Guyana’s 60th Independence anniversary: Photographic journey exhibition launched at Cheddi Jagan Research Centre

A photographic exhibition highlighting Guyana’s journey to independence and the contributions of Dr Cheddi Jagan has officially been launched at the Cheddi Jagan Research Centre.

The exhibition aims to help Guyanese better understand the country’s independence journey through a series of pictorial displays and accompanying narratives. The displays highlight key moments in the struggle for independence, particularly the role played by Dr Cheddi Jagan in the quest for nationhood.
The photographs and exhibits are arranged in chronological order to provide visitors with a clearer and more coherent understanding of Guyana’s independence struggle.
The public exhibition is intended to place the nation’s fight for independence in its proper historical perspective and is expected to benefit the wider public, particularly schoolchildren who will visit the displays over time.
Speaking at the event, organiser Indra Chanderpaul stated that schools will be actively engaged in the exhibition through organised visits and educational participation.
“And I must tell you, we did not invite a lot of people because, as you came, you noticed we didn’t put too many chairs. We wanted people to walk around and see the exhibition. But this is only the beginning because, as of tomorrow, we already have schools that have indicated an interest in coming. And that is what we’re interested in – getting schools to come and see the exhibition, as well as the media, because there are periods in our history that no one wants to talk about.”
“As we say, the elephant in the room, we just ignore it, but there are things that we need to talk about in this nation in order for us to heal,” she stated.
Chanderpaul further noted that the exhibition is intended to educate schoolchildren about Guyana’s history and encourage them to share the experience with others. She added that books documenting historical events of the 1960s are also available at the exhibition for informational purposes.
Meanwhile, former President Donald Ramotar highlighted the significant efforts undertaken by President Dr Cheddi Jagan during Guyana’s journey toward independence, noting the importance of his leadership in the struggle for nationhood.
“Dr Jagan raised the question of independence almost immediately after he came back from the United States. And you have to understand what was happening in the world at that time. There was a ferment after the end of the Second World War. The national liberation movement was gaining momentum, and many wars of liberation, particularly in Asia, were also gaining momentum.”
Ramotar also noted that Dr Jagan was not opposed to the Private Sector, a view which was contrary to what many people believed.
“Dr Jagan was not against the Private Sector, as a lot of people talked about. What he was against was one company having so much power that it could practically dictate to the state. He wanted to transform the country from being one that only produced raw materials. For more than 300 years, we had been producing sugar.”
He ended his speech by urging Guyanese to reflect on the struggles faced during the fight for independence and democracy.
“So at this time, as we look forward to celebrating our 60th anniversary of independence, let’s take courage and heart from the struggles that the second generation of the PPP endured to bring our country to where it is today. Even though we did not achieve the type of independence we had hoped for, and after independence we entered a neo-colonial stage and had to fight for democracy and regain democracy in 1992, independence is still one of the most important achievements in the history of the Guyanese people.”
Guyana gained independence from the United Kingdom on May 26, 1966, transitioning from British Guiana to an independent nation within the Commonwealth, with Forbes Burnham serving as its first Prime Minister.
The country later became a republic on February 23, 1970. This year, Guyana will celebrate its 60th anniversary of independence on May 26.