Feb 16, 78 • Georgetown-State • 0572

[Editor’s note: The text for this document was released in 2014 by the now-defunct Wikileaks website at https://wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/1978GEORGE00572_d.html. This URL may be available through the Wayback Machine.]

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PAGE 01 GEORGE 00572 161921Z
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INFO OCT-01 ARA-14 ISO-00 L-03 H-02 CA-01 HA-05 CIAE-00 DODE-00 INR-10 NSAE-00 PA-02 USIA-15 SP-02 SY-05 NSC-05 /071 W
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R 161845Z FEB 78
FM AMEMBASSY GEORGETOWN
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 6253
UNCLAS GEORGETOWN 0572
E.O. 11652: N/A
TAGS: CASC
SUBJECT: PEOPLE’S TEMPLE–SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT

1. GEORGETOWN’S LEADING DAILY, THE GUYANA CHRONICLE CARRIED A NEWS ITEM IN ITS ISSUE OF FEBRUARY 9 REPORTING THAT LT. GOV. DYMALLY OF CALIFORNIA WOULD BE VISITING GUYANA AS A PERSONAL GUEST OF BISHOP JIM JONES OF THE PEOPLE’S TEMPLE.

2. IN THE BODY OF THE ARTICLE, THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT WAS MADE REGARDING THE PEOPLE’S TEMPLE AGRICULTURAL PROJECT: “THE LT. GOVERNOR WILL FLY DIRECTLY TO JONESTOWN…WHERE HE WILL HOLD TALKS WITH BISHOP JONES AND TOUR THE AGRICULTURAL PROJECT GIVING SPECIAL ATTENTION TO THE JONES MEDICAL CLINIC WHICH SERVES THE ENTIRE NORTHWEST REGION.”

3. THE GUYANA CHRONICLE OF FEB. 16 CARRIES THE FOLLOWING LETTER TO THE EDITOR ENTITLED “SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT” AND SIGNED BY H. DESMOND HOYTE, MINISTER OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND COOPERATIVES: QUOTE CDE. EDITOR, IN YOUR ISSUE OF THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1978, UNDER AN ARTICLE BEARING THE CAPTION “LT. GOV. DYMALLY DUE

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TODAY,” YOU REFERRED TO A “JONESTOWN MEDICAL CENTRE WHICH SERVES THE ENTIRE NORTH WEST REGION.”

AS MINISTER RESPONSIBLE FOR REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT I HAVE TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION THE FACT THAT WHETHER OR NOT THERE IS A “JONESTOWN MEDICAL CENTRE” IT IS WHOLLY INACCURATE TO ALLEGE THAT IT SERVES THE ENTIRE NORTH WEST REGION.

THE GOVERNMENT HAS HOSPITALS AT MABARUMA AND MATTHRES RIDGE AND HEALTH CARE IS DELIVERED TO RESIDENTS IN THE RIVERAIN AND OUTLYING AREAS THROUGH A SYSTEM OF A TRAVELING DISPENSER SUPPORTED BY OTHER PARA-MEDICAL PERSONNEL.

ADDITIONALLY, THE PARAMEDICS OF THE PEOPLE’S ARMY PERSONNEL SUPPLEMENT THE WORK OF THE GOVERNMENT’S CIVILIAN MEDICAL PERSONNEL IN THE NORTH WEST REGION BY PROVIDING MEDICAL ATTENTION TO CITIZENS AS A ROUTINE FEATURE OF THE ARMY’S ACTIVITIES.

I HOPE THAT IN FUTURE YOU WILL REFRAIN FROM PUBLISHING IN AN UNCRITICAL WAY EVERY HAND-OUT GIVEN TO YOU BY PERSONS WHO MAY HAVE THEIR OWN PURPOSES TO SERVE.

YOURS COOPERATIVELY,
/S/H.D. HOYTE,
MINISTER OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND COOPERATIVES UNQUOTE

BURKE [U.S. Ambassador John Burke]

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