The Road to Independence

As we celebrate Guyana’s 55th Independence Anniversary, let us reflect on how the journey began.

Certainly, the seeds of seeking an end to colonialism must have been planted in the hard days of slavery and indentureship when life was unbelievably difficult and the reason for the crushing oppression and cruelty was easy to define.
Billions of words have been written about slavery, the middle passage, the unbearable cruelty of the slave masters and the many uprisings against slavery. These were dealt with in ways which are almost beyond belief. Cheddi Jagan in his book “The West on Trial” writes about the prisoners in the Berbice uprising: “…53 of the defendants were condemned to death. Next day, 15 of them were burnt to death over a slow fire and 16 were broken on the rob rock. The remaining 22 persons were hanged…”

After slavery was abolished, indentured labourers for the many sugar estates were brought to this country. Their conditions were slightly better than the slaves. Dr Jagan in his book quotes Elizabeth Caesar, a labourer of Plantation Vreed-en-Hoop: “…the Coolies were locked up in the sick house and next morning they were flogged with a cat-o’-nine tails; the manager was in the house, and they flogged the people under his house; they were tied to the post of the gallery… I cannot tell how many licks; he gave them enough. I saw blood. When they were flogged at the manager’s house, they rubbed salt pickle on their backs.”
With these experiences and much more, the spirit of resistance against those who caused the sufferings was inlaid and would later be expressed in a desire to be free of such exploitation.

Guyana’s history shows that the very beginning of the recognition of the need to be independent of Britain began with the formation of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) in 1950. The concept of a struggle to free British Guiana of colonialism probably had its origin in Cheddi Jagan’s studies, while a student in the USA, of the writings of Jawaharlal Nehru and Mahatma Gandhi. At that time, India was on a course aimed at complete independence from British rule. The struggle inspired many in the British, Dutch, French and Belgium colonies in all parts of the world to follow suit.
As early as 1945, Cheddi Jagan, in an article, wrote: “It therefore behoves the working class people to get control of Government through their constitutional ballots in our forthcoming election, with a view towards complete independence.”
And after the PPP was founded, in its first manifesto, the party declared: “The People’s Progressive Party recognising that the final abolition of exploitation and oppression, of economic crises and unemployment and wars will only be achieved by the socialist reorganisation of society, pledges itself to the task of winning a free and independent Guianese society in which security, plenty, peace and freedom shall be the heritage of all.”
Thus began the struggle in the then British Guiana for independence. Somewhere in the psyche of the onetime slaves and indentured workers lay the elements of resistance to those who brought about the misery of their forefathers. It took time for most Guyanese to accept the idea that Guyana could be a free and independent nation.
Many scoffed at the advocacy, by the PPP, of independence from Britain. British Guiana is too small to be independent, they said. There was talk of an amalgamation of the three Guianas – British, Dutch and French – into one country.
Conservatives and recipients of favoured positions from the British, the business and religious community (Christian), were against such an “outrageous” idea. There was, indeed, a lot of opposition to the concept of independence. The PPP pursued its objective through the years. Former allies fell out and I can recall, would only support independence if Jagan were not at the head of Government. The Cold War, too, had its negative effects which led to political interference and a nation in dire conflict.
Despite the long and difficult struggle for independence, which many countries also experienced, Guyana became a free and independent nation and proudly took its place in the United Nations and other organisations, like the Non-Aligned Movement, the OAS, etc.
All Guyanese can be proud that we have overcome oppression, exploitation and attempts at a dictatorship. Guyana is a democracy that upholds all the finest principles of a democratic state. We have our problems, serious problems, but they will be overcome. Unity is the password to our future. (Excerpts from an article written by the late and former President Janet Jagan)

Independence heroes
Cheddi Berret Jagan – (March 1918 March 1997) Executive President of the Republic of Guyana: Oct 9, 1992 – Mar 6, 1997
Jagan was born on March 22, 1918, on the sugar plantation of Port Mourant, Berbice. His father was a foreman of a work crew on the plantation. His grandparents had come from India as indentured labourers.
After primary school and two years of secondary school, his father sent him to Queen’s College in the city of Georgetown. He was then fifteen years old. In September 1935, Cheddi left for the United States where he did pre-dental studies at Howard University. He was able to earn a scholarship to pay for his second year at Howard.
In 1938, he entered Northwestern University and embarked on a four-year dental programme, graduating in 1942. While studying dentistry, he was also doing courses in social studies. He graduated in 1942, with a degree in dental surgery (DDS) and a Bachelor of Sciences degree (BSc).
On August 5, 1943, he married a student nurse, Janet Rosenberg before returning home in October that year. Cheddi set up his dental practice with the help of his wife, as dental assistant, his brother, as laboratory assistant, and a cousin. He also spent a great deal of time with the workers and was soon established as a labour leader.
In 1947, Dr Jagan formally entered the political arena with his election to the National Assembly. In 1950, three years later, he created the People’s Progressive Party (PPP). In 1953, the PPP won the first elections held under Universal Adult Suffrage. However, Britain suspended the Constitution, citing the PPP’s pro-communist ideology. The British sent troops and warships to deal with any resistance they might encounter but there were only peaceful demonstrations. Dr Jagan was imprisoned for six months for not obeying an order limiting his movements.
In 1955, Dr Jagan was re-elected leader of the People’s Progressive Party. Between 1953 and 1957, the PPP was split in two factions. Dr Jagan continued to be leader of the PPP, while the new faction, named the People’s National Congress (PNC), was led by Forbes Burnham.
The PPP won the 1957 and 1961 elections, becoming the country’s first Premier, and formed the Government. In 1964 the PPP again won the election with a majority of the votes cast. However, the elections were held under the system of Proportional Representation, the Government was formed by a coalition comprising the PNC, led by Burnham and the United Force (UF), led by businessman, Peter D’Aguiar.
Dr Jagan was leader of the Opposition until 1992, when the PPP won the elections that year. He became President and remained so until his death on March 6, 1997. (GINA)

Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham
LFS Burnham – (1923-1985) First Executive President of the Republic of Guyana: (Oct 6, 1980 – Aug 6, 1985)

Burnham was born in Kitty, on February 20, 1923. He was the son of James Ethelbert and Rachel Abigail Burnham. He attended the Kitty Methodist School; Central High School, and Queen’s College. His hobbies included cricket, chess and horseback riding.
In 1954 he won the Centenary Exhibition and a Government Junior Scholarship. In 1955 he was awarded the Percival Exhibition. In 1942, Burnham received the highest scholastic award in the country at that time, the British Guiana Scholarship. This annual award was reserved for the scholar attaining the highest grades at the Senior Cambridge Examinations held locally.
In 1944, Burnham earned the Bachelor of Arts Degree at External Examinations of the University of London. In 1947, he received his Bachelor of Laws (Hons) degree at the University of London. In 1948 he was admitted to the bar of the Honourable Society of Gray’s Inn, London.
An extemporary scholar, Burnham was noted for his oratory skills. In 1947 Burnham was elected President of the West Indian Students Union in London, a position which allowed him to participate as a delegate of the Union in the International Union of Students’ Congress in Prague (1947) and Paris (1948).
In 1951 he married Sheila Bernice Lataste. They had three daughters: Roxanne, Annabelle, and Francesca. In 1957 he married Viola Victorine Harper and together they had two daughters, Melanie and Ulele. Burnham returned to British Guiana (Guyana) and in 1949, along with Dr Cheddi Jagan they founded the People’s Progressive Party (PPP). Burnham was Chairman of the party.
In 1952, Burnham was elected to the Georgetown Town Council. In 1959 he became Mayor of Georgetown, and again in 1964. In 1959, Burnham was elected President of the Bar Association of Guyana. In 1963 and in 1965 he was elected President of the Guyana Labour Union. In 1953 when the PPP Government came to power, Burnham was appointed Minister of Education.
In 1957 he founded his own political Party – the People’s National Congress. This followed the suspension of the British Guiana Constitution by the British Government, and the rift in the PPP. In 1964 the PNC became the major party in a coalition Government with the United Force and Burnham became Premier of British Guiana.
May 26, 1966, Burnham led the country to independence and was the first Prime Minister of Guyana. Guyana became a Republic in 1970. On October 6, 1980, Burnham became Guyana’s first Executive President, a position he held until his death.
On August 6, 1985, Burnham died at the Georgetown Hospital in Guyana after a throat operation. (GINA)