Edith Roller – May 26, 1978 – Friday

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Annie B Washington moved today to a dormitory (called “apartment” now) so that she would not have to walk so far to work, meals, shower and so on.

During my breakfast trip to the central area, I took care of a number of errands. I stopped at the warehouse, got shampoo and a sweater as I have been a little chilly sitting on my bed in the cottage. The only one they had is a little too big for me. I lost the one I bought just before I left the US.

At the mending room Alma Thomas measured me preparatory to making a raincoat for me out of a plastic bag I brought with me from the States.

My foot is healing nicely.

The weather was clear in the early part of the day.

Marshall Farris made and installed a shoe rack on our cottage porch, which will help keep the porch and consequently the house cleaner.

I took my shower before lunch today so that I could have my foot treated directly after my adult class.

I had planned to look up some material for my second period class but before I went to lunch there was an announcement that high school classes would not meet today. High school students were to continue at their projects in order to bring productivity up.

Had lunch.

I met my adult class at 1.00. Christine Young did not come. I gave some phonics study first then started to define some of the terms Jim had put emphasis on in giving the news lately.

Went to Margaret James at the pavilion for treatment of my toes. She used Irish vine.

Wrote a note to Jim on a strategy matter I had thought up in connection with guerrilla fighting.

We had a teachers meeting at 4.00, high school with junior high and elementary school teachers. Tom Grubbs talked to us about lesson plans. Junior high and elementary school teachers best to make them up early for all classes. He showed the form and discussed it. Tom had ordered 6000 forms from the States. Tropp decided we would begin to use the forms in the high school.

We broke for dinner. After we ate, high school teachers reported to the pavilion. It was decided we would have meetings on Sundays from 3.00 to 5.00 every week.

Jim announced that we had finally made connection with the Guyanese government. The plan to arrest our people was rescinded and those who had conceived the idea (a small fascist group in the police) had been identified and would be punished. They had CIA contacts. The plot was definitely that of the CIA and Burnham made a strong denunciation of it and of the US policies. Also he rejected all International Monetary Fund aid with its unacceptable requirements. Jim told us that meanwhile the situation in the world had become very serious, pointing more and more to nuclear war. The US had concluded an agreement with China, abandoning its protection of Taiwan, has attempted to force the USSR to desert Cuba. The so-called “free” world is making a concerted attack on Angola, while they continue their efforts to keep control of the assets of Zaire.

Jim told us the Examiner had run a story that Mrs. Hunter had been held in protective custody whereas the truth was that she had been drunk the whole time. Guyana knew that she had entered the country under false pretenses. She said we threatened her, wherein she threatened us. Guyana did not bow to US demands.

The incident concerning our four people who were detained was caused by a small fascist group in the police who have CIA connections. Dr. Mingo who is head of Home Affairs and Immigration helped us. He said this was an attack on socialism and all socialist countries. He acknowledged this was a conspiracy.

I didn’t go home as we were to have political enlightenment classes in the pavilion at 8.00. I had my clipboard and paper with me and worked a little on my journal.

Jim suddenly announced that he was giving out the name of the traitor who had left our ranks. It was Debbie Blakey. She had been proven to have taken an active roll in the conspiracy. She had fine socialist relatives: her mother, Lisa Layton, brother Larry Layton (recently arrived) and husband Philip Blakey all of whom showed an admirable attitude.

Jann Gurvich conducted the political enlightenment class. She wrote on notes on the chalkboard, not visible very far back. Her material which was on communist theory, definitions and examples of the terms used and examples, and an assessment of the conflict in Zaire as it, is related to Communist theory. She talked very fast which drew some protests. Jim circulated through the audience and made comments and there were other remarks and questions from the floor.

The meeting lasted until 11.00.

Our cottage area took a long time to settle down. I did not get to sleep until after 12.00.