Kit Nascimento

Christopher A. Nascimento was born to a Portuguese Guyanese family on 4 January 1932. Nascimento was the nephew of Peter d'Aguiar,{{cite news |last1=Nascimento |first1=Kit |title=Norton's refusal to shake Ali's hand flouts the norms of democratic governance |url=https://www.stabroeknews.com/2022/08/04/opinion/letters/nortons-refusal-to-shake-alis-hand-flouts-the-norms-of-democratic-governance/ |access-date=16 December 2024 |work=Stabroek News |date=4 August 2022 |language=en-us}} a prominent figure in Guyanese politics during the process of independence and the leader and founder of The United Force.{{cite news |last1=Granger |first1=David |title=The Portuguese presence - Guyana Chronicle |url=https://guyanachronicle.com/2019/05/05/the-portuguese-presence/ |access-date=16 December 2024 |work=guyanachronicle.com |date=5 May 2019}} Nascimento is an alumnus of St. Stanislaus College.{{cite web |title=Christopher "Kit" Nascimento St. Stanislaus College Alumni Association - Toronto |url=http://torontosaints.com/news/christopher-kit-nascimento/102.html |website=torontosaints.com |publisher=St Stanislaus College |access-date=16 December 2024}} He was later educated in Britain and at Boston University in the United States.{{cite news |last1=Black |first1=Chris |title=Kit Nascimento after Jones Town |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-boston-globe-kit-nascimento-after-jo/38556943/?msockid=20d710a670ae6a1601b8030371246b09 |access-date=16 December 2024 |work=The Boston Globe |date=12 December 1978 |pages=30}}

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".{{cite news |last1=Nascimento |first1=Kit |title=The president responded to Belgrave and Moseley in conversational style, albeit unconventionally |url=https://www.stabroeknews.com/2024/06/25/opinion/letters/the-president-responded-to-belgrave-and-moseley-in-conversational-style-albeit-unconventionally/ |access-date=16 December 2024 |work=Stabroek News |date=25 June 2024 |language=en-us}} Nascimento became a member of the United Force, before joining the PNC following Guyanese independence in 1966,{{cite news |last1=Ram |first1=Ravi |title=Response to Kit Nascimento 1953 Movement |url=https://www.1953movement.com/response-to-kit-nascimento/ |access-date=16 December 2024 |work=1953 Movement |date=20 April 2020}} 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,{{cite web |title=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 |url=https://parliament.gov.gy/documents/hansards/25th_september,_1973___9th_sitting.pdf |publisher=Parliament of Guyana |access-date=16 December 2024}} a member of parliament, and a member of the PNC.{{cite web |title=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 |url=https://www.parliament.gov.gy/documents/minutes/10432-1st_sitting__minutes_of_proceedings.pdf |publisher=Parliament of Guyana |access-date=16 December 2024}} He maintained this position in government during the events of the Jonestown massacre.

{{main|Jonestown}}

Nascimento visited Jonestown in 1977 while other government ministers were in Panama during the signing of the Torrijos–Carter Treaties.{{cite web |last1=Jones |first1=Jim |title=Q782 Transcript – Alternative Considerations of Jonestown & Peoples Temple |url=https://jonestown.sdsu.edu/?page_id=110025 |publisher=San Diego State University |access-date=10 January 2025}} At the visit, Nascimento served Jones with papers related to the Stoen case by nailing the papers to a wooden wall,{{cite web |last1=Yates |first1=Bonnie |title=Eugene Chaikin: A Story from Jonestown – Alternative Considerations of Jonestown & Peoples Temple |url=https://jonestown.sdsu.edu/?page_id=34351#:~:text=The%20period%20in%20the%20aftermath%20of%20the%20attempt,to%20be%20known%20as%20the%20%E2%80%9Csix%20day%20siege.%E2%80%9D |website=Alternative Considerations of Jonestown & Peoples Temple |publisher=San Diego State University |access-date=10 January 2025}} 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.{{cite web |last1=Jones |first1=Jim |title=Q792 Transcript – Alternative Considerations of Jonestown & Peoples Temple |url=https://jonestown.sdsu.edu/?page_id=62366 |publisher=San Diego State University |access-date=10 January 2025}}

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 First Lady Rosalynn Carter, attempting to placate concerns about the Temple from the Guyanese government.{{cite news |last1=Nascimento |first1=Kit |title=Jonestown |url=https://guyanatimesgy.com/jonestown/ |access-date=16 December 2024 |work=Guyana Times |date=7 December 2024}}{{cite web |last1=Burke |first1=John |title=Serial 692 – Alternative Considerations of Jonestown & Peoples Temple |url=https://jonestown.sdsu.edu/?page_id=88715 |website=San Diego State University |publisher=United States Government |access-date=10 January 2025}}

Nascimento was already in the United States at Guyana's consulate office in New York City on 18 November 1978, visiting his wife, who was very ill.{{cite web |last1=Amos |first1=Sharon |title=Temple Meeting with Richard McCoy, April 23, 1978 – Alternative Considerations of Jonestown & Peoples Temple |url=https://jonestown.sdsu.edu/?page_id=121705 |access-date=10 January 2025}} At the office, he was contacted by Burnham immediately following the first reports of deaths in Jonestown. Following this, Nascimento became the spokesman for the Guyanese government in the United States, giving speeches at various universities and giving interviews to 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 the United States until at least 12 December.

Nascimento has since commented on Jonestown, completely denying any involvement of Burnham's PNC regime in the Jonestown affair.{{cite web |last1=Ishmael |first1=Odeen |title=Mass Murder, Secret Plots and Political Assassinations in Guyana (1978-1980) – Alternative Considerations of Jonestown & Peoples Temple |url=https://jonestown.sdsu.edu/?page_id=125292 |website=jonestown.sdsu.edu |publisher=Guyana Journal, 2006 |access-date=10 January 2025}} Nascimento also denied that Guyanese public officials had removed US$700,000 by plane from the Jonestown site.{{cite web |last1=Judge |first1=John |title=The Jonestown Banks – Alternative Considerations of Jonestown & Peoples Temple |url=https://jonestown.sdsu.edu/?page_id=78508 |website=Alternative Considerations of Jonestown & Peoples Temple |publisher=San Diego State University |access-date=10 January 2025}} 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.{{cite news |last1=Nascimento |first1=Kit |title=The Jonestown project should not be promoted and profited from as a tourist attraction |url=https://www.stabroeknews.com/2024/12/07/opinion/letters/the-jonestown-project-should-not-be-promoted-and-profited-from-as-a-tourist-attraction/ |access-date=10 January 2025 |work=Stabroek News |date=7 December 2024}}

In 1981, Nascimento was Minister for Mechanical Equipment in the Ministry of Works and Transport.{{cite web |title=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 |url=https://parliament.gov.gy/documents/hansards/19th_sitting_july_1981.pdf |publisher=Parliament of Guyana |access-date=16 December 2024}}

Following his political career in government, Nascimento became a communication consultant and public communications specialist,{{cite news |title='Ogunseye went unforgivably too far' - Guyana Chronicle |url=https://guyanachronicle.com/2023/04/04/ogunseye-went-unforgivably-too-far-2/ |access-date=10 January 2025 |work=guyanachronicle.com |date=4 April 2023}} and has continued to publish opinion pieces in Guyanese newspapers and international newspapers such as the Trinidad Express.{{cite web |title=Muck Rack {{!}} For journalists and public relations |url=https://muckrack.com/kit-nascimento |website=muckrack.com |access-date=10 January 2025 |language=en |date=29 September 2024}} Nascimento has also served as a member of Guyana's private sector commission.{{cite news |last1=Shiv |first1=Ahillya |title=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 |url=https://moha.gov.gy/minister-of-home-affairs-hon-robeson-benn-m-p-received-a-courtesy-call-from-chairman-of-the-private-sector-commission-psc-and-team/ |access-date=10 January 2025 |work=Minister of Home Affairs |publisher=Government of Guyana |date=10 February 2023}} Nascimento was a commentator on Vieira Communications Television (VCT) in the 1990s. As of 2025, Nascimento was a paid consultant for the President of Guyana, Irfaan Ali.{{cite news |title=Guyanese people deserve leaders who will fight for their interests, not cower behind geopolitical fears or blame predecessors |url=https://www.stabroeknews.com/2025/01/07/opinion/letters/guyanese-people-deserve-leaders-who-will-fight-for-their-interests-not-cower-behind-geopolitical-fears-or-blame-predecessors/ |access-date=10 January 2025 |work=Stabroek News |date=7 January 2025}}

{{main|2020 Guyanese general election}}

In May 2021, Nascimento and several Guyanese news outlets were sued for the sum of $2.6bn{{cite news |title=Granger sues Nascimento, newspapers for $2.6b over letters |url=https://www.stabroeknews.com/2021/05/06/news/guyana/granger-sues-nascimento-newspapers-for-2-6b-over-letters/ |access-date=10 January 2025 |work=Stabroek News |date=6 May 2021}} 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.{{cite news |title=Nascimento says unable to testify before elections inquiry because of Granger case |url=https://www.stabroeknews.com/2022/12/02/news/guyana/nascimento-says-unable-to-testify-before-elections-inquiry-because-of-granger-case/ |access-date=10 January 2025 |work=Stabroek News |date=2 December 2022}} Nascimento had been in a public row with Granger, with Granger accusing Nascimento of inflammatory and incorrect statements.{{cite news |title=Kit Nascimento Fires Back at Ministry of the Presidency – GSA News |url=https://guyanasouthamerica.gy/news/2020/05/24/kit-nascimento-fires-back-at-ministry-of-the-president/ |access-date=10 January 2025 |work=Guyana, South America News |date=24 May 2020}} Nascimento had accused Granger of attempting to rig the election.

Nascimento 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.{{cite news |last1= |first1= |title=Kit Nascimento elected president of THAG |url=https://www.stabroeknews.com/2013/08/28/news/guyana/kit-nascimento-elected-president-of-thag/ |access-date=16 December 2024 |work=Stabroek News |date=28 August 2013 |language=en-us}} Nascimento successfully encouraged the organisers of the Nereid Yacht Rally, an annual yacht rally, to permanently hold a stage in Guyana.{{cite news |last1=Outridge |first1=Michael |title='Why not here?' - Guyana Chronicle |url=https://guyanachronicle.com/2016/09/18/why-not-here/ |access-date=16 December 2024 |work=guyanachronicle.com |date=18 September 2016}}

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,{{cite news |title=Kit Nascimento looks at a game-changing blueprint to revive rugby in Guyana |url=https://www.kaieteurnewsonline.com/2023/10/13/kit-nascimento-looks-at-a-game-changing-blueprint-to-revive-rugby-in-guyana/ |access-date=10 January 2025 |work=Kaieteur News |date=13 October 2023}} 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,{{cite news |title=Nascimento appointed Patron of GRFU - Guyana Chronicle |url=https://guyanachronicle.com/2014/09/19/nascimento-appointed-patron-of-grfu/ |access-date=10 January 2025 |work=guyanachronicle.com |date=19 September 2014}} and was reappointed patron in 2023.{{cite news |last1=Campbell |first1=Emmerson |title=GRFU looking to put rugby back on world map |url=https://www.stabroeknews.com/2023/05/25/sports/grfu-looking-to-put-rugby-back-on-world-map/ |access-date=10 January 2025 |work=Stabroek News |date=25 May 2023}}

Nascimento married Gem Madhoo, a former member of staff at Guyana National Cooperative Bank.{{cite web |last1=Quamina Farrier |first1=Francis |title=A 'Gem' in Nascimento's 'Kit' - Guyana Chronicle |url=https://guyanachronicle.com/2021/06/27/a-gem-in-nascimentos-kit/ |website=guyanachronicle.com |publisher=Guyana Chronicle |access-date=16 December 2024}} He was previously married to Elayne Coyne, from Watertown, Massachusetts.

Virgil Nascimento is a protagonist in Paradise Undone: A Novel of Jonestown by Annie Dawid, published in 2023. The character is based on Nascimento and Laurence Everil Mann, the Ambassador of Guyana to the United States from 1975 to 1981.{{cite book |last1=Dawid |first1=Annie |title=Paradise Undone: A Novel of Jonestown |publisher=Inkspot Publishing |id={{ASIN|1916708005|country=uk}} }}

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Category:Living people

Category:1932 births

Category:Guyanese journalists

Category:Guyanese people of Portuguese descent

Category:20th-century Guyanese politicians

Category:21st-century Guyanese politicians

Category:Rugby union in Guyana

Category:Rugby union executives