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Guyana government officials are now considering turning the site of the Jonestown Massacre, where more than 900 died, into a tourist attraction. A survivor and a woman who lost 27 family members there are critical of the proposal.
SAN MATEO, Calif. – It’s a dark chapter in history.
The Jonestown massacre in 1978 left more than 900 dead in Guyana, a country in South America.
Now, that country is considering turning that site into a tourist attraction.
The massacre 46 years ago, is forever etched in the minds of the families of the people killed and survivors.
They are critical of the Guyana government’s possible partnership with a tour operator to turn the site into a tourist attraction.
One opponent is Jackie Speier, a longtime former U.S. congresswoman who is now San Mateo County Supervisor-elect.
Peoples Temple follower Larry Layton (C) stands with police following his arrest November 18, 1978 in the shooting of two people on a remote Guyana airstrip. (Photo by David Hume Kennerly/Getty Images)
She was in Jonestown then and survived after being shot multiple times.
“I was horrified because it doesn’t deserve to be a tourist attraction,” Speier said on Wednesday. “And for a company to think this is adventure tourism is missing the mark. “
Speier was an aide to then-Congressman Leo Ryan, who was assassinated during the massacre.
They were there to investigate claims that people were being held against their will at the People’s Temple founded by cult leader Jim Jones.
Speier said if there is to be a memorial for the victims, it should be located in the capital of Guyana and not Jonestown,
“This is a very remote area of Guyana, in the middle of the jungle deep, in a jungle with a remote airstrip,” she said.
Jackie Speier, legal counsel to the late Representative Leo Ryan, tells her opinion about religious cults at the State Bar Convention. Mrs. Speier, who was in Guyana when 913 persons including Ryan perished, said she believes the Jonestown cult mass
Rose Sewcharran, director of Wanderlust Adventures, the private tour operator who plans to take visitors to Jonestown, was quoted in the Associated Press, as saying: “We think it is about time. This happens all over the world. We have multiple examples of dark, morbid tourism around the world, including Auschwitz and the Holocaust Museum.”
“I would hope that the U.S. government would send a letter, a strongly worded letter, to the Prime Minister of Guyana that this is not a great idea. We encourage you not to do it,” said Speier.
Family members of the victims are still feeling the pain.
“It’s just been a very hard journey. You would think after 46 years, we heal, but you never forget,” said Jynona Norwood.
She said 27 of her family members were killed in the massacre, including her mother and numerous cousins.
Norweed said she wants to know more about the tourism proposal, but she opposes any glorification of Jim Jones.
“I would not support them making money and not doing anything good with the money that they make off the tourist attraction, if they’re charging. It would be shameful,” Norwood said.
“We heal, but you never forget it.”
Guyana’s tourism minister said the government has already helped clear the area and that it is aware of the pushback.
Guyana is a country that rarely sees tourists, but is now hoping to attract more of them.
Amber Lee is a reporter with KTVU. Email Amber at Amber.Lee@Fox.com or text/leave message at 510-599-3922. Follow her on Facebook @AmberKTVU, Instagram @AmberKTVU or Twitter @AmberKTVU
