/* Written 5:38 pm Oct 29, 1992 by pnews in cdp:p.news */ /* ---------- "Guyana" ---------- */ From: Hank Roth Subject: Guyana <<< via P_news >>> {cross-posted from P_news on Fidonet} =-=-=-=-=-=-= To: ALL From: Rene Bilodeau Subject: Guyana Elections GUYANA: A VICTORY FOR DEMOCRACY by Rod Doran The Western Bulletin, Issue #7, October 1992 Early results indicate that Cheddi Jagan and the Peoples Progressive Party will be elected and form the next government in Guyana. The P.P.P. holds a commanding lead of 58% to 39% over the ruling Peoples National Congress. The significance of this event may have escaped many readers who read the brief announcement in one of the daily newspapers but those who experienced the red- baiting, cold war hysteria of the 1950's will certainly sit up and take notice. In those days Guyana was called "British Guiana", the only British colonial possession on the South American continent. The British had seized the territory from the Dutch East India Trading Co., who had taken it from the French, who in turn had stolen it from the aboriginal peoples. Prior to the final British seizure in 1803 the territory was the object of inter-imperialist rivalries for over two hundred years. SUPPRESSION BY BRITAIN It was in the British Guiana, situated between Brazil and Venezuela and with a coastline on the Atlantic Ocean, this rumoured site of El Dorado (The City of Gold) that Cheddi Jagan and the Peoples Progressive Party launched their struggle for national liberation and independence in 1950. In 1953 Britain granted a constitution that allowed for a limited form of universal suffrage while keeping firm control and denying independence. As the result of this process and the elections that were held, Cheddi Jagan, a "declared Marxist" and the Peoples Progressive Party were elected, receiving 51% of the popular vote. The reaction of the British Tories was hysterical and the cry of a "red plot" and "takeover" echoed throughout the "free world". Campaigns of "popular protest" similar to the ones used to topple Mr. Mossadegh, the democratically elected leader that replaced the Shah of Iran, were organized in Guiana. Using this as a pretext the British Government suspended the constitution, dismissed Cheddi Jagan, sent a number of warships to the area including the aircraft carrier Indefatigable and sent British troops into Guiana. Many members of the People's Progressive party were imprisoned and Jagan and his wife Janet were arrested. Following his release Jagan went to London to appeal for the lifting of the suspension of the constitution but the Tory government would not budge. The Labour party official opposition expressed sympathy but were lacklustre in their opposition. The left in the Labour party and trade unions mounted a campaign against the suspension and called for the removal of British troops. The Daily Worker was the only newspaper that condemned the suspension and the use of troops. PPP WINS UNDER NEW CONSTITUTION A new constitution was brought down three years later by Britain and in the election that followed Cheddi Jagan and the Peoples Progressive Party received 48% of the popular vote winning nine of the fourteen electable seats in the 23 member house. A nine member cabinet was formed and Jagan held the portfolio of trade and commerce. The British Governor presided over the cabinet. Another constitution which granted internal self government (with the Governor still holding veto power) was brought down in 1961. An election followed and the Peoples Progressive Party received 42% of the popular vote and then formed a government. PPP UNDER ATTACK - AGAIN Premier Cheddi Jagan projected a policy of neutrality, parliamentary democracy, the goal of national independence and economic and social programmes to raise the standard of living for the people. The new premier appealed to the United States for economic aid to help tackle the severe economic situation that faced the new government. No aid was forthcoming but instead a campaign was launched by the C.l.A. against the austerity measures the new government was forced to implement. This was an attempt to topple the government. The government was not toppled but Britain and the U.S. connived to delay the granting of full independence until a way could be found to prevent the Peoples Progressive Party being re-elected. Under the guise of parliamentary democracy a plan was devised by the Tory Government and implemented by the Labour government of Harold Wilson. The British Government decided to impose a form of proportional representation for the next elections against the wishes of the elected government. Cheddi Jagan appealed against this decision to no avail but asked that he be allowed to keep his promise to lower the voting age from 21 to 18. ROLE OF BRITISH LABOUR GOVERNMENT Again he was refused by the Labour Government and there is no doubt that had the voting age been lowered Jagan and his party would have formed a majority government. The Peoples Progressive party received the largest bloc of seats but the new system allowed Fordes Burnham and his Peoples National Congress to form a coalition with a hitherto unelectable small reactionary party that held the balance of power. Large scale arrests of members of the People Progressive Party followed the election and Cheddi Jagan refused a cabinet position offer while his members were being arrested. Following the election economic aid was now possible and the United States granted an outright gift of $3.5 million. The Chase-Manhattan bank opened a branch in the capital Georgetown. Undisguised election rigging and gerrymandering has kept the Peoples Progressive Party out of office for twenty nine years. The return to power of the Peoples Progressive Party in 1992 will be welcomed in every part of the world. It is yet another sign that those who hope to turn back the advance of fundamental social change are doomed to failure by the course of history. History in turn is made by the struggles of the people for freedom and social justice. --- * Origin: CUSTOM design SOFTWARE (1:351/1106)