The People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) observed the 35th death anniversary of its founder leader, Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham on Thursday with a wreath-laying ceremony at his mausoleum, Place of the Seven Ponds.
Former President and current PNCR Leader David Granger lays a floral tribute at Seven Ponds on Thursday
The main address was delivered by PNCR Leader, Retired Brigadier David Granger, who stated that Burnham, who served as the first Executive President of Guyana, was a visionary leader.
Granger addressing the gathering at the ceremony
“Political independence, for him, was the gateway to the objective of economic independence. Economic independence necessitated the eradication of poverty, the elimination of inequality through education and the generation of employment through economic empowerment,” the former President noted.
Granger added that Burnham initiated a transformative phase, which, in retrospect, could be deemed a ‘decade of development,’ from 1965 to 1975 and more so, encouraged self-reliance to stimulate local and village ingenuity and self-employment.
Burnham died 35 years ago on August 6, 1985 at the age of 62. “His ideals are not dead. His ideas on economic independence are as alive today as they were 50 years ago when they flourished,” Granger noted.
Meanwhile, the former President stated that it was his proud duty to have launched the “Decade of Development, 2020-2029” on January 1, 2020.
This, he added, was not done as an imitation, but, rather, as a continuation of the founder-leader’s work and a realisation of his vision for a prosperous nation.
“We, the heirs and successors, honour Forbes Burnham’s service to this nation. We recommit to the perpetuation of his legacy of economic emancipation and empowerment,’” Granger added.
