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Kit Nascimento

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Kit Nascimento
Kit Nascimento on 13 December 2024.jpg Kit Nascimento at State House on 13 December 2024
BornChristopher A. Nascimento
(1932-01-04) January 4, 1932 (age 93)
Other namesKit
Occupation(s)Journalist, politician
Known forOfficial spokesperson for the Government of Guyana in the United States during the Jonestown massacre, and former president of GRFU, WIRU, NAWIRA, and NACRA

Christopher "Kit" A. Nascimento (born 4 January 1932) is a Guyanese journalist, rugby administrator and former politician who served in various ministerial roles under the premiership of Forbes Burnham, including Minister for Information and Minister of State for the Office of the Prime Minister. He was the spokesperson for the Government of Guyana in the United States in the aftermath of the Jonestown massacre.

Early life and education

Christopher A. Nascimento was born to a Portuguese Guyanese family on 4 January 1932. Nascimento was the nephew of Peter d'Aguiar, a prominent figure in Guyanese politics during the process of independence and the leader and founder of The United Force. Nascimento is an alumnus of St. Stanislaus College. he was later educated in England and at Boston University in the United States.

Politics and journalism

Early career

Nascimento was banned from press conferences by Cheddi Jagan during his term as Premier of British Guiana. He was employed as a radio journalist at the time. Nascimento himself describes being ejected from one of Jagan's press conferences for asking "tough, difficult and awkward questions". Nascimento became a member of the United Force, before joining the PNC following Guyanese independence in 1966, when Nascimento left his graduate studies in Boston in order to return to take up the role of adviser to the Minister of Information in the new government headed by Forbes Burnham. Nascimento helped to compile a book of the Burnham's speeches, which became a book titled A Destiny to Mould, published in 1970.

Starting in 1973, Nascimento was Minister of State for the Office of the Prime Minister, a member of parliament, and a member of the PNC. He would maintain this position in government during the events of the Jonestown massacre.

Jonestown

Main article: Jonestown

Nascimento visited Jonestown in 1977 while other government ministers were in Panama during the signing of the Torrijos–Carter Treaties. At the visit, Nascimento served Jones with papers related to the Stoen case by nailing the papers to a wooden wall, which then led to a state of emergency in Jonestown referred to as the "six day siege". Jones would go on to accuse Nascimento of being an agent for the CIA.

According to Nascimento's own account, he had contacted Forbes Burnham one month prior to the Jonestown massacre, with concerns about Jim Jones, leader of the People's temple, after being contacted by people in San Francisco (where Jones was located before moving to Guyana). Following this contact, Guyanese government visits to the site increased along with visits from the U.S. Embassy. Nascimento was subsequently given documents by members of the People's Temple with testimonials on behalf of the People's Temple from high ranking members of the US Political System, including Rosalynn Carter, attempting to placate concerns about the Temple from the Guyanese government.

Nascimento was already in the United States at Guyana's consulate office in New York City on November 18, 1978, visiting his wife, who was very ill. at the office, he was contacted by Burnham immediately following the first reports of deaths in Jonestown. Following this, Nascimento became the spokesperson for the Guyanese government in the United States, giving speeches at various universities and having interviews with prominent American journalists such as Walter Cronkite and Tom Brokaw. Nascimento provided the viewpoint that the reputation of the United States was as much, if not more, at stake than that of Guyana's, and that the behaviour of Jim Jones and the People's Temple was a reflection of American society. He also stated that the American press covered Jonestown at a "very superficial and sensational level". Nascimento took the position that "both the victims and the murderers were Americans". Nascimento remained in Guyana until at least 12 December.

Nascimento has since commented on Jonestown, completely denying any involvement of Burnham's PNC regime in the Jonestown affair. Nascimento also denied that Guyanese public officials had removed $700,000 by plane from the Jonestown site. In 2024, Nascimento stated that the government of Guyana should not open the former Jonestown site as a tourist attraction, as such a move would not be in the interest of Guyana's international image, and would not be respectful of those who had died.

Later political and journalistic activities

In 1981, Nascimento was Minister for Mechanical Equipment in the Ministry of Works and Transport.

Following his political career in government, Nascimento became a communication consultant and public communications specialist, and has continued to publish opinion pieces in Guyanese newspapers and international newspapers such as the Trinidad Express. Nascimento has also served as a member of Guyana's private sector commission.

2020 election

Main article: 2020 Guyanese general election

In May 2021, Nascimento and several Guyanese news outlets were sued for the sum of $2.6bn by President David A. Granger for letters published by Nascimento in various Guyanese newspapers following the 2020 Guyanese general election, where Nascimento had been an elections observer. Nascimento had been in a public row with Granger, with Granger accusing Nascimento of inflammatory and incorrect statements. Nascimento had accused Granger of attempting to rig the election.

Other activities

Tourism

Nacimento opened a tourist resort, the Hurakabra River resort, on the Essequibo river near Bartica, in 2004, and was elected president of the Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana in 2013. Nascimento successfully encouraged the organisers of the Nereid Yacht Rally, an annual yacht rally, to permanently hold a stage in Guyana.

Rugby

Nascimento was capped as a player for the Guyana national rugby union team in the 1950s and 60s. Nascimento is a former president of the Guyana Rugby Football Union, serving in the role for 7 years in total. Nascimento was first elected president in 2001, after a number of years as vice-president. He also served as president of the West Indies Rugby Union, as well as the NAWIRA and its successor body, NACRA, being the first native West Indian to serve as president on any of those boards. He was then the first native West Indian to serve as a board member of the International Rugby Board. Following his retirement as president of GRFU on 14 May 2012, Nascimento was appointed as patron of the GRFU in 2014, and was reappointed patron in 2023.

Personal life

Nascimento married Gem Madhoo, a former member of staff at Guyana National Cooperative Bank. He was previously married to Elayne Coyne, from Watertown.

References

  1. ^ Burnham, Forbes (1970). A destiny to mould; selected speeches by the Prime Minister of Guyana. New York: New York : Africana Pub. Corp. ISBN 978-0-8419-0042-4. Retrieved 16 December 2024.
  2. Cooke, Ernesto (5 January 2023). "PM Gonsalves attends 91st birthday celebration of Kit Nascimento". St Vincent Times. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
  3. Waddell, Ronald (15 October 1996). "Nascimento criticises manner of reassignment of TV channels". Stabroek News. Stabroek News. Retrieved 16 December 2024.
  4. ^ "THE PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES OFFICIAL REPORT [VOLUME 7] PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE FIRST SESSION OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF THE THIRD PARLIAMENT OF GUYANA UNDER THE CONSTITUTION OF GUYANA" (PDF). Parliament of Guyana. Retrieved 16 December 2024.
  5. ^ Sharma, P.D. (10 April 2015). "I remember a different 'Kit' Nascimento from the one that got the brunt of Freddie's column". Kaieteur News. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
  6. Nascimento, Kit (4 August 2022). "Norton's refusal to shake Ali's hand flouts the norms of democratic governance". Stabroek News. Retrieved 16 December 2024.
  7. Granger, David (5 May 2019). "The Portuguese presence - Guyana Chronicle". guyanachronicle.com. Retrieved 16 December 2024.
  8. "Christopher "Kit" Nascimento St. Stanislaus College Alumni Association - Toronto". torontosaints.com. St Stanislaus College. Retrieved 16 December 2024.
  9. ^ Black, Chris (12 December 1978). "Kit Nascimento after Jones Town". The Boston Globe. p. 30. Retrieved 16 December 2024.
  10. Nascimento, Kit (25 June 2024). "The president responded to Belgrave and Moseley in conversational style, albeit unconventionally". Stabroek News. Retrieved 16 December 2024.
  11. Ram, Ravi (20 April 2020). "Response to Kit Nascimento 1953 Movement". 1953 Movement. Retrieved 16 December 2024.
  12. "MINUTES of the Proceedings of the 1st Sitting of the National Assembly held in the Parliament Chamber at the Public Buildings, Georgetown, Demerara, AT 2.00 P.M. ON THURSDAY, 26TH JULY, 1973" (PDF). Parliament of Guyana. Retrieved 16 December 2024.
  13. Jones, Jim. "Q782 Transcript – Alternative Considerations of Jonestown & Peoples Temple". San Diego State University. Retrieved 10 January 2025.
  14. Yates, Bonnie. "Eugene Chaikin: A Story from Jonestown – Alternative Considerations of Jonestown & Peoples Temple". Alternative Considerations of Jonestown & Peoples Temple. San Diego State University. Retrieved 10 January 2025.
  15. Jones, Jim. "Q792 Transcript – Alternative Considerations of Jonestown & Peoples Temple". San Diego State University. Retrieved 10 January 2025.
  16. ^ Nascimento, Kit (7 December 2024). "Jonestown". Guyana Times. Retrieved 16 December 2024.
  17. Burke, John. "Serial 692 – Alternative Considerations of Jonestown & Peoples Temple". San Diego State University. United States Government. Retrieved 10 January 2025.
  18. Amos, Sharon. "Temple Meeting with Richard McCoy, April 23, 1978 – Alternative Considerations of Jonestown & Peoples Temple". Retrieved 10 January 2025.
  19. Ishmael, Odeen. "Mass Murder, Secret Plots and Political Assassinations in Guyana (1978-1980) – Alternative Considerations of Jonestown & Peoples Temple". jonestown.sdsu.edu. Guyana Journal, 2006. Retrieved 10 January 2025.
  20. Judge, John. "The Jonestown Banks – Alternative Considerations of Jonestown & Peoples Temple". Alternative Considerations of Jonestown & Peoples Temple. San Diego State University. Retrieved 10 January 2025.
  21. Nascimento, Kit (7 December 2024). "The Jonestown project should not be promoted and profited from as a tourist attraction". Stabroek News. Retrieved 10 January 2025.
  22. "THE PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES OFFICIAL REPORTS [Volume 08] PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE FIRST SESSION (1981) OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF THE FOURTH PARLIAMENT OF GUYANA UNDER THE CONSTITUTION OF THE CO-OPERATIVE REPUBLIC OF GUYANA. 19th Sitting 14:00 hrs Thursday, 30th July 1981" (PDF). Parliament of Guyana. Retrieved 16 December 2024.
  23. "'Ogunseye went unforgivably too far' - Guyana Chronicle". guyanachronicle.com. 4 April 2023. Retrieved 10 January 2025.
  24. "Muck Rack | For journalists and public relations". muckrack.com. 29 September 2024. Retrieved 10 January 2025.
  25. Shiv, Ahillya (10 February 2023). "Minister of Home Affairs Hon. Robeson Benn M.P. received a courtesy call from Chairman of the Private Sector Commission (PSC) and team - Ministry of Home Affairs". Minister of Home Affairs. Government of Guyana. Retrieved 10 January 2025.
  26. "Granger sues Nascimento, newspapers for $2.6b over letters". Stabroek News. 6 May 2021. Retrieved 10 January 2025.
  27. ^ "Nascimento says unable to testify before elections inquiry because of Granger case". Stabroek News. 2 December 2022. Retrieved 10 January 2025.
  28. "Kit Nascimento Fires Back at Ministry of the Presidency – GSA News". Guyana, South America News. 24 May 2020. Retrieved 10 January 2025.
  29. ^ Quamina Farrier, Francis. "A 'Gem' in Nascimento's 'Kit' - Guyana Chronicle". guyanachronicle.com. Guyana Chronicle. Retrieved 16 December 2024.
  30. "Kit Nascimento elected president of THAG". Stabroek News. 28 August 2013. Retrieved 16 December 2024.
  31. Outridge, Michael (18 September 2016). "'Why not here?' - Guyana Chronicle". guyanachronicle.com. Retrieved 16 December 2024.
  32. ^ "Nascimento appointed Patron of GRFU - Guyana Chronicle". guyanachronicle.com. 19 September 2014. Retrieved 10 January 2025.
  33. "Kit Nascimento looks at a game-changing blueprint to revive rugby in Guyana". Kaieteur News. 13 October 2023. Retrieved 10 January 2025.
  34. Campbell, Emmerson (25 May 2023). "GRFU looking to put rugby back on world map". Stabroek News. Retrieved 10 January 2025.