Two survivors of the 1990 coup consider it disrespectful that they have not received invitations to Friday’s reopening of the Red House.
Speaking to reporters outside the ceremonial home of the country’s Parliament where final preparations were being made for Friday’s ceremonial reopening, former Red House hostage Wendell Eversley said, “I called former parliamentarians who were held hostage. I called Selby Wilson. He said he hadn’t got an invitation. I called Rawle Raphael. He said he hadn’t gotten an invitation. I called Emanuel Hosein he said he hadn’t got an invitation.”
Wilson, a former Minister of Finance, who expressed solidarity with Eversley, said the fact that the coup survivors were overlooked spoke volumes.
“I have a deep sense that the people in authority ought to show respect for the institution and for those who served in the institution. I have never been invited to the opening of even a parliamentary session,” he said. “It shows the disregard and lack of respect for those who offered service to this country before the sitting parliamentarians, whether it’s the PNM or UNC.”
He said given the historic significance of the event and the ordeal survivors went through, a special effort should have been made to invite them to the reopening of the historic building.
“Our leaders don’t have the required respect for those who went before them,” he said.
During the six-day ordeal, Wilson was beaten about his body and according to him, told he would be tossed out the window.
Eversley took issue with the relocation of the Eternal Flame monument which was erected to commemorate the coup.
“That eternal flame was erected there for a purpose and that light should have never been taken out, that light should have kept burning,” he said.
Eversley was a civilian witnessing a debate in the parliament when the incident occurred and was used as a human shield to open the windows of the Red House for the Jamaat Al Muslimeen insurgents to enter.
July 27 will be the 30th anniversary of the coup and Eversley hopes President Paula-Mae Weekes will assist in giving the event the recognition and historical significance it deserves.