By Pt. Ubraj Narine- As we celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Cheddi Jagan, one of the founding fathers of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) and not the Country, it is good that we remember not only his contributions but also the ideological path he envisioned for Guyana.
Dr. Jagan introduced himself proudly as a Communist and aligned Guyana with countries such as Cuba and Russia during the height of the Cold War. In fact, during the 1960s, Dr. Jagan actively distributed the Communist publication newspaper named “Granma” in Guyana, clearly signalling his desire to steer our nation toward Communism.
While Dr. Jagan’s role in Guyana’s political history is significant. It is equally important to acknowledge the direction from which Guyana was saved—thanks to the leadership of Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham. Burnham believed in the freedom of the people and led the nation with a vision of self-sufficiency and national development.
Burnham steered Guyana on a course that sought independence not just politically but economically through the creation of state-owned industries that laid the foundation for what could have been a thriving and diversified economy.
Under Burnham’s leadership, we saw the establishment of key industries and institutions: the Guyana Bauxite Company (GUYBAU), Demerara Woods Ltd., Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), Guyana Rice Board, Guyana Sugar Corporation (GUYSUCO), Guyana Telecommunications Corporation (GTC), Guyana Electricity Corporation (GEC), Guyana National Cooperative Bank (GNCB), Guyana Airways Corporation, as well as a glass factory, textiles factory, red brick factory, LIDCO (Linden Dairy Company), and NAMILCO. These initiatives reflected Burnham’s commitment to building a self-reliant Guyana.
One cannot forget the Tapir vehicle, a local innovation manufactured by Associated Industries Limited (AINLIM), which still serves as a symbol of that era in Berbice. These developments were all opposed by Dr. Jagan, including the introduction of the National Insurance Scheme (NIS), has since provided essential support to many Guyanese.
Had Guyana retained and nurtured these industries, imagine where we could stand today in the Caribbean—perhaps as a regional leader in manufacturing, agriculture, and innovation. Unfortunately, much of this industrial foundation was dismantled following the PPP’s government in 1992 when Dr. Jagan won the elections. The dismantling of state-owned enterprises marked a significant shift away from the vision Burnham had for Guyana’s economic independence.
Many in the PPP today wants to rewrite the history of our country, especially the Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo who will definitely rewriting history today at Babu Jaan but I want remind him that historical facts will always remains unmatched and he himself continue that of Communism wanted to take away the freedom of speech from the Guyanese people and to control the mechanisms of manipulation of his own political party and our country.
As we reflect, let us not lose sight of the leader who brought us independence and envisioned a Guyana that could sustain itself through cooperative socialism—Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham, the true Father of the Nation. While Dr. Jagan’s role in Guyana’s history is undeniable, Burnham’s legacy of nation-building and vision for a self-sufficient, free Guyana remains unmatched.
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Pt.Ubraj Narine is a Justice of the Peace (JP), Commissioner of Oaths to Affidavits (COA), former Staff Sgt.(Guyana Defence Force), former Mayor City of Georgetown
