Sixty years after Guyana secured its Independence from Great Britain on May 26, 1966 under the premiership of Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham and the People’s National Congress (PNC) government, former Prime Minister and former Mayor of Georgetown Hamilton Green has launched a sweeping critique of the country’s political and economic trajectory, warning that the gains of independence are being steadily undermined.
In an Independence Day message, Green—widely regarded as the lone surviving member of the leadership cadre associated with Guyana’s struggle for self-government and independence—contended that six decades after severing colonial ties with Britain, Guyana is showing signs of what he described as a new form of dependence characterised by foreign influence, secrecy in governance and unequal access to the nation’s growing wealth.
“On this sixtieth year, there are ominous signs that we are being swiftly recolonised and reversing the efforts and sacrifices of those who went before us,” Green wrote.
Reflecting on Guyana’s journey from slavery and indentureship to self-government and nationhood, Green recounted the struggles of enslaved Africans, labour leaders, political activists and ordinary citizens who fought for freedom, universal adult suffrage and ultimately independence. He argued that the sacrifices of those generations are being diminished by policies that place foreign interests ahead of national development and the welfare of citizens.
The veteran politician reserved some of his strongest criticism for the management of Guyana’s natural resources, including gold, oil and gas. He contended that while Guyana has become one of the fastest-growing economies in the world, ordinary citizens are receiving too little benefit from the country’s vast wealth.
“Instead of keeping that gold that do not rust for Guyanese entrepreneurs to harvest… we are blissfully daily boasting how many foreigners are harvesting that gold,” Green stated.
He argued that successive governments have failed to ensure that the country’s resource wealth translates into meaningful improvements in the lives of ordinary Guyanese, including better wages, stronger public services and broader economic opportunities. Green said a nation with Guyana’s oil revenues should be capable of providing free education from kindergarten to university, properly compensating teachers and healthcare workers, and reducing the migration of skilled professionals.
Guyana’s offshore oil sector has generated billions of US dollars in revenue since production began in 2019, transforming the country’s economic fortunes. However, debates continue over how those resources should be managed and distributed to ensure long-term national development.
Green also raised concerns about environmental degradation associated with mining and resource extraction, questioning what future generations would inherit if rivers, waterways and forests continue to be damaged by mercury contamination and other forms of environmental destruction.
Turning to governance, Green criticised what he described as increasing secrecy in public affairs and a weakening of democratic oversight. He cited the recent controversy involving Indian nationals employed at a quarry operation, arguing that the public only became aware of the project after workers alleged mistreatment and the confiscation of their passports.
He also lamented the prolonged suspension of parliamentary sittings, noting that elected representatives have had limited opportunities to question government decisions. Parliament last met on February 14, when the 2026 national budget was approved, and is expected to reconvene on June 5 following growing pressure from opposition parties, civil society groups and members of the diplomatic community.
Invoking history, Green warned of the dangers of governing without effective parliamentary scrutiny, referencing the experience of England’s King Charles I, who ruled for years without Parliament before eventually being removed from power and executed.
The former prime minister also drew attention to concerns about social cohesion and representation. Referring to comments recently made by former University of Guyana Chancellor Bertrand Ramcharan, Green said the question of “how much more marginalisation can Afro-Guyanese endure” deserves serious national consideration as Guyana commemorates six decades of independence.
In one of the most pointed sections of his letter, Green criticised organisers of this year’s Independence celebrations for allegedly failing to recognise surviving participants in some of Guyana’s defining constitutional and political milestones. He noted that, to the best of his knowledge, the only surviving participant from the 1953 constitutional arrangements, the only surviving delegate from the final Independence Conference, and the military officer who first hoisted the Golden Arrowhead in 1966 were not invited to official observances. He suggested the omissions reflected either a poor appreciation of Guyanese history or an attempt to rewrite it.
Despite his concerns, Green extended Independence Day greetings to Guyanese at home and abroad. But his message carried a broader warning: that political independence alone is insufficient if the country fails to safeguard its sovereignty, democratic institutions, natural resources and historical legacy.
“Independence” he suggested, must mean more than freedom from colonial rule; it must also mean ensuring that Guyanese remain the primary beneficiaries of their country’s wealth and the principal architects of its future
