African Guyanese History series
Elected African- Guyanese Mayors, Premiers, Prime Ministers, Presidents, and Opposition Leaders of Guyana
African-Guyanese History Readings and handouts
Part 4
African-Guyanese History Readings and handouts Part 4
1. James Rodway The Story of Georgetown
2. Deryck M. Bernard A New Geography of Guyana (London:Macmillan Education Ltd., 1999)
3. Hazel Woolford A Guide to the Sources on the Public Life of H.D. Hoyte 2001)
4. C.A. Nascimento and R. A. Burrowes A Destiny to mould
5. Lena and Daniel Platt The Ants Will Come and Tell Me (2021)
6. Mohammed Shahabudeen Constitutionaldevelopmentin Guyana, 1621-1978
7. Wikipedia
8. Ferguson, Tyrone Structuraladjustmentand good governance (1995)
9. Tom Dalgety PNC Burnham and Beyond (2009)
10. Desmond Hoyte Guyana’s EconomicRecovery:Leadership, Willpowerand Vision. Selected Speeches of Hugh Desmond Hoyte (1997)
11. Woolford, Hazel (Editor) An Introductory readerto women’s studies in Guyana Georgetown: GuyanaRed Thread Press, 2000
12. Simeon Corbin H.E. David ArthurGranger (2015)
13. Clive Y. Thomas “State Capitalism in Guyana:An Assessmentof Burnham’s Cooperative Socialist Republic” in McGowan, Winston;Rose, James;and Granger, David Themes in African-Guyanese History Georgetown:The Free press, 1998.
14. GIHRJournal Issue 5 2017.pdf
a. Chapter 2: Governance and an Ethnically divided society
By Aubrey Nortonb. Chapter 3: African Extremism in an Age of Political Decay: The case of Guyana
By Frederick KissoonElected African- Guyanese Mayors, Premiers, Prime Ministers, Presidents, and Opposition Leaders of Guyana Part 1
1. Georgetown
List of Mayor’s of Georgetown – 1837 to Present
1837 John Croal
1838 Hugh Mc Calmont
1839-1840 John Perarce
1841 Henry Howes
1842 H. E Young& Henry Howes
1843 John Downie
1844-1846 J.F.O. Obermuller
1847 R. Haynes
1848-1849 S. SweetNam
1850 Charles Conyers
1851 J.F.O. Obermuller
1852-1853 William Mc Pherson
1854 William Hicks
1855 John Morrison
1856-1858 Charles Lyness
1859-1861 William Holmes
1862-1863 J.W Davson
1864 William Holmes
18665-1866 F.A.R. Winter
1867 E.C. Barr
1868 J.W. Davson
1869 D.V. Abraham
1870-1871 Andrew Hunter
1872 Michael Bugle
1873-1874 Andrew Hunter
1875-1876 AlexanderDuff
1877-1878 R.P. Drysdale
1897-1880 G.A. Forshaw
1881 R.P. Drysdale
1882-1883 G.A. Forshaw
1884-1885 R.P. Drysdale
1886-1887 G.A. Forshaw
1888-1889 James Thompson
1890 R.P. Drysdale, James Thompson
1891 J.B. Woolford
1892-1893 G.A. Forshaw
1894-1895 J.B. Woolford
1896 AlexanderDuncan
1899 J.A. Murdeek
1900 James Thompson 1991 J.A. Murdeek
1902-1903 J. Wood Davis
1904-1905 E.A.V Abraham
1906-1907 M.P. Gonsalves
1908-1909 Francis Dias
1910-1911 P.W. Brown
1912-1913 Francis Dias
1914 J.S. Mc Arthur
1915-1916 Francis Dias
1917- 1918 Hon. Nelson Cannon
1919-1920 Hon. E.C. Woolford
1921-1922 N. Nascimento
1923 Hon. George Drysdale- Bailey
1924 Hon. Nelson Cannon
1925-1926 Hon.R.E. Brassington
1927 Hon. George Drysdale- Bailey
1928-1932 Hon. Percy Claude Wight
1933-1938 Hon. Joseph Gonsalves
1939-1940 Hon. Percy Claude Wight
1941-1942 Hon. Claude VibertWight
1943-1944 Hon. Joseph Gonsalves
1945-1946 Hon. Claude VibertWight
1947 Edward Marciel Gonsalves
1948 Edward Marciel Gonsalves
1949-1950 Hon. Claude VibertWight, O.E.E
1951-1952 Rahaman B. Gajraj, B.A.
1953 Hon. Claude VibertWight, O.E.E.J.P.
1955-1956 Lionel A. Luckhoo Q.C., L.P
1957-1958 Claude A. Merriman
1959 L.F.S Burnham, B.A., L.B., (Hons) M.L.C
1960-1961 Lionel A. Luckhoo Q.C., L.P.
1962-1963 Claude A. Merriman J.P., M.L.A
1964 L.F.S Burnham Q.C., J.P., B.A.
1965-1966 Rhaman B. Gajraj C.C.E
1967 Mrs. D.V. Bayley, M.B.E.
1968-1969 Archibald Codrington
1970-1971 John M. Ford
1972-1974 Mrs. B Simon
1975 Kenneth Shortt
1976 Kenneth Shorttand Cecil Persaud J.P.
1977-1980 Cecil Persaud J.P.
1981-1985 Mavis Benn J.P.
1986 Robroy Whyte & Luucille Cox David (Both J.P.)
1987-1989 RobertWilliams J.P
1990-1994 Compton YoungJ.P.
1994-1995 Hamilton Green J.P.
1995-1996 Ranwell Jordan J.P.
1996-2015 Hamilton Green J.P.
Did you know this about our past President, Forbes
While a student in London, his keen interest in politics earned him the presidency of the West Indian Students Union in 1947 and participation as a delegate to the Students Congresses in Prague in 1947 and Paris in 1948.
Uponhis return to Guyana, he became a co-founderand Chairmanof the People's ProgressiveParty. In 1952, he was elected to the Georgetown City Council where he served as Mayor on two occasions, in 1959 and 1964.
Former Deputy Prime Minister Brindley Benn dies at 86
BrindleyHoratio Benn
Former Minister of Government, one of the key leaders of the Guyanese independence movement and Deputy Prime MinisterBrindley Horatio Benn died yesterday atage 86.
Father of current Minister of Transport and Hydraulics Robeson Benn, the Cacique Crown of Honour awardee served in the capacity as Ministerof Education, National Development, Agriculture and Natural Resources in the late 1950s and 1960s.
Born in Kitty, Georgetown, on January 24, 1923, Brindley Benn, named after a MethodistPriest, Rev. J.B Brindley, is the second of five boys born to Rosa and Samuel Benn. His humble educational upbringing began at the St. James-the-Less Primary School (now F.E. Pollard) and the Roman Catholic School in Queenstown forabrief period.
Afterwriting the Junior and SeniorCambridge Examination at the Central High School, Brindley Benn sat five subjects.
His journey after school led him to Kwakwani where he gained employment as a clerk with the Bauxite Company where his father served as a senior staff at the Reynolds Mining and Metals Company, and his mother, acatererand boarderin the community. In 1948 his fatherSamuelBenn died in Kwakwaniwhere he was buried.
In the 1940s, Brindley Benn returned to Georgetown and began teachingata high schoolin Broad Street. He later became the owner of his own school which was located in Evans Street which he operated for aboutthree years.
He wenton to teach Latin and French at Richard IshmaelSecondary School. His religious upbringing as a Methodist led him to become a Choir Master at the St Sidwell’s Anglican Church in 1945, which was popular in the public domain. He served there foraboutfive years.
Influenced by the speeches of the late President Dr Cheddi Jagan about the occurrences in the bauxite industry and colonial rule, Brindley Benn joined the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) and became integrally involved in politics. He subsequently founded the Pioneer Youth League, a predecessor to the Progressive Youth Organisation (PYO).
His party campaigning activities led him to New Amsterdam Berbice in 1953. This however led to his detention afterthe constitution was suspended.
Afterreturning to Georgetown in 1956, Brindley Benn was elected Chairman of the PPP and Memberof the Executive Committee. He served as representative of the Essequibo Islands and the Interior.
After the party contested and won the 1957 elections, Brindley Benn was appointed Minister of Community Development and Education. It was during this time that he organised the National History and Culture Week (1961 to 1964) underthe theme, OnePeople, One Nation,One Destiny,the slogan that later became Guyana’s independence motto.
Brindley Benn was appointed Minister of Agriculture afterthe PPP contested and won the 1961 General Elections, and formed the Guyana School of Agriculture in 1963. He also had oversight functions of the implementation of the Mahaica Mahaicony Abary (MMA), Boerasirie Scheme, Tapacuma Scheme and Black Bush Polder.
Unrestin the early 1960s lead to Brindley Benn’s detention by the British and imprisonmentat the Sibley Hall, Mazaruni Prison for severalmonths. He was released in 1965.
Afterhis release Brindley Benn formed his own party, the Working People’s Vanguard Party (WPVP),and in the late 1970s he joined with prominentfigure WalterRodney and othersto form the WorkingPeople’s Alliance (WPA).
After the return of the PPP to government in 1992, Brindley Benn joined the list of candidates and was later appointed Guyana’s High Commissionerto Canada from 1993 to 1998.
Forbes Burnham
Premier of Guyana: 1964-1966
KendesiMohammed
February 18
Forbes Burnham's Contributions To Guyana
Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham (20 February 1923 – 6 August1985) was a Guyanese politician and the leaderof the Co-operative Republicof Guyanafrom 1964 until his death in 1985.
What did Forbes Burnham contribute to Guyana?
Educated as a lawyer, Burnham was instrumental in the foundation of two political parties (the People's National Congress and the People's Progressive Party) that would come to dominate the Politics of Guyana.
In 1950, CheddiJagan, of Indian-Guyaneseorigin, and Forbes Burnham, who was Afro-Guyanese, created the colony's first political party, the Progressive People's Party (PPP), dedicated to gaining the colony's independence.
In 1953 Guyanawas granted home rule and CheddiJagan was elected chief minister.
In 1964, Burnham came to powerin whatwas then British Guianain elections in which he defeated Cheddi Jagan, a mercurial Marxist who had alarmed London and Washington. Mr. Burnham, a formerally of Mr. Jagan, led Guyanato independencein 1966 and introduced his own form of socialism at home and sought to maintain a neutralpolicy abroad. In 1980, with the adoption of a new constitution, he took the title of executive president.
In 1965, Burnham along with Errol Barrow of Barbados were the founders of the Caribbean Free Trade Association (CARIFTA), which came into operation on 1May 1968. CARIFTA would, in 1973, be superceded by CARICOM.
On 26 May 1966, British Guianabecame an independentcountry and was renamed "Guyana".
How long was Burnham Presidentof Guyana?
October6, 1980 – August6, 1985
1966-1980: Prime Minister of Guyana. In one of Burnham's first acts upon independence, he passed a sweeping "National Security Act", permitting unrestricted search-and-seizure powers and the ability to detain individuals for up to 90 days without trial.
African Guyanese Prime Ministers
The Head of Government is the Prime Minister.
Prime Ministers
Linden Forbes Burnham 26 May 1966- 6 0ctober 1980
Ptolemy Alexander Reid 6 October 1980- 16 August 1984
Hugh Desmond Hoyte 16 August 1984 -6 August 1985
Hamilton Green 6 August 1985 – 9 October 1992
Samuel Hinds 9 October 1992 – 17 March 1997
Samuel Hinds 22 December 1997 – 9 August 1999
Samuel Hinds 11 August 1999 – 2015
Mark Phillips 9 August 2020-
African-Guyanese Presidents
The Head of State is the President.
The First Vice President is the Prime Minister. Presidents
▪ Linden Forbes Burnham (1980- 1985)
▪ Hugh Desmond Hoyte (1985- 1992)
▪ Samuel Archibald Hinds(1997-1997)
▪ David Arthur Granger (2015-2020)
Deputy Prime Ministers of Guyana/Vice Presidents
▪ Hugh Desmond Hoyte, S.C. M.P. Vice President , Economic Planning and Finance
▪ Viola Burnham, Vice President, and Deputy Prime Minister, Education and Social Development.
▪ Haslyn Parris, Vice President, and Deputy Prime Minister, Planning and Development.
▪ Robert Corbin, Vice President, and Deputy Prime Minister, Agriculture.
The commentary of Mike Benjamin
This morningI got around to thinkingand reflection. I’ve lived through several Presidents; ArthurChung, Forbes Burnham, Desmond Hoyte, Cheddieand JanetJagan, Sam Hinds, Bharrat Jagdeo, Donald Ramotar and now David Granger. They have governed in their unique styles but each has contributed in shaping this nation.
I’ve lived through the “Feed, clothe and house the nation” era, the Economic Recovery Project, long periods of blackoutwith varyingnames:load shedding, poweroutages etc. I’vefeastedon rice flourbread and cakes, ate cassava bread and jam as a substitute to wheatflour products. I’ve lived underthe threat of “Beri Beri.” Amidst it all I’ve survived. Guyana has been buffeted around by powerful nations, more particularly the USA, whose financial institutions directed my life with a stroke of the pen. Amidst it all I learntthat my country is aparadise with resources aplenty;rice, sugar, bauxite,athrivingtouristindustry, diamond and gold, beautifultouristsites and the list extends.
I’ve lived through corrupt public officials, failed projects, a defective barge that failed to produce even one megawattof power. I’velived through the execution age whencitizens were killed with impunity. I’ve traveled to North America, Europe, around the Caribbean, Africa BUT always returned to Guyana; I’ve neverlostfaith in this country.
Now that we are on the cusp of prosperity; now that the oil is set to flow I will stick up my finger. I have been a true patriot and like Jimmy Cliff will demand my share of the wealth. We are six races but one people. Guyanese, we’ve struggled together yet we kept our eyes on the prize. Let us continue to unite so we all benefitfrom ourpatrimony. Can we do it. Resoundingly....YES, we can! feelingoptimistic.
Desmond Hoyte coerced me into politics after listeningto my tribute to former GNS Director General, the late CliffordKlass. Along with the leader, I was the only personattributed the honor of a tribute at the ceremonyin Buxton, all others were relegatedto the Carifesta Avenue Sports Complex. He was so impressed thathe sentfor me at his Congress Place Office and therein began my interestin politics. Dessy, tutored me in the finer arts of the field and really paid attention to my upheaval. I worked along such political heavyweights as Aubrey Norton, Ambassadors Ronald Austin and Hamley Case, Vincent Alexander, Sherwood Lowe and along list of esteemed politicians.
At that time, Dessy was the opposition leader but he carried himself with such aplomb that one would have easily mistaken him for the President of this country. A truly brilliant man, Dessie went out of his way to let me know that he thoughthighly of me.
I worked in the PR departmentat Congress Place and was constantly on the move to all parts of Guyana wheneverduty called for the leader.
One particular trip resonates in my mind; the one to Mabaruma and then on to Moruka. I flew from Georgetown to Mabaruma and later joined the speedboat for a lengthy journey through the ‘hundred turn’ to Moruka. The leaderlaterflew in with the GDF Chopper. Followingthe end of his visit we prepared to return to Georgetown and I was informed that I would have had to go the Pomeroon route by speedboat. I immediately complained to Dessie while informing him that I usually get sick on water. He demanded thatI ride on the helicopterbutwith no available seatI settled foraride on the floor. The pilot, Edgar Heligar, a formerclassmate at Multi was only too happy to accommodate me.
Anothertime I was bounced off the plane to Lethem afterthe late, Godwin McPherson claimed that the flight was filled. Dessy picked up the phone and like magic a seat was available. Ironically, I was merely a hundred meters away from his North Road home when I got the news of his passing. I immediately rode to his residence and received confirmation.
Dessie ‘s death leftme with a bitter pall in my throat and even though I did not shed tears, my heartwas broken.
I was later asked to give a tribute at his funeral service at Congress Place, somethingI consideran honor to this day. No other leader recognized my ability in politics (which is sad) and I resignedly took a back seat afterDessy’s death.
Of note though, formerPresidentBharratJagdeo did send for me at his office and we spoke on issues I’d prefernotto elaborate on. My honorwill always be to aman who recognized my ability and my verve and alacrity to serve my country and opened that door for me. Death and a few other narrow minded politicians firmly slammed it shut.
Sleep on dearleader, yourchastity and wisdom will foreverinfluence my life!
RethinkingForbesBurnham:Revelationsfromthe“303 Committee”onlayingthe foundation for Guyana’s dictatorship
By Baytoram Ramharack
On July 9, 1999, University of the West Indies lecturer Tyrone Ferguson launched his book To Survive Sensibly or to Court Heroic Death: The Political and Economic Managementof Guyana 1965-1985, which examined Forbes Burnham’spolitical tenure in office. Dr. Ferguson, havinggrown up duringthe Burnham years, told Stabroek News thathe was motivated by “deep concern at the myths which had been thrown up by the mantra of the 28 wasted years”. He revealed that when he posed the question to Burnham aboutthe CIA putting him in office, Burnham retorted “Tommyrotand absolute Balderdash! The CIA and ourselves, neverhad any connection”. However, released information from the Foreign Relations of the United States (FRUS) offers remarkable insights into the depth and scope of the interaction between Burnham and the US, revealing Burnham’s calculating and perfidious plans to construct Guyana’s dictatorship amidst growingAmerican geopolitical concerns in the region.
At the height of the Cold War, a “303 Committee”, which included inter-agency cooperation among the US State Department, National Security Council and Central Intelligence Agency, was established to oversee US covert operations in Latin America under the Kennedy, Johnson and Nixon Administrations. Between 1962 and 1968, the 303 Committee approved US$2.08 million for its covert operations programme in Guyana. In hindsight, Burnham’s plan to rig the 1968 elections, the firstin a series of rigged elections, was part of a grandiose plan to build his dictatorship. Despite the PPP split in 1955, the parting of ways of Burnham and Jagan and ethnic re-alignment, Burnham still had to contend with a growing Indian population loyal to Jagan and a PPP enamored with a superior propaganda, electoral and mobilization machinery – one guaranteed to win a plurality of votes in a free and fair election.
The 1961 and 1964 elections established the pre-conditions,as wellas the pretextnecessary forBurnham to put his nefarious plan into action. Following the August 1961 elections, the Americans were still prepared to hitch their wagon with Jagan, but they were optimistically cautious, given the unfolding events in Fidel Castro’s Cuba. Secretary of State Dean Rusk, a central character in the Kennedy and Johnson Administrations, had grave reservations about Jagan’s intentions, and he played a decisive role in shaping US foreign policy towards British Guiana. A more sympathetic Arthur Schlesinger, Kennedy’s Special Assistant, in his memo to Kennedy on August 30, 1961 attempted to “salvage Jagan” by offering
Jagan technical and economicsupport, assistance with Guyana’s admittance into the OAS and Alliance for Progress, and “a friendly eception” with Kennedy during his October meeting. However, after assessing Jagan’s plans for the economic and political development of a future Guyana on October 25, 1961 followinghis meetingwith PresidentKennedy, the US-Jagan relationship quickly deteriorated. In February 1962, a determined Dean Rusk wrote to his British counterpartadvising him that “it is not possible for us to put up with an independentBritish Guiana underJagan”. On June 22, 1962, during cross-examination by the Commonwealth Commission of Inquiry into the January riots, Jagan bared his communist credentials for the world to see. By July 1962, the CIA was planning a covert operation to remove Jagan from office. During the first quarter of 1963, the US State Department, American Consulate Generaland Her Majesty’s Government had agreed on a new electoral system of “proportional representation” to preventJagan’s re-election. Notsurprisingly, on February 6, 1964, Rusk reminded PresidentJohnson that the “Emergence of another Communist state in this hemisphere cannot be accepted; there is grave risk of Jagan establishing a Castrotype regime should he attain independence”. The stage was set. Jagan’s political folly would lead him into political wilderness forthe next26 years followingindependence. The coalition of convenience formed after the 1964 elections was constructed on precarious grounds. Burnham made little attemptto solicit ideas from PeterD’Aguiarand cabinetmeetings were held without the UF leader, who held the Finance Minister portfolio. The two men were separated by ideological, personality and temperamental differences, with undercurrents of racial prejudices. D’Aguiar was suspicious that Burnham was trying to coopt the UF ministers. He finally resigned in September1967 but Burnham’s “uncomfortable alliance” was unbroken as the UF ministers remained in the cabinet, and another replaced D’Aguiar. Burnham kept his eyes on the prize. He had a master plan: jettison the coalition, become the ultimate powerbrokerof an independentGuyanaand downplay political ties with the US to boosthis nationalist credentials.
Several conditions convinced American policymakers that US support for Burnham was the right approach. One, Delmar R. Carlson, the US Ambassador, the chief negotiator between the US and Burnham, was “gratified” at the outcome of the 1964 election and Burnham’s willingness to work with the coalition. Two, Burnham assured the Ambassador that he was willing to explore ways to include prominent Indians (Balram Singh Rai and Fenton Ramsahoye were suggested) into his cabinet. Third, Burnham agreed with the US stipulation that the government should not include a PNC/PPP coalition, Jagan “or his henchmen”. The US, through Carlson, planned to “counsel Burnham towards moderation and assist him where possible”. A major breakthrough for the US came in February 25, 1965, when the Colonial Secretary agreed to a constitutional amendment permitting Burnham to appoint Shridath Ramphal as the Attorney General.
Burnham received lucrative American aid after the 1964 elections. He was assured of a 25-year contract with Reynolds, the US bauxite company. The company planned to double bauxite production annually by 600,000 tons and he was promised an advance in income tax of US$500,000. Burnham must have been elated when on March 17, 1967, the 303 Committee Memorandum concluded that “it is established US Government policy that Cheddi Jagan, established East Indian Marxist leader of the pro-communist People’s Progressive Party (PPP) in Guyana will not be permitted to take over the government of an independentGuyana”. The challengeforBurnham was to setup arigging machinery thatwould place him atthe helm of political powerand provide architecturaldesign to his politicaldictatorship, while projecting the fig leaf of democracy. Burnham, however, as the Americans recognized, would first have to build an organization that would include credible Indians and be able to putup a decentchallenge to Jagan’s PPP. With the British outof the political equation, Burnham developedaplan forAmerican supportthatwould guarantee his ultimate maximum leadership. The elephantin the room, of course, was CheddiJagan, who, as the quintessentialMarxist, would pledge his loyalty to the formerSovietUnion and support every antiimperialist revolutionary movementaround the world.
The crucial 1968 election in post-independence Guyana demanded Burnham’s compelling attention. US support for Burnham came in 3 forms: 1) Ensure the survival of Burnham’s government, 2) Provide economicassistance, and, 3) Provide directfunds to create an elaborate electoral rigging machinery. A November 20 memorandum, following the 1965 London Constitutional Conference, highlighted Burnham’s plans forWestIndian migration and his idea that“underthe new constitution absenteevoting would be permissible”. During a meeting with President Johnson at the White House on July 22, 1966, Burnham had revealed that his electoral chances for winning the 1968 elections would significantly increase if Africans migrated to Guyana. If his West Indian African migration scheme could accommodate 15,000 – 20,000 immigrants, he would solve his electoral problem. A memorandum from the Deputy Director forOperations of the CIA (Helms) to the President’sSpecialAssistantforNationalSecurity Affairs on December10, 1965 shed light into Burnham’s “immediate objective”which was meantto “launch his economic development plan so that he will be able to induce large numbers of West Indians of African descent to settle in Guyana prior to the December 1968 elections”. However, the immigration scheme was abandoned because there was insufficient time to implement it, some of Burnham’s supporters opposed the plan and a 15% unemployment rate did not create a welcoming environment for potential migrants from regionalstates. This was notthe end of it. According to the US Consulate General, Burnham also considered unitary statehood with Barbados, Antigua, Grenada and St Kitts, as well as the “disenfranchisementof “illiterate” voters”.
With the abandonment of the West Indian immigration scheme, Burnham concocted another plan to hyper-inflate his electoral support. A telegram from the US Ambassador in Guyana to the State Departmenton July 15, 1966, noted that“Burnham had confessed to colleagues thathe intends to remain in powerindefinitely – if at all possible by constitutional means. However, if necessary, he is prepared to employ unorthodox methods to achieve his aims”. In a meetingwith US officials on September 16, 1966, Burnham informed the Americans thathe would need financialsupportfor“staff and campaign expenses, motor vehicles, small boats, printing equipment, and transistorized public address systems” and a contract “for the services of an American public relations firm to address his image abroad”. On April 10, 1967, the 303 Committee approved financial support for Burnham, but the exact amount was redacted from the documents. A December 6, 1967 memorandum from the Deputy Director for Coordination of the Bureau of Intelligence and Research (Trueheart) to the Director (Hughes) and Deputy Director (Denney), made a startling revelation: Burnham would be paid in twelve monthly installments “to help him in revitalizing his party and in organizing his absentee vote strength…these measures, itwas hoped,, would forestallthe necessity of exile of Jagan, orhis detention, orcoup d’étatafterthe election”. In other words, Jagan would be prevented from takingoffice – by any means necessary. The 303Committee wrote in a memorandum (May 23, 1969) that the CIA should “provide $10,000 a month fortwo years to support his efforts to build his party…into an effectively, permanently organized political party”. Ambassador Carlson recommended a$5,000 monthly subsidy paid to Burnham forthe nexttwo years. Carlson revealed that in June 1967, Prime Minister Burnham said that “overseas vote figures could be manipulated pretty much as he wished”. In apriormeetingwith Carlson on September16, 1966, Burnham “outlined his plans to issue identification cards to all Guyanese above the age of 10, and to identify and register all Guyanese of African ancestry in the United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States in order to get their absentee votes in the next election”. In the same meeting, “Burnham acknowledged with a smile, East Indians living abroad may have trouble getting registered and, if registered, getting ballots”. To implementthe registration process, aportion of the fundingapprovedby the 303Committee was used to publicize Guyana’s progress to attract overseas voters. Burnham originally intended to secure 50,000 overseas Guyanese registered to vote. The problem was that there were not so many Guyanese abroad so that his government ended up creating “jumbies” and even registered horses to vote. In the end, by
January 1968, registration of Guyanese over 15 at home was completed. A whopping 68,588 individuals from 55 countries were registered to vote in the 1968 Guyanaelections. Of the 312,391 votes cast in the 1968 elections, the PNC “obtained” 55.81% and the PPP 36.49%, presumably with 85.1% voterturnout. The fudged mathematics continued to work in Burnham’s favour: the PNC “won”70% of the votes in 1973 elections, 77% in 1980 and 78% in 1985. These results suggested that alarge numberof Indians who supported Jagan’s PPPin 1964, had since migrated to the PNC’s camp, a questionable reality debunked by international organizations which documented the massive fraud associated with these elections.
Burnham is often praised for his oratorical skills and charismatic appealamong Africans, but he is better known forhis Machiavellian manoeuvres.The Americans miscalculated, notknowingthatBurnham would work to adopt nationalistic and progressive foreign policy positions in a desperate attempt to shed his image of an American puppet. In the process, Burnham transformed Guyana into a dictatorship. With Jagan still in the political wilderness, and except for a brief challenge from Walter Rodney, who had declared that Burnham mustgo “by any means necessary”, Burnham’s dictatorship would last until 1992, seven years after his untimely death. Ironically, it was the Americans, including former President Jimmy Carter, who would contribute towards a dismantling of the Burnham dictatorship.
Dr. Ramesh Gampat, in a forthcoming book (2022) from which some of the materials here have been extracted, has written that Burnham’s unholy alliance was a “prelude to dictatorship, economic devastation, the entrenchmentof corruption, pillage by multinationalcorporation, political tribalism, rise of a class kleptocrats and plutocrats, crime, violence and destruction of property, marginalization and discrimination. It is primarily Indians who have been at the receivingend. In effect, the US, with the tacit approval of Britain, created the conditions forwhat have keptGuyanaon the verge of a failed state from the 1960s to the present.”While the legacy of Forbes Burnham looms large, it is perhaps his sister, Jessie Burnham, who offeredthe unkindestcut of all:“Behind thatjest, thatcharm, thateasy oratory is a certain dark strain of cruelty which surfaces when one of his vital interests is threatened. These are the two Burnhams;the charming and the cruel. I say BEWARE of both.”
Dr Ramharack teaches politics and history at Nassau Community College (New York). He is currently working on a forthcoming publication on Alice Bhagwandai Singh, a Guyanese activist who played a definingrole in negotiatinga cultural space forIndians duringthe pre-World War II era.
OUR FOUNDINGFATHERSPART5A -Lessonslearned,and some,Yetto be learned
John SumnerI can't speak for all of you who have taken the time to follow my recent posts labeled "Our Founding Fathers."These posts, forme,reflected aresearch opportunity to go back to the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s, to try and obtain a better understanding of the forces and circumstances that led to the birth of our independentnation, the foundingof ourRepublic, and the early years of governance of our country. The conclusions I drew (as objectively as I can) can be briefly summarized as follows:
1. That both Cheddi Jagan and Forbes Burnham, along with significant others, played critical and necessary roles in the period leading up to the formation of Guyana's first nationalist political party, the PPP;
2. Both of these two outstandingGuyanese, who (in my books) jointly deserve the unofficialdesignation as "Our FoundingFathers" were able to setaside some early emergingdifferences, to lead the PPP to a very impressive win in the 1953 elections;
3. In hindsight, the PPP 1953 elections manifesto and post-election governmentreforms weretoo radical (progressively leftof center) forthe geo-political forces that controlled our part of the world at that time (the UK and the US). This led to the suspension of the Guyana constitution 133 days into the first PPP government and the subsequent imprisonment of Dr. and Mrs. Jagan for violating travel restrictions placed on the leadership of the PPP, after the UK governor(Savage) had taken control of the suspended government. Burnham and someof the otherPPPleaders were notjailed becausetheydid notviolate the travel restrictions.
4. Differences between Jagan and Burnham about the direction of the party and the country and about who should be the leader, became irreconcilable in 1955 leading to a split in the PPP into Burnamite and Jagainite factions.
5. Supported by asignificant majority of Indo-Guyanese,who outnumbered Afro-Guyaneseby more than 50,000, the Jaganite faction of the PPP emerged winners of the 1957 elections.
6. This led Burnham to the conclusion that, as long as the vast majority of Indo-Guyanese continue to supportJagan, he was nevergoingto be able to supplantJagan as leaderof the PPP. He felt that his only option to lead Guyana in a direction that would result in the successful attainment of the country's independencewas to separate from the PPP, which he did in 1957.
7. Burnham formed the People's NationalCongress (PNC) in 1957 and was unsuccessfulin defeatingthe PPP for control of the governmentagain in 1961.
8. Jagan soughtto make some adjustments to his leftistapproach to governance in orderto convince the UK and US to supportGuyanagaining Independence with him as Prime Minister.
9. Historical records reveal that the British were willing to support a Jagan-led government into Independence but the Americans were not in agreement. Given America's post-WW II standing, the British deferred to the US, and postponed the settingof a date for Independenceindefinitely.
10. The British and the US were aware that Burnham also had leftist leanings but felt that Burnham was acceptable as a pro-socialist while Jagan was more dangerous/unacceptable as a pro-communist. Their concerns were more heightened by the circumstances in Cuba, following the Cuban revolution and that country's growing ties with the communistsovietbloc. Therefore, afterfailing to find a viable third-party choice the Americans made a decision after the 1961 elections to support Burnham in his efforts to win the nextelections (1964) and devised a plan to overcome the larger (primarily Indo-Guyanese) numbers thatJagan commanded. The plan was to change the constitution to allow forProportionalRepresentation and to establish an agreement for the PNC and the United Force (UF) to form a coalition government if togetherthey were to obtain a majority of the votes in the 1964 elections.
11. In the 1964 elections underProportionalRepresentation the PNC and the UF obtained enough votes to form a new coalition government leading to Guyana obtaining Independence in 1966 with Forbes Burnham as Prime Minister.
12. In the nextgeneralelections (1968) the PNC won amajority of thevotes (undersuspicion of systematic rigging) to form a government, forthe firsttime, on its own. While it is not clear if Burnham and the PNC received covertassistance from the UK and/or US to help the PNC win the 1968 elections, there was no notable resistance by the western powers to the PNC retaining office as a result of the 1968 elections. This would indicate that regardless of how those election results wereobtained the western powers were still determined to keep Jagan away from the reins of governmentin Guyana.
13. Based on the western powers' acceptance of the 1968 elections results, it seems obvious that Burnham felt that he had the green light from the western powers to continue winningelections, even if they were notfree and fair, for the foreseeable future.
14. The period 1970 to 1975 includes the declaration of Guyana as a Republic (1970) and the nationalization of the main industries, Bauxite and Sugar, that was foreign-owned and controlled more than 80% of Guyana's economy.
Part 5B (to be posted tomorrow) will cover "Nationalization," Jagan's policy of "Critical Support," the Cubana Air Disaster of 1976 and its impact on Guyana-US relations, and the subsequent decline of the Guyanaeconomy.
Hugh Desmond Hoyte, S.C. (9 March 1929 - 22 December 2002)
By Dawn Cush
Hugh Desmond Hoyte was born in Charlotte Street, Georgetown, Guyanaon Saturday, March 9, 1929 to Gladys MariettaHoyte and GeorgeAlphonso Hoyte. He attendedthe StBarnabas Anglican Primary School, at the cornerof RegentStreetand Orange Walk, which was a relatively shortdistance from his home. He received his secondary education at the Progressive High School where, driven to excel, he diligently applied himself to study. His efforts were rewarding as his school work was “of the highest quality.” In addition to the regular subjects such as English Language, English Literature, History, Latin and Mathematics, Desmond Hoyte took a serious interest in business subjects. He undertook studies in bookkeepingand, venturinginto an areanotusually associated with male students, hestudiedshorthand. In 1948 Desmond Hoyte left school and started work in the Civil Service as Commodity Control Officerin the office that was responsible forthe issuance of import and exportlicences. Later, he worked as a clerk in the Police pay office. While working he continued to study diligently so that, in 1950, he passed the externalexaminations of the University of London and thereby earned himself aBachelor of Arts Degree in Literature. Mr Hoyte then entered the teaching profession. Firstly, he taught in Guyana at the Mc Allister’s Day High School. In 1955 he travelled to Grenada to teach Latin and History at the prestigious GrenadaBoys’ Secondary School. Later, we see MrHoyte again in the role of teacheras he taught History in Georgetown, in the late 1960s, ateveningclasses organised by the African Society forCulturalRelations with IndependentAfrica(ASCRIA).
Mr Hoyte related that he grew up in a home that taught values such as “decency, courtesy, financial prudence and tidiness.” These are qualities that Mr Hoyte took with him throughout his life in all of his differentendeavours. He was thorough in his approach to everythingthathe did. The same high standards thathe setforhimself he also expected in others. This contributed to his refusal to countenance work that was sloppy or untidy. As a result of the training that he received at home, Mr Hoyte demonstrated a disciplined work ethic throughout his academic career, and his private, professionaland public life.
Mr Hoyte’s stint of teaching at the acclaimed Grenada Boys Secondary School was testimony to the recognition of his intellectual abilities. Patterned after the typical English type of Grammar School, the Grenada Boys Secondary started out as the St George’s Grammar School in the country’s capital in February, 1885. As was the practice throughoutthe British WestIndies at that time, only those who were recognised as being educated to a high enough standard were allowed to teach at such prestigious institutions.
Mr Hoyte’s period of residence in a sisterBritish WestIndian territory is said to have been apositive one and helped to sow the seeds of his laterideas on Caribbean integration. This saw him beingself-described as “an unrepentant integrationist” and serving with distinction in a number of important capacities on behalf of the region when he entered into public life. While initially setting his sights on pursuing a career in management, MrHoyte was convinced by one of his mentors, Sir Donald Jackson, to pursue studies in law instead. In 1959 he completed studies for the attainmentof his LLB and, upon completion of his professionalexaminations thatvery year, was called to the Bar at the Honourable Society of Middle Temple. In 1960, Mr Hoyte returned to British Guiana and entered into private practice.was aGuyanese politician. He served as Prime Ministerof Guyanafrom 1984 to 1985 and Presidentof Guyanafrom 1985 until 1992.
Career
In 1969 Hoyte was appointed to the Queen’s Council. In 1970 Guyana became a Republic and this designation was changed to Senior Counsel. Between 1969 and 1984, Hoyte held many Ministerial posts under the PNC Government, including those of Home Affairs, Finance, Works and Communications, and Economic Development.
In 1984 he became FirstVice Presidentand Prime Minister, and subsequently Executive. Presidenton the death of L.F. S. Burnham. From August1985 – October1992 Hoyte served as Presidentof theCo-operative Republic of Guyana. As a Minister of Government, Hoyte had at various times responsibility for African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) affairs under the Lome Convention and from 1981 to 1983 he was the ACP spokesman on sugar.
His portfolio included, Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Affairs where he was charged with the responsibility for promoting freedom of movement within the Community and for coordinating CARICOM's policy on the environment for the Earth Summit in Rio in 1992 and generally. He was also nominated CARICOM’s spokesman on sugar.
In his ministerial capacity, Mr. Hoyte served as Guyana’s Governoron the World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank and the Caribbean Development Bank.Hoyte headed delegations to the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, the Caribbean Committee for Development and Cooperation, the Commonwealth Finance Ministers Meeting, ACP/EEC Meetings and otherRegional and international conferences on economic, financialand developmentalissues.
He was Guyana’s chief representative at the deliberations that led to the establishment of the Latin American Economic System (SELA) and was a memberof the Latin American Council from 1975 to 1983.
Prior to his full-time service as a government minister, Hoyte held many public offices including that of Chairman of the Legal Practitioners’ Committee, Chairman of the TimberGrantsWages Council;Chairman of the Customs Tariff Appeals Tribunal;and amemberof the Elections Commission. He served as the Legal Adviserto the Trades Union Congress and severalmemberunions.
Mr. Hoyte had a keen interest in ecological and environmental matters. He worked closely with the London-based Commonwealth Human Ecology Council and wrote and spoke on these issues, both locally and internationally.
Hoyte sufferedapersonaltragedy in 1985 when his two daughters Amandaand Maxinedied in acar crash while traveling on April 30 to hear him deliver the May Day address in the town of Linden. His sister-inlaw and his driver also died;his wife Joyce was the lone survivor.
Hoyte was the architect of the IwokramaInternationalRainforestProjectin Guyana, which he initiated at the Commonwealth Heads of GovernmentConference in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in 1989.
Death
On 22 December2002, Hugh Desmond Hoyte died, aged 73. His body was laid to rest at the Place of the Seven Ponds in the Botanic Gardens on 29 December2002
Tuesday, August 3, 2021, His Excellency Samuel Hinds, Ambassador of Guyana to the United States of America, presented his Credentials to His Excellency Luis Almagro, Secretary-General of the OAS, during a virtual ceremony in which he was accredited Guyana’s Fifth Permanent Representative to the OAS. Guyanajoined the OAS in 1991.
In his remarks, Ambassador Hinds highlighted that his appointment comes at a time when the world is faced with the adverse impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, and other socio-economic challenges that threaten the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals. The Ambassador acknowledged the efforts of the OAS in advocating for vaccines and fosteringpartnerships to address the persistenthealth and socio-economicconsequences of the pandemic.
Further, Ambassador Hinds reiterated the Government of Guyana’s firm commitment to upholding the principles upon which the OAS was founded: democracy, human rights, multidimensional security and integral development. Similarly, he reaffirmed Guyana’s commitment to the rule of law, the promotion and protection of fundamentalhuman rights, supportfortheprinciples of good governance and equitable and inclusive sustainable development, which are all critical to peace and stability, nationally and internationally.
AmbassadorHinds also expressed his appreciation to Secretary-GeneralAlmagro forthe supportreceived during the prolonged March 2, 2020 Generaland Regional Elections.
Ambassador Hinds has had a career working in Guyana, beginning at the Demerara Bauxite Company in 1967 and staying on after its nationalization in 1971, unto 1992 following which he served as Prime Minister and Vice President of Guyana from 1992 to 2015. Ambassador Hinds also served as Executive Presidentof Guyanafrom March to December1997, followingthe passingof formerPresidentDr. Cheddie B. Jagan.
Ambassador Hinds attended the University of New Brunswick in Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada (1963-1967) where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemical Engineering, and is also the holderof an Honorary Doctorate of Science (1994) from that University. AmbassadorHinds therefore brings to his new post, a wealth of experience having served in the highest offices of Governmentand looks forward to the furtherstrengtheningof the extantrelations betweenGuyanaand the United States, as well as with the Organization of American States.
The OAS is the principal forum for political dialogue in this hemisphere. As amemberof the OAS, Guyana values multilateralism and the role being played by the Organization in promoting its four pillars –democracy and good governance;the promotion and protection of human rights; the pursuitof integral, sustainable and equitable development;and the multidimensionalsecurity needs of countries.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and InternationalCooperation
August3, 2021
IN CELEBRATION OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2023, WE WILL LIKE TO RECOGNIZE FORMER PRESIDENT BRIGADIER RETIRED DAVID ARTHUR GRANGER FOR HIS EXEMPLARY SERVICE TO GUYANA.
By Theresa Lucky
David
In 2015, as the then leaderof the People’s NationalCongress Reform (PNCR) and Leaderof the Opposition A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), Granger entered into a coalition with the Alliance For Change (AFC) to contestthe May 11th 2015 Nationaland RegionalElections. On the 16th May, 2015 Grangerand his coalition APNU+AFC were declared winner of that Elections by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) and he was officially sworn in as Guyana's 8th executive Presidenton the Balcony of Parliament Buildings on the same day.
During his five years in office (2015-2020) Guyana enjoyed an atmosphere of relative peace and tranquility. One of PresidentGranger’s firstmajorpolicy decisions was Bridging the gap between coastal development and those of the hinterland. In other words, he noticed that people residing on G uyana’s coast had better and a greater number of opportunities for personal betterment, as compared with
Guyanese who live in hinterland communities. President Granger declared his intention of closing that gap. He vowed to ensure that all citizens have equal access to the chance of building better lives, regardless of where they live.
PresidentGrangerrepeatedly emphasised thathe is, “presidentof all the people of Guyana”; as such, all Guyanese musthave equalopportunities, as this is their God-given rightand constitutionalguarantee. As such, he unveiled his 10-Point Plan of Action for Hinterland Development.
Those 10 points are the:
1. A Hinterland Education SupportProgramme.
2. A Hinterland Poverty-Reduction Programme.
3. A Hinterland Infrastructure Extension Programme.
4. A Hinterland Energy DevelopmentProgramme.
5. The Hinterland Employmentand Youth Service.
6. A Hinterland Happy Household Programme.
7. A Hinterland and Indigenous Peoples’ Land Commission.
8. A Hinterland Language, Cultural, and Sports Commission.
9. A Hinterland Tourism and DevelopmentService, and the;
10. A Hinterland Public Services Provision Scheme.
President Granger's plan saw the setting up of Radio Stations in almost all major hinterland Regions; includes Region one, seven, eightand nine forthe first time. Hinterland communities also benefited from the his five 'Bs'initiative. Which saw the provision of Buses, Bicycles, Boats, Books and Breakfastto School Children all across the Country.
Under his leadership the education sector saw major improvements in Mathematics and English at the CXC Examination. His administration also had for the first time a Ministry of Social Cohesion which was created with the sole purpose of bridging the ethnicdivision amongstthe 6 races.
Under the leadership of President Granger, the Guyanese people were made to feel much safer in the homes with the professionalization of theGuyanaPolice Force. The Leadership of the Security Forces were allowed to function independent of Political interference or manipulation with the appointment of an independentPolice Service Commission.
Economically, the Guyana economy recorded positive economic growth each of the five years President Granger was in office. The economy grew at an average of 5% each year. While inflation rates were skyrocketingall across the globe, prices in the Guyanese marketremain stable between the period 20152020 due to Granger's prudentmanagementof the country's resources.
In the area of Democracy and transparency, Guyanarose three points in the Transparency International (TI) Corruption Perceptions Index(CPI)Reportfor2919, registeringits bestscore everand was once again listed among 22 countries which have significantly improved their standing in the last four years. under the leadership of PresidentGranger. Accordingto the report, Guyanarecorded ascore of 40 and is ranked at 85 out of the 180 countries which were looked at for the reportwhich was released yesterday. According to the reportwith this score Guyanais was “significant improver” on the CPI since 2012.
“While there is still much work to do, the government is demonstrating political will to hold former politicians accountable for the misuse of state resources,” the Stabroek News had quoted the report as saying.
This high score was also influenced by the return of Local GovernmentElections (LGE) in 2016 after a 24 years moratorium.
PresidentDavid Grangerwas astrongdefenderof democraticinstitutions and the constitution throughout his Presidency. A noticeable achievement in his Government was the resuscitation of almost all constitutional Authorities in Guyana. The office of the Ombudsman was re-established and the Public Procurement Commission was appointed. The Police Services Commission and the Public Services
Commission was also appointed. A substantive Police Commissionerwas appointed afteryears of acting Commissioners, amove that influenced change in the behaviorand professionalism of ranks. In the Services sector, Guyanese saw adrastic reduction on blacks all across Guyanawith the installation of brand new Electricity powerplants in all Regions. According the then Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson "in every other sector in the country, there were no plans pre-2015 – absolutely nothing. The electricity sector was on the verge of collapse. It was barely beingpowered by generatingsets, someover35years old, which of course led to the complete unreliability of the system. The David Granger Government spent the next five years from 2015 systematically rebuilding and improvingthe powersectorusing clear and workable solutions."
In five years underthe coalition administration, nine new generatingsets totaling63MW were purchased (Anna Regina – 5.4MW, Bartica – 3.4MW, Bellevue – 1.5MW, Canefield – 5.5MW, and Garden of Eden (five sets) – 46.5MW). In 2015 the generating capacity of GPL was listed at 120 - 125MW, which means that in five short years, the coalition’s work increased the generating capacity of the company by 50%. Neverin the history of the company has it enjoyed such a huge increase in generating capacity in such a short period.
Even more impressive, was that this increase was financed withoutany externalloans.
During the five-yearperiod, GPLalso gave back to the communities. The company provided power to 60 unserved areas, benefitting26,286 residents – this was done entirely at the expenseof the company. The coalition administration removed the PPP policy of having customers in unserved areas pay 25% of the capital costs forinstallation of power, a hardship policy that has resumed once again.
During this period underthe coalition Government, GPLdid not only look afterthe small guys but the big guys as well. Prior to 2015, GPL’s license did not facilitate distributed generation, hencethe company was legally prevented from purchasingexcess generation from its customers orfrom commercial or industrial business. The coalition administration amended GPL’s license thus allowing the company to purchase excess generation from private renewables and non-renewable sources. The Giftland Mall is benefitting from this amended by virtue of a 2021 powerpurchase agreementsigned with GPL.
Residents of Georgetown and many otherparts of Guyanahad also benefited from 24hours waterservice for the first time in history.
Public Service employees received yearly salary increases in excess of 8% non-taxable and Value Added tax VATwas reduced from 16% to 14% amonglots of othertax reductions.
PresidentDavid Grangerattended Queen’sCollege, wherehe was amemberof theQueen’sCollege Cadet Corps. Brigadier Granger joined the GDF as a officer cadet in 1965, and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenantin 1966. He received his professionalmilitary training at the Army Command and Staff College in Nigeria;the Jungle Warfare Instruction Centre in Brazil; and the School of Infantry and the Mons Officer CadetSchool, respectively, in the United Kingdom.
During Brigadier Granger's military service, he held a variety of appointments, including Planning Officer for the establishment of the Guyana National Service (1973-74), and the Guyana People’s Militia (197677). Brigadier Granger also led military delegations to Brazil, Cuba, Germany, Guinea, the Democratic People's Republicof Korea, Somalia and the formerYugoslavia.
Brigadier Grangergraduated with a Masterof Social Science degree in Political Science, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in History, from the University of Guyana where he was also valedictorian and the postgraduate diploma in International Relations from the University of the West Indies. He was also an International Fellow on the Defense Planning and Resource Management Seminar at the Center for Hemispheric Defense Studies of the National Defense University, and attended the Counterterrorism Educators’ Workshop at the JointSpecial Operations University, Florida, USA.
Brigadier Granger has presented several papers on defense and security topics to international and national academic conferences including: “Civil Violence, Domestic Terrorism and Internal Security in
Guyana, 1953-2003”; “Convention and Convenience: A Preliminary Study of Women Soldiers in the Anglophone Caribbean with SpecialReferenceto the Women’s Army Corps of the GuyanaDefence Force, 1967-2002”; and, "Defence and Diplomacy in the Subordinate System: The Experience of Guyana.”
David Grangeris a formermemberof the Disciplined Forces Commission;co-Chairman of the Borderand National Security Committee; member of the National Security Strategy Planning Committee; Chairman of the Central Intelligence Committee; member of the National Drug Law Enforcement Committee; and memberof the GuyanaDefence Board. He is the holderof three national awards: The Military Efficiency Medal (1976), the Military Service Medal (1981), and the Military Service Star (1985) for distinguished military service.
PresidentDavid Grangerwas diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin Lymphomaa form of cancer, in Novemberof 2018 following a medical check up in Cuba. One month later, on the 21th December, 2018 mere hours after returning home from Cuba after undergoing his first round of chemotherapy; a member of his cabinetvoted to remove him form office through aNo Confidencemotion broughtby the thenopposition. Aftermonths of courtbattles which reached allthe way up to the Caribbean Courtof Justice CCJ, elections were finally held on March 2nd 2020 and PresidentGrangerwas removed from office. The results of the March 2nd Regional and GeneralElections are a subjectof pendingcourt battles. David Grangeris married to Sandra (née Chan-A-Sue) and is the fatherof two daughters.
African Guyanese Opposition Leaders
▪ Linden Forbes Burnham (1957-1964)
▪ Hugh Desmond Hoyte (1992- 2002)
▪ Robert Horatio Orlando Corbin (2002- 2011)
▪ David ArthurGranger(2012- 2015)
▪ Joseph Harmon (2020-2022)
▪ Aubrey Norton (April2022-)
Leaders of the Opposition since 1966
IN CELEBRATION OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2023, WE WILL LIKE TO RECOGNIZE MR ROBERT HERMAN ORLANDO CORBIN FOR HIS EFFORTS IN BUILDING POLITICAL UNITY AND FOR HIS SERVICE TO GUYANA ON THIS HIS 75 FIFTH BIRTHDAY
TheresaLucky
Robert Herman Orlando Corbin is a Former Leader of the Opposition of the Cooperative Republic of Guyanaand Former leaderof the People's National Congress (PNC) between 2003 and 2012. RobertCorbin, was born in the mining Town of Linden on 15 February 1948. Corbin worked forthe Youth Ministry of the Presbyterian Church before being educated in social work and law at the University of Guyanaand the Hugh Wooding Law School. He holds the Diploma in Social Work, (Dip. S W); the Bachelor
of Laws Degree (LL.B); and the Legal Education Certificate, (L.E.C), of the Caribbean Council of Legal Education.
As a social worker, Mr. Corbin worked in many hinterland and rural communities of Guyana promoting social and economic development. From 1966 to 1977 he was widely recognized as a youth leaderskilled in organising, mobilizing and training young people for nation building. During this period, he held positions of Executive member, General Secretary and later National Chairman of the Young Socialist Movement, the Youth Arm of the Peoples NationalCongress. Corbin, who was first elected to the National Assembly of Guyana in 1973, became one of the leading lights in the PNC, serving the party as Senior Vice Chairman and General Secretary as well as holding a number of government ministries, including the office of Deputy Prime Minister from 1985 to 1992. Elected PNC chairman in 2000, in December 2002 became acting party leader following the death of Desmond Hoyte. In February 2003 he was officially chosen to lead the PNC.
A disappointing defeat for the PNC in the 2006 legislative elections saw Corbin's leadership come under scrutiny, although ultimately his two prospective challengers withdrew before a contest could be organised and his leadership was affirmed. In July 2011 Corbin was succeeded as party leader by David ArthurGranger.
WPA member David Hinds in 2015 described Corbin as the architect of Coalition politics in Guyana. According to Hinds, many persons and groups can lay claim to be the architects of the end product, but I would single out two of those for special mention WPA’s Professor Clive Thomas and PNC’s Robert Corbin. Since Thomas is my colleague, I would not elaborate on his role justyet.
I do notknow RobertCorbin outside of politics, Hinds said. "My political contact with him occurred during the run-up to the 2011 elections when I was part of the WPA’s delegation and he led the PNC’s delegation at APNU leadership meetings. From as far back as the run-up to the 2006 election, Corbin signalled his intention to decisively break with the One-PNC tradition. He was bold enough to court or was open to be courted by the WPA. This took courage. The PNC-WPA rivalry was perhaps the most intense in Guyana’s political history. Corbin was ready for the plunge even if most in the PNC were not ready. The WPA was not ready in 2006. Emotions still flared. The AFC came on the scene and took away part of the PNC’s constituency. By 2011 they were ready to take the plunge. Corbin was still there. I got the sense, that unlike mostof his colleagues, he had freed himself from the myth that the PNC could win an election on its own. But more than that, I think he reasoned thatthe vote thatwentto the AFC could easiestbe won back by a Coalition. He had become a soldier for Coalition politics, even if he was not the top candidate. He worked for it. He had to navigate the WPA’s demands and that party’s unorthodox political culture. But he stuck with the project, even as some of his colleagues thought the WPA brought nothing to the table and the PNC should go it alone. The AFC was not ready for the Coalition, but Corbin was never daunted. In the end he delivered the APNU to a skeptical PNC. The 2011 election proved him right. The APNU brought back the traditional PNC constituency together. By 2015, the AFC could join the Partnership. The AFC would have neverjoined the PNC. They joined the APNU. The restis history. Robert Corbin led the way. He had the early vision, Hinds posited. Corbin, who is married with five grown-up children, continues to practice as an attorney-at-law. He has always been akeen sportsman and was active in athletics, swimmingand othergames. He still finds time to keep fitby playing squash. Amonghis hobbies are boating, hunting and horseback riding.
✓ Establishmentof a national veterans commission
✓ Deaths in Linden
✓ National Day of Villages
✓ The Integrity Commission Act
✓ AppointmentOf A Commission Of Inquiry To Investigate The Incidence Of Maritime And Riverine Incidents, Injuries And Deaths
✓ AbundantEvidence of Cohabitation
✓ Appointment Of A Commission Of Inquiry To Investigate The Incidence Of Illness And Deaths In The Barima-Waini Region Of Guyana
✓ Approvalof Government’s Policy in President’s Address
✓ Appointment Of A Commission Of Inquiry To Investigate The Incidence Of Trafficking In Persons In Guyana
✓ BudgetDebate 2014
✓ BudgetSpeech Brig Granger - 2012
✓ BudgetDebate 2013
✓ BudgetSpeech - Brigadier (Ret’d) Granger 2014
✓ Establishmentof a National Heritage Commission
FormerLeaderDavid Granger extends congratulations to Aubrey C. Norton on his election as Leaderand commits to continuingto contribute to the People’s NationalCongress Reform
Comrade David Granger, former Leader of the People’s National Congress Reform, has extended congratulations to Comrade Aubrey Norton on his election as fifth leader of the People’s National Congress Reform atthe 21st Biennial Delegates Congress on 18th-19th December2021.
The former Leader expressed satisfaction that the process that was initiated by the presentation of the report of the Ad Hoc Advisory Committee on Congress to the Central Executive Committee in April 2020 led to the conveningof a safe and successfulCongress in December.
The formerLeaderassured the new Leaderof his continued contribution to the Party, of his commitment to the satisfactory conclusion of the Party’s reform process,of his supportforthe Party’s programmeand, also, of his adherence to the Party’s principles
SHAME THAT A FACTION HAS TAKEN TO DRAWING A LINE IN PNC HISTORY TO DAVID GRANGER,
Verian Mentis
in a desecration of comparison to pastworld leaders and Party politicians. ***(Circular:‘DefectionsPower Struggles within PNC).
***NotaParty member, NEVERWAS, nor do I lay claim to beinga historian. But an ethical approach to recall, in all of its forms, is the foundation of whatwe put out in writing. For that too joins history…as would this projectof misplaced snippets in an amateurattemptto inflate a porous hero.
The only PARTY in Guyana that bequeathed- passed on- public office and the Presidency, like they were privately owned cake stands, is the PPP and with enduringdamage to society. So, this accusation of the PNC not having its rightful place in the political line up because Viola Burnham did not take over the Party,
*“like the strong-willed South Asian women Prime Ministers”, * is notonly an insult to Guyanese, whoserightitremains to VOTE fortheirleaders buta demonstrable lack of knowledge of the record of many of these cited heads of state by the scribes and transcribers of the ‘Defections Document’.
Bandaranaike, world’s firstfemale PM ruled by racial division, alienated by makingherlanguage the multi ethnic nation’s official one, oversaw one of the bloodiestcivil wars, famously tore up a Pact she changed her mind on and made governing the family business, by passing the leadership she won after her husband’s assassination on to herdaughterafteryears of periodic rule.
Indira Ghandidid not only massacre herenemies and detractors but was convicted of electoralfraud. Irony here is the ignorance of the facts which, unintendedly but quite rightly, lumped Janet Jagan with these women of grim and grievous political record, to contrast against Viola Burnham who, with humility, declined to accept an appointmentshe feltwould be done betterby others.
Granger, same crew says, is so ‘hugely popular’, he’ll be needed to Stump/Campaign for the 2025 Candidate…. which is as off- puttingas the cut and paste conflation of non-exemplary leadersthey drewaline through, to claim glory where there is none.
If they’re tellingus that this one term President, the embodimentof the demise of the PNC and the face of an Opposition shuttered outof its place in Parliament… is a Rock Star …and the way forward, then we’d betterbe on the team that seeks to right that ship by replacing David Grangerwith a leader, who has an ideology for the Party and a sense of service that recognizes that any sabotage in office is sabotage to a citizenry, that depends on the Opposition to be the operational other half of a governing democracy.
And don’trush to cite Desmond Hoyte as aone term President, withoutthe contextualcontribution of his selfless public service, his taking over of a Party in disarray, then attempting its repair by consolidating Party Leadership and PresidentialCandidate, as was negotiated by Ptolemy Reid.
This was all done in good graces for national good and by men who had a commitment to citizens and country.
Assertingthe imperfections of a constitution written for a previous timeTO HANG ON TO LEADERSHIP*
-may not have been foreseeable, when vision is typically acclimated to the times. That’s why these things are amended – to keep abreast with minds that would selfishly spurn expectations.
Bottom line is, the country is operationally a One Party State. The Opposition has been made defunct by its Leader. In the interest of saving the constitutional democracy of ourRepublic, we need a change of Opposition Leadership.
**CONGRESS ORNOT, NO ACTION IS NOT AN OPTION.
PS:** *The attched picture was used ONLYto display Opposition members and notin any way to indicate a preference foraspecific person.
https://en.wikipedia.org/.../Bandaranaike%E2%80...*
https://www.himalmag.com/upper-caste-christians/
https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/indira-gandhi-convicted-of-election-fraud
https://www.humanrightspulse.com/mastercontentblog/the-1984-sikh-genocide-36-years-on.
Reports indicate that Harmon was the only person nominated for the constitutional position that will be announced when the 12th Parliamentis convened.
Former President and Leader of APNU, David Granger, has stepped aside, and will not be returning to Parliament.
PNC Chairman, VoldaLawrence;party General-Secretary,AmnaAlly;formerChairman, BasilWilliams and formerGeneral-Secretary, Aubrey Norton willnot be returningto the House.
Granger has been at the helm of the coalition since 2011, when he was elected Leader of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNC/R) – the largestparty in the coalition.
Seniorfunctionaries of APNU and AFC,namely RaphaelTrotman, KhemrajRamjattan, David Patterson, Dr. Karen Cummings, Cathy Hughes, Nicolette Henry, Dawn Hastings-Williams, AnnetteFerguson and Hemraj Rajkumarare slated to return to Parliament, likely as frontbenchers.
Some of the new coalition parliamentarians are former Magistrate, Geeta Chandan-Edmond; Attorneyat-Law, Roysdale Forde; Sherod Duncan; Juretha Fernandes; trade unionist, Coretta McDonald; and Ganesh Mahipaul.
Most of those persons were actively campaigning for the coalition during the lead-up to the March 2 Generaland Regional Elections.
Under the revised Cummingsburg Accord, the AFC will only get 30 per cent of the seats secured by the coalition in the National Assembly based on a new 70:30 ratio agreed upon with APNU. The formula will also guide the allocation of seats at the level of the Regional Democratic Councils (RDCs). Under the old accord, the formula was 60:40.
There has been no sitting of the National Assembly since May, 2019. This was due mainly to the passage of a motion of no-confidence againstthe formerAPNU+AFC Government.
A date for the convening of parliament has not been set, but upon their return to Parliament, MPs will electa Speakerto preside overthe proceedingsof the House. The Speakeroversees the administration of the House and chairs severalcommittees, including the Parliamentary ManagementCommittee.
The Speakeris also the spokesperson and representativeof the NationalAssembly in its relations with the executive and otherbodiesoutsideof theHouse.The lastSpeakerof theNationalAssembly was Dr. Barton Scotland.
The passage of a National Budgetwill also be high on the agenda, as the country is already eight months into the year and is faced with the challenges caused by the novelcoronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. As a result of COVID-19, Parliament will be held at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, Minister responsible forParliamentary Affairs and Governance, GailTeixeira, has confirmed.
Teixeira explained that to minimise the risk of infection, the Parliament will also reduce the number of staff and invitees during the sitting while ministers and MPs will be seated in accordance with COVID-19 guidelines.
[Source:GuyanaChronicle 22 August2020]
AFTER being sworn in as a Member of Parliament (MP) on Wednesday, Leader of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), Aubrey Norton, was officially elected as the Leader of the Opposition (LoO) by the APNU+AFC MPs.
FormerPNCRChairman, VoldaLawrence, also marked herreturnto the NationalAssembly and was sworn in to take up the second vacantopposition seatin Parliament. Both Norton and Lawrencetook theirsworn oath of office before the Clerk of the National Assembly, Sherlock Isaacs. Speakingwith the mediamoments afterbeingelectedOpposition Leader, Norton said he feels good to be chosen to representthe people.
According to Norton, he will focus on listening to the concerns of the people and push for transparency and accountability in governance.
Norton’s rise to the position of LoO had been anticipated for some time now, eversince he was elected leaderof the PNCRin December. However, thatrequired the resignation of an Opposition MP for Norton to take up the seat.
Norton had prevailed overthen Opposition Leader, Joseph Harmon in the contestforleaderof the PNCR. In January, Harmon resigned as LoO before resigningas a MP in March.
Harmon had also resigned as General-Secretary of the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU). Former President, David Granger, also resigned his position as Leader of APNU, a position Norton also took up. Harmon’s resignation from Parliamentwas preceded by the resignation of formerEducation Minister, Dr Nicolette Henry. Dr Henry submitted herresignation in February. However, herresignation took effectin April.
With two empty seats, Lawrence, whohad declined to contestanomination forthe PNCRleadership, was asked to take up the second seatand she accepted the request.
Commentingon herreturn as a MP, Lawrence said she was happy to be back.
“Itfeels good to once again getthe opportunity to representpeople, especially the people whodon’thave a voice, and also to be involved in the developmentof ourcountry,”Lawrence told reporters.
Norton said the opposition willneed to appointanew Shadow Ministerof Education, aposition previously held by Henry, while any otherdecisions would come following discussions within the party.
