Some of Forbes Burnham’s achievements

Guyana's 50,000 Amerindians made history in 1976. Over 200 of their Captains, Leaders and other Delegates assembled in Georgetown for the Fourth Amerindian Conference since 1969

Opening the five-day parley at Parliament Building, Prime Minister Burnham said that the nation's Amerindians have a splendid opportunity to make Co-operative Socialism work, and to teach a lesson in Co-operative Socialism not only to other Guyanese, but also to the people of the Western Hemisphere and the World. Other Ministers who had been actively associated with Amerindian affairs included Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Ptolemy Reid, Economic Develop-ment Minister Desmond Hoyte, Comrade Hubert Jack, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, and Regional Minister Phillip Duncan - an Amerindian.

During the five-day Conference, the Amerindian representatives unanimously passed resolutions reaffirming their loyalty to Guyana, the People's National Congress and Government and pledging to defend the Republic's 83,000 square mile territory with all their strength and ability.

On Monday April 5, Parliament unanimously passed the Bill under which Amerindians received Certificates of Titles to lands they had been occupying for centuries. All together 61 Certificates were handed over to Amerindians on Tuesday, April 6, 1976. (Guyana Today, 1976)

* The Founder Leader took us into independence

* The Founder Leader gave us Republican status

* Gave us self confidence as a people

* Taught us the virtue and merits of self reliance

* Won us respect in the international community

* Gave land titles to the Amerindians

* Provided for the old and the sick by establishing the National Insurance Scheme

* Built the National Cultural Centre

* Built a complex of schools and other institutions of learning

* Built-up the sporting infrastructure and supported sports generally

* Encouraged the nation to eat foods produced in Guyana

Centennial Birth Anniversary Of Forbes Burnham

NCW Region #10 salutes Forbes Burnham on his 100th Birth Anniversary

The National Congress of Women (NCW) of Region #10 in collaboration with the PNCR of Region #10 held a Symposium in celebration of the 100th Birth Anniversary of Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham, OE, SC on Monday 29th February 2023 at the PNCR Office at Coop Crescent, Linden. The title of the Symposium

Truth of Burnham's visionary leadership must be told

(Continued from Page 6) was "Burnham at 100 - The Quest for Self-Determination as a Republic."

The Presenters were Cde. Hamilton Green, OR; RDC Chairman of Region #10, Cde. Deron Adams; Cde. Leslie Gonsalves, Secretary of PNCR Region #10; Cde. Sharma Solomon and Cde. Amabel Clement, representative of the North American Region (NAR).

Housing was another key and critical priority for Burnham and his administration. If we are to conduct a survey, we will find evidence of the many housing schemes still standing since the 1970s, including concrete roads. Burnham felt that in order for Guyana to advance to "a developed nation," infrastructure is pivotal. Hence, the construction of the Linden-Soesdyke Highway, Demerara Harbour Bridge, Canje Bridge, to name a few. He was also instrumental in advancing discussions on hydropower for Guyana, which would have benefitted our brothers and sisters in the hinterland regions significantly. The roads and water system, inherited after coming to office in 1964, were not without its challenges, but with determination and commitment roads were constructed and potable water was provided to many communities.

Though I had not the privilege of meeting this great son of Guyana's soil, I have been mesmerized by the fascinating stories told to me of the benefits and accomplishments of persons who completed the eighteen months training programme in the Guyana National Service. This was an opportunity given to young people to acquire skills for their personal development. Many have since made invaluable contributions to society. This was another ini- tiative for which Burnham was demonized in Guyana, but which was copied by other Caribbean member states. Today, there is no safety net providing similar opportunities for young people, many of whom now fall prey to antisocial behaviour and crime.

Additionally, I was told of the many local factories established by LFS Burnham. His passion for agriculture was evidenced through his government's policy on Feed, Clothe and House the nation by 1976. Guyana had its own agro processing plant, we canned local fruits and juices, there was the glass factory, clay brick factory and many more.

I appeal to all right thinking Guyanese who served then or had the opportunity to interface, engage, interact, or benefitted from this great Leader's contributions to Guyana, to share our history with their children and family. The truth of Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham's national leadership, as he sought to work with our six races to mould Guyana's destiny as One People, One Nation with One Destiny, must be told, Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham, O.E., SC was a patriotic visionary who has left an indelible mark on the development landscape of this beautiful country of ours. Long

Jai Narine Singh (who was the First General Secretary of the PNC), Cheddi Jagan and Forbes Burnham attending a court hearing in Bow Street, London, March 24th 1960. Forbes Burnham, Leader of the People's National Congress in British Guiana, appeared at Bow Street Magistrates Court in London on remand, after taking part in a protest in front of South Africa House the week before.

On Tuesday 28th February), the non-resident Ambassador of Sweden, H.E. Anders Bengtcen and French Ambassador to Guyana and Suriname, H.E. Nicolas de Lacoste, both paid courtesy calls respectively on the Leader of the PNCR and Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Aubrey C. Norton, MP, at the PNCR Headquarters, Congress Place, Sophia.

The Sweden Ambassador is in Guyana for the presentation of his credentials.

The French Ambassador was accompanied by the Resident Representative of the French Embassy in Guyana, Mr. Pierre Gaté.

With the Opposition Leader to meet with the Ambassadors were the Party's General Secretary, Ms. Dawn Hastings-Williams, MP; Party Vice Chairman, Mr. Vinceroy Jordan, MP; and Shadow Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ms. Amanza Walton-Desir, MP.

Lest we forget: The Great 1763 Berbice Slave Rebellion

February 27th, is the most unrecognized historic date in our country, but marks the anniversary of one of our most momentous events. It marks the start of the Great 1763 Berbice Slave Rebellion. Right now, most of you would be saying “Wait, isn’t February 23rd the anniversary date?” While the popular view has always been that this history-making event began on February 23rd on Plantation Magdalenenburg on the Canje river, more careful history research now tells us that both the date and the location are wrong. The 1763 Rebellion started on February 27th on the main Berbice river itself.

Therefore, the revolt on February 23rd at Magdalenenburg was not part of Coffy’s master plan. It was a separate event that was confined to one estate. Most of the revolters escaped to Suriname.

The Coffy-led revolution started four days later on the Berbice river on Plantation Hollandia. The revolutionaries seized control of all the plantations in the upper Berbice above Fort Nassau. That Coffy could have masterminded in secrecy so massive an operation across so many estates testifies to his brilliance as a planner and leader.

What made the Berbice Revolution great? ONE. it lasted over a year—far longer than was then typical for slave uprisings.

TWO. Coffy established a nation state. A government was formed, with Coffy as governor and appointed deputies such as Atta, Acabre, Acara and Fortyn (appointed Governor of Canje). An army of 600 fighters was trained. Agriculture was organized. Workshops were set up to repair and make arms. Communication among the estates was set up.

THREE. Coffy sought to export revolution from the Berbice basin to the Canje basin and, critically, to the colony of Demerara.

FOUR. There was written correspondence between the liberated Africans and the Dutch governor, an almost unique occurrence in the history of slave risings. Coffy sent his first letter to Governor Hoogenheim to explain the cause and objective of the rebellion and to warn the Dutch of further attacks if they did not leave for Holland as speedily as possible.

Whether February 23 or 27, let us not forget that our Republic Day was inspired by a Great War of Liberation in 1763 in Berbice. This event is rightly seen as the first of the great revolutions of enslaved Africans—an event of such proportions that it threatened to upturn the colonial order of the time.