Pursuing 'Dark' Tourism - Minister Prashad goes to Jonestown

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Pursuing 'Dark' Tourism
- Minister Prashad goes to Jonestown
Guyana Chronicle, 9 August 2007

MINISTER of Tourism Manniram Prashad touches what is believed to be the
keyboard used by cult leader Jim Jones. .
MINISTER of Tourism, Industry and Commerce Mr Manniram Prashad last
weekend led an eight member team on a “fact finding mission” to
Jonestown, which lies in the jungle, about seven miles southwest of
Port Kaituma in Region One.


Jonestown, founded in the mid-1970s by the cult leader, Jim Jones, is
well known all over the world for the mass murder and suicide ordered
by Jim Jones who himself was among the slain, numbering over 900 men,
women and children. Following the massive tragedy, the area was
abandoned and today Jonestown is totally deserted.

After taking a detailed tour of Jonestown, Minister Prashad remarked
that Jonestown, if reconstructed, can be a major tourist attraction in
Guyana.

“It is no secret that Jonestown reminds us all of the death of
thousands”, Prashad said, “but we should not continue to be ashamed; we
should remember what happened and take measures aimed at preventing us
from repeating the past.”

He further commented that now is not the time to get involved in the
“blame game” but that together “we should work to educate our people
and allow others who suffered as a result of the loss of loved ones and
friends to visit the site if they so wish.”

While walking through the thick forested area, representatives from the
Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce and Mr. Harripersaud Nokta,
Coordinator of Hinterland Projects, and the others of the visiting team
were shown what was described as “Jim Jones Keyboard.” Minister Prashad
stopped at the keyboard which showed signs of aging.

While the visit to Jonestown evoked what the visitors described as
strange feelings, out of the grave came beauty. Mr. Harripersaud Nokta
picked a handful of flowers which he trimmed to fit a vase. After
placing the flowers in the small container with water, Mr. Harripersaud
Nokta said, “I am taking these flowers to remind me of Jonestown.”

Some of the remains at Jonestown belonging to Jim Jones which Minister
Prashad had a look at, included parts of his tractor, truck, and a corn
mill.

During the visit, Minister Prashad also looked at the spot where Jim
Jones had his personal dwelling erected, and the area where the cyanide
was consumed by the residents. The place where the bodies of the
victims of one of the world’s greatest tragedy were found is now
described by many as the “arena of death.” Some persons were afraid to
walk through the “arena of death” which showed some signs of vegetation
because of the cyanide, but Minister Prashad showed no signs of fear as
he walked along the path and encouraged those with him to follow.

Minister Prashad and the members of the fact finding team in a
reminiscent mood stood at the Port Kaituma airstrip where congressman
Leo Ryan and four reporters were gunned down.

Following his visit to Jonestown, Minister Prashad met with the
residents of Port Kaituma and its surrounding villages, and members of
the business community to hear their views on promoting Jonestown as a
tourist attraction.

The residents said that they believe that Jonestown would be a place
that people from all around the world will pay to visit. They added
that the first question visitors to Port Kaituma ask is, “Where is
Jonestown?” Those from the business sector commented that they believe
that if Jonestown becomes a major tourist attraction, then additional
economic activities in region one will be further stimulated.