some concessions on the time-consuming and highly , complicated import documentation required of our Georgetown co’ workers. I have referred to you a copy of the letter from the Ministry of Agriculture which was forwarded to us by Mrs. Adams.
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D-1-O-6
Another matter of concern in regards to importation of goods is the difficulty we have in sending such items as typewriters, tape recorders, personal hygiene needs, and small gifts from family members to loved ones there. Items such as these are considered ’’contraband.” However is it possible that an agreement could be reached whereby our co-workers travelling to Guyana can bring a necessary amount of such items into the country without putting themselves in jeopardy doing so?
As I have stated, we wish to comply with the government regulations, since our intentions-are completely and fully to serve the Co-operative Republic. We have been able to provide jobs for a great many Guyanese. Our current payroll list numbers 75 citizens of the Port Kaituma area. Whatever you can do to facilitate both the radio licenses and the importation procedures, we would appreciate most sincerely.
Mr. Prokes informed our office that you would be travelling to Guyana during the month of July. May I prevail upon you for assistance in yet another area? If at all possible, can you help us in seeing to the needs of Phillip Blakey, our co-worker in Guyana of British citizenship? When Phillip first volunteered to work in the agricultural project, he had not intended to stay more than a year. But he has literally fallen in love with the country and the mission there. His standing in the U.S. was as a Permanent Resident, and he carried said visa. (He is married to a citizen of the U.S., Mrs. Deborah Blakey, who is also a member of our church.) Phillip failed to apply for a re-entry card before his departure, and since he has been in Guyana for more than a year, he has technically abandoned his visa. We understand he must re-apply for his Permanent Residence visa as though he had never entered the U.S. However, since his P.R. status was once before investigated and approved, we had hoped that it would be merely an administrative matter to reinstate his standing. The results of Phillip’s visits to Georgetown and the U.S. Embassy have been quite the opposite. He is having for the second time to solicit statements of marriage, birth, police records and employment confirmation in the U.S. Congressman Donald H. Clausen, whose previous correspondence on Phillip’s behalf I have enclosed, has offered his assistance. I wondered, then, if you might be able to call Mr. Clausen with any encouragement or perhaps background that might expedite the matter with Phillip.
For all you have done and continue to do on our behalf, our deepest thanks go out to you. Please notify us should you be travelling to the West Coast at any time. It will be a great honor and privilege to meet with you. Thank you for considering our requests as presented here.
Pastor Jones sends you his highest and kindest regards.
Sincerely,
/s/ Jean F. Brown
Jean F. Brown
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D-1-O-7
[Letterhead of Peoples Temple Agricultural Mission in Guyana]
18th July, 1976
Mr. Claude Worrell
c/o Pegasus Hotel
Georgetown, Guyana
Dear Claude,
Further to our luncheon of l7th July, 197$, listed are the items of discussion:
I. Cooperative venture for use of a DC8 jet (note correspondence to Guyana Airways Corporation).
II. Importation of a light aircraft for emergency use.
III. Amateur radio station licences (note correspondence to Ministry of Home Affairs).
IV. Operation of printing presses and importation of the ones we own).
V. Renewal of Ministry of Trade import licence (note photocopy of previous licence).
VI. Expedition of duty-free concessions for agricultural mission.
VII. Citizenship in Guyana.
Should you need any clarification of the above items, don’t hesitate to call me at 61592.
Sincerely yours,
Paula Adams
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D-1-O-8
JULY 6, 1976
C. V. Worrell
Embassy of the Republic of Guyana
2490 Tracy Place, NW.
Washington, D.C. 20008
Dear Claude;
There is no way that we can adequately express our thanks to you for your friendship and the many services you have performed for us. As we expand our project, our need for your help continues.
You may know that we have inquired of government concerning the import of one or more airplanes for use as auxiliary transport for our agricultural mission. We understand that in recent months government has been somewhat restrictive in permitting the importation of airplanes.
You may also know that we currently have, among those slated to go to Guyana, three pilots. We would hope to make this resource available to ourselves and Guyana alike by Importing two airplanes, a C 47 or equivalent, and a Piper Aztec or equivalent. With these, we would hope to establish a charter service that would serve our needs, and also meet such unfilled needs as now exist.
It is not our intention to compete with existing services but merely to supplement them and any arrangement that might be required to give assurance of this position would be completely acceptable. Our project has been very expensive and as its size increases the expense will be much greater. We would hope that the charter services could supplement our income. All returns would go to help finance the agricultural mission.
We are hoping that you might take these matters up with government during your projected stay in Guyana. As soon as we receive word that the aircraft will be permitted (regardless of the charter aspect) we will purchase same.
Thanking you once more for your many services.
Very truly yours,
Norman Ijames,
Transportation Manager
P.O. Pox 15156
San Francisco, Calif. 94115
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