Andrew Morrison
Encyclopedia
Father Andrew Morrison(1919–2004) was a Jesuit Catholic priest
who devoted his life to the liberation of his fellow Guyanese countrymen from a long period of State dictatorship
. He also championed the cause for 'freedom of the press
' in Guyana
that had far reaching effects internationally.
Fr Morrison's first major public episode, in view of the international community at large, was his coverage of the Jim Jones
led mass suicide
-massacre, which took place in 1978 in Guyana. A year later, an assassination
attempt upon his life failed because a fellow Jesuit was mistaken for Fr Morrison; Fr Darke was brutally murder
ed. Such attempts to frustrate Fr Morrison's quest for justice
and rights had absolutely no effect upon him. In fact he even publicly exposed a plot by members of the governing regime to assassinate an opposition Guyanese politician
(Rodney)in the paper he headed, the Catholic Standard. Amidst awards and honours from the international community he lamented the state of his countrymen and further hardships experienced by the certain fellow Jesuit elements, supporters of his cause.Fr Connors was deported from Guyana. At the turn of the 21st century, two noted American 'hitmen' appeared in the country apparently targeting Morrison, but to no avail. Nevertheless Fr Morrison would live to see the downfall of oppression
in Guyana and a complete return to democracy; largely due to his supremely brave, nevertheless non-political, efforts. This man whom a former national leader had described as a "cassocked obscenity" died peacefully in his home country of Guyana on 27 January 2004, and was laid to rest from the Sacred Heart Church in Georgetown
amidst many tears and emotional tributes. He certainly lives on in the hearts of many as the man described by Fredrick Kissoon, Ricky Singh and Hugh O'Shaughnessy
as a 'Symbol of courage' & one who went about living serenely amidst insecurity; an insecurity that had his co workers quite nervous but was of no concern to him.
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
who devoted his life to the liberation of his fellow Guyanese countrymen from a long period of State dictatorship
Dictatorship
A dictatorship is defined as an autocratic form of government in which the government is ruled by an individual, the dictator. It has three possible meanings:...
. He also championed the cause for 'freedom of the press
Freedom of the press
Freedom of the press or freedom of the media is the freedom of communication and expression through vehicles including various electronic media and published materials...
' in Guyana
Guyana
Guyana , officially the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, previously the colony of British Guiana, is a sovereign state on the northern coast of South America that is culturally part of the Anglophone Caribbean. Guyana was a former colony of the Dutch and of the British...
that had far reaching effects internationally.
Fr Morrison's first major public episode, in view of the international community at large, was his coverage of the Jim Jones
Jim Jones
James Warren "Jim" Jones was the founder and leader of the Peoples Temple, which is best known for the November 18, 1978 mass suicide of 909 Temple members in Jonestown, Guyana along with the killings of five other people at a nearby airstrip.Jones was born in Indiana and started the Temple in...
led mass suicide
Mass suicide
- Examples :Mass suicide sometimes occurs in religious or cultic settings. Defeated groups may resort to mass suicide rather than being captured. Suicide pacts are a form of mass suicide unconnected to cults or war that are sometimes planned or carried out by small groups of frustrated people...
-massacre, which took place in 1978 in Guyana. A year later, an assassination
Assassination
To carry out an assassination is "to murder by a sudden and/or secret attack, often for political reasons." Alternatively, assassination may be defined as "the act of deliberately killing someone, especially a public figure, usually for hire or for political reasons."An assassination may be...
attempt upon his life failed because a fellow Jesuit was mistaken for Fr Morrison; Fr Darke was brutally murder
Murder
Murder is the unlawful killing, with malice aforethought, of another human being, and generally this state of mind distinguishes murder from other forms of unlawful homicide...
ed. Such attempts to frustrate Fr Morrison's quest for justice
Justice
Justice is a concept of moral rightness based on ethics, rationality, law, natural law, religion, or equity, along with the punishment of the breach of said ethics; justice is the act of being just and/or fair.-Concept of justice:...
and rights had absolutely no effect upon him. In fact he even publicly exposed a plot by members of the governing regime to assassinate an opposition Guyanese politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
(Rodney)in the paper he headed, the Catholic Standard. Amidst awards and honours from the international community he lamented the state of his countrymen and further hardships experienced by the certain fellow Jesuit elements, supporters of his cause.Fr Connors was deported from Guyana. At the turn of the 21st century, two noted American 'hitmen' appeared in the country apparently targeting Morrison, but to no avail. Nevertheless Fr Morrison would live to see the downfall of oppression
Oppression
Oppression is the exercise of authority or power in a burdensome, cruel, or unjust manner. It can also be defined as an act or instance of oppressing, the state of being oppressed, and the feeling of being heavily burdened, mentally or physically, by troubles, adverse conditions, and...
in Guyana and a complete return to democracy; largely due to his supremely brave, nevertheless non-political, efforts. This man whom a former national leader had described as a "cassocked obscenity" died peacefully in his home country of Guyana on 27 January 2004, and was laid to rest from the Sacred Heart Church in Georgetown
Georgetown, Guyana
Georgetown, estimated population 239,227 , is the capital and largest city of Guyana, located in the Demerara-Mahaica region. It is situated on the Atlantic Ocean coast at the mouth of the Demerara River and it was nicknamed 'Garden City of the Caribbean.' Georgetown is located at . The city serves...
amidst many tears and emotional tributes. He certainly lives on in the hearts of many as the man described by Fredrick Kissoon, Ricky Singh and Hugh O'Shaughnessy
Hugh O'Shaughnessy
Hugh O'Shaughnessy is an Irish journalist who has worked for over 40 years for major British newspapers including The Observer, The Independent, the Financial Times and most frequently The Guardian. He has also published a number of books focusing on Latin America. He was a friend of Salvador Allende...
as a 'Symbol of courage' & one who went about living serenely amidst insecurity; an insecurity that had his co workers quite nervous but was of no concern to him.