The National Assembly last night unanimously endorsed a motion brought by Opposition Leader Robert Corbin to give due recognition to the work and contribution of Guyana’s first Executive President, Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham.
Corbin, leading off debate on the motion, said its approval – particularly the archiving of his speeches and works – would promote a dispassionate analysis of the contribution of Burnham for the benefit of posterity’s own judgment. Speaking for the government, Prime Minister Hinds also endorsed the motion and it was fully supported after hours of debate.
Prime Minister Sam Hinds (right) and Opposition Leader Robert Corbin speaking on the motion to honour the late President Forbes Burnham yesterday in Parliament. (Jules Gibson composite photo)
Corbin added that the pursuit of these objectives at the height of the Cold War was considered to be dangerous by the West for the Caribbean region as the successful efforts could have empowered other leaders in Latin America and Africa to follow similar socialist policies in opposition to the West.
Consequently, Corbin noted, Burnham faced severe obstacles both internal and external as he introduced economic policies and programmes to lay the foundation for the psychological, cultural and economic liberation of Guyana.
Corbin took the opportunity to assert his conviction “I believe… that Guyana has nowhere to go and has no realistic chance of revitalization without peace and reconciliation, a peace that is based on justice and a recognition of the rights and aspirations of all Guyanese whatever their ethnic or racial origins or whatever the social background and religious beliefs. This indeed was part of the vision of L.F.S. Burnham.”
Corbin recollected that four years ago in his first address to his party congress as leader, he had stated, “If Guyana is to move forward, there must be a paradigm shift. We cannot continue in this vicious cycle. For cohesion to be achieved, we have to close the chapter of the past… let us have a Truth and Reconciliation Commission.”
Burnham had assumed political power in Guyana in 1964 with a PNC/UF coalition subsequent to the imposition of Proportional Representation by the departing colonial machinery. His tenure has been the subject of much controversy with respect to the issues of rigged elections, repression, the killing of historian Dr Walter Rodney, the banning of food staples and economic malaise. He died in office in 1985.
The 23rd anniversary of his passing was observed on Wednesday.
Prime Minister Hinds, registering the Government’s support for the motion, said Burnham’s career was an extraordinary one which was due mainly to the personal skills and abilities which nature had blessed him in extraordinary huge proportions.”
Hinds quoted a work from Ashton Chase which posited: “He was a failure, he was a success, he was a builder, he was a destroyer, he was a strategist, he was a schemer.”
Hinds posited that the unity of the Guyanese political landscape in 1953 with both Forbes Burnham and Cheddi Jagan forming a major democratic entity constituted great potential. However, subsequent occurrences which resulted in the split along with the damaging corollaries are deeply regrettable.
Other parliamentarians including AFC Leader Raphael Trotman also spoke in support of the motion in the context of Guyanese 20th century political history.
One of the resolve clauses calls for the National Assembly to give “due recognition to the service of Mr. Burnham to the National Assembly and Guyana by requesting the Government to have prepared and published a collection of his speeches spanning his tenure in the National Assembly for display in the Library of the National Assembly.”
The resolve clause had moreover recommended that the National Assembly “calls on the Government to designate a State Institution to be responsible for historical Research and Documentation to chronicle and archive all of the works of each of the Presidents of Guyana for the benefit of future generations of Guyanese.”
Another resolve clause called for the mounting of full sized portraits of each of the Presidents of Guyana in the Chambers of the National Assembly.
this is a very great step this administration has taken in the direction of healing the nation,this is what we need in Guyana to send a message to those loyal to the PPP that it is ok to move on now,there is no more need to keep lamenting about Burnham’s wrongdoings,our nation is struggling to move on,this one little move could be seen as a start of peace among the peoples of Guyana.
Please all you haters,accept this as a good thing for our country,stop the phycological warfare and let there be peace,it is time!! Anyone who does not agree with what is happening is guilty of wanting our country to suffer because of their own malice,give it up Burnham is dead,your aggression is to your fellow countrymen.STOP IT.
I agree with you we should move on. It is good for our national health. In all honesty we can not forget the atrocity committed by the regime on the people and state of Guyana. Just to point out one, the reopening of the 1899 boundary award. The elder men,told him not to do it, but he did not care
Hear! Hear!
Corbin for once has achieved something sensible and issued words of substance. Good to know that the PPP led government has acknowledged that LFS Burnham is an integral part of our history.
More importantly the fact that both main political parties can agree to recognise Burnham’s contribution to the country, is an indication that they can work together.
However, I sit back and await now all the closet racists, “haters” and generally the Guyanese who just love to criticise because they can, to come crawling out.
Let’s have a national discussion on Burnham’s contributions, his vision and WARTS and ALL. It;s the only way we can heal and move forward
MALAIKA06 OH WHAT A BEAUTIFUL DAY THIS IS BIG UP TO CORBIN AND SAM HINDS AND THE REST OF THEM.
I welcome this initiative, it was long overdue, good move mr. corbin and thanks to all parlimentarian who recognise mr. burnham’s contribution to guyana.
i want to know the vote count,fo and against.
It is evident that the political longevity of either Burnham or Jagan would gave been an issue of discussion had they not done what was required for their own survival. However controversial their works and rule may be in retrospect, casualties was inconsequential in the eyes of the larger political powers (judge) of the day,but only in the eyes of the disaffected and the disillusioned those actions quite rightly which have resulted in any form of emotional, physical or financial insecurity have received our attention. In my book, both Burnham and Jagan did their master bidding’s, a classical example in Guyana social and political history, of one who did not is found in the life, work and demise of Dr. Walter Rodney, my kind of hero however imperfect history may judge him to be.
well said,in the wrld of duality they were the players.
i agree and have been waiting for Corbin to have the courage to do this.
If history were ever to judge anyone to be perfectly perfect then I submit that history is biased. I don’t know if anyone ever made this statement before but I do hope I’m not repeating anyone.
Politics also make for strange bedfellows. The history of Guyana is inseparably connected to the doings of L.F.S. Burnham and C.B. Jagan who shaped British Guiana’s foundation as the the independent nation of Guyana.
There should never be any issues as to the acknowledgement and archiving of their works.
I do hope that this action by the National Assembly be seen as a step forward inpreserving our history and moving on in oue exciting future. That those who try to rewrite our history use their energies and abilities to achieve the stated visions of those leaders who have passed on.
My interpretation of those visions – Simply put – “An independent and progressive Guyana for ALL Guyanese”
Shall we work to fulfill these dreams???
Ankoko you’ve got to be careful mentioning C.B. Jagan in relationship to Guyana. The stubborn facts show that Jagan had nothing to do with governing Guyana until after 1992, because he was always in the opposition.
However, those same stubborn facts will show that Dr Jagan had everything to do with British Guiana not Guyana. Ankoko my friend you know that, those stubborn facts are a mean bunch who normally run around together in cliques while calling themselves HISTORY.
By the way, let me remind you of a few things about British Guiana. The national flag for British Guiana was the Union Jack and the national anthem was ‘God save the Queen’. Ankoko banna…. I don’t think that Dr Jagan would want to associate his legacy with that.
Therefore my friend Ankoko, those stubborn facts which like to call themselves HISTORY, will not record anything positive about Dr Jagan until after 1992. So it looks like that sly fox Burnham did it again, because he already figure out a way to keep the whole enchalada to himself. Bannas! ain’t that thing called history a cruel bitch?……
I can’t believe that the PPP and even Ravi Dev’s petite party supported Corbin’s motion/proposal in parliament; Man, you can never trust politicians, Never.
I wonder what’s the trade off?
Then Hear Sam Hinds, lampy pampy, hop-an-a-drop, spin;
“He was a failure, he was a success, he was a builder, he was a destroyer, he was a strategist, he was a schemer.”
Cripes.
Pnc is doing damage control. Their ideology is banrupt.They need, something to hold on to. Or else, this empty void will continue to destroy the pnc.
Can you imagine the pnc surviving for 28 yrs in opposition, with members being harassed, jailed, no jobs etc?
The very thing they destroyed in Guyana is saving them; equal opportunity, democracy, fraternity, nationalism.
A very small minded opinion Vatvic!!!!!!!!
I have been following the Guyana news daily. The amazing thing the present PPP-CIVIC government did was to allow this motion to go parliament and support given. The Guyanese people must ask themselves if they can remember if the PNC did this for the # l Guyanese Freedom Fighter and Statesman, the Late Dr. Cheddi B. Jagan or anyone else when they were alive, and should understand that healing is necessary but not at the expense of the grave security problems that face the nation both internally and externally. The PNC leadership thought it priority to bring this motion to parliament ,yet the necessary committment and undivided support to stop the spiralling crime wave across the nation daily seem less important. The PNC AND ITS SUPPORTORS WAKE UP FROM THE SLUMBER,remember God is the only True Forgiver,stop supporting directly or indirectly any crime. All guyanese citizens wake up, do not turn a blind eye to any crime for you will be ask to account by God. Let us unite under Truth. SA/CANADA
SHEIK ALLY please lets move on its time the healing begin, let us all live like
one people one nation one destiny
I agree! The “grave security problems that face the nation both internally and externally” need more commitment from all concerned. However, until the government (which is in control of the security apparatus of the country) can demonstrate to all Guyanese and the rest of the world that they are not just paying lip service to solving our security dilemma; that they are fully committed to respecting the rule of law; that they are prepared to accept dissenting views as normal in any democratic society and not see them as destabilizing the government; that freedom of speech is a basic hallmark of a democratic nation, only then will the people of Guyana develop the will to move forward in the healing process necessary for development.
This move to support Corbin’s motion is a welcome sign that some sense still resides in the corridors of power. It is hoped that more good sense would prevail to facilitate the healing process.
Boths sides need to give the Guyanese side an Apology. They both did us wrong
The PPP did this at this time because Ms Gay McDougall from the UN is in Guyana carrying out racial assessments made by the PNC, so to appease the situation, the PPP succumbed and passed the motion. Fear is the key.
Corbin should apologize for the wrong that he (Corbin) Burnham and the PNC did to Guyana and that would have closed that chapter so that the healing can begin. Stabroek News should give more of what was said during the motiom
COOLIEMAN, stop looking back you will crash stop it man get over it have a nice day my brother
Both PPP and PNC needs to apologies to the people of this Country.
Coolieman I agree that the PNC should apologize for their atrocities while in Government. But the PPP just had their National Congress and mind you, they are the Gov’t of the day and nobody apologized to the Guyanese people for Joint Services failures with NOT solving the crime problems.
coolieman,
I do believe what you say is right…the PNC, Corbin, Hamilton Green and the rest should apologise for the destruction they brought Guyana, and if not for one thing, because of all the criminal intent on behalf of the PNC, they were not prosecuted or hung…they’re still free.
Corbin is on record for a truth and reconcilation commission like what happened in South Africa. So far the Jagdeo PPP govt is not interested … Mr moderator I would like to see the auditor general’s report in SN.
This is a good initiative. This is an opportunity for individuals especially youths to learn about the history of their country and not to have a polarised view of where Guyana was for this can truly determine the future. Highlighting our past leaders and their works without regards to current politics is surely a way of knowing our history, our present and how we can mould our destiny.