Latest update March 29th, 2024 12:59 AM
Oct 10, 2010 APNU Column, Features / Columnists
Tuesday, October 5, 2010 marked the 53rd anniversary of the PNCR and, despite the many predictions of its demise, the Party is still alive and strong.
It was on October 5, 1957, in the face of an election defeat at the 1957 General Elections, that the PPP-Burnhamite, which emerged after the split in the original People’s Progressive Party, held a Congress at the Globe Cinema in Georgetown whereat it adopted the name – People’s National Congress.
That Congress elected Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham as the Party’s First Leader with Joseph Pariag Latchmansingh as Chairman and Jai Narine Singh as General Secretary.
In an article entitled, “Where do we go from here?”, the Party‘s Founder Leader wrote:
“This Party started as a working class party and will never give up fighting for the workers, we will never and can never forsake them; the moment we do we had better arrange for our Political Funeral.
“But the fact that ours is a worker–based Party must not prevent us from having the intelligence to learn from the history of other countries and other liberation movements. We must be able and prepared to draw our strength not only from workers but from all sections of Guyanese, workers, farmers, businessmen, intellectuals and civil servants, regardless of race.”
This policy statement, on the national orientation of the PNC – now PNCR – remains as valid today as it was when uttered, by its Founder Leader, Mr. L.F.S. Burnham, on 16th April 1957.
REFLECTIONS
The People’s National Congress Reform, in its commemorative statement on this Anniversary, emphasised that the occasion provided the opportunity for reflection on its illustrious past, assessment of its present and contemplation and planning for its future. Indeed there is much that the PNCR can learn from its own history.
Despite its re-oganisation after the 1957 election defeat, the party faced yet another election defeat in 1961 but, again, the members did not lose faith in themselves. They regrouped and in 1964 were able to enter the halls of Government in a coalition arrangement with the then United Force. The rest is history.
Since then the Party has wrought mighty achievements and overcome ferocious odds. It resisted a furious onslaught of mayhem and terrorism planned and orchestrated by the PPP under the banner of “NO PR OR DEATH”.
It took the reins of government and brought peace and tranquility to a troubled land; led Guyana to Independence in 1966 and to Republican status in 1970; built the basic infrastructure of Guyana of main roads, bridges and institutions from the backwardness of colonialism and PPP misrule; built great drainage and irrigation schemes; advocated indigenous products and self-help, cooperatives and micro enterprises; built efficient and effective security forces; resisted threats to our territorial integrity; built a university and cultural centre; founded Carifesta, Guyfesta, and the Guyana Prize; brought Clive Lloyd back from Australia to shine for our regional cricket team; established Guyana as a major player on the international scene; made Guyana a commanding voice in the non-aligned movement, in the struggle against racism and apartheid and in the growth and solidification of CARICOM; and, played a leading role in fashioning and policing the Gleneagles Agreement which did so much to help defeat prejudice in sport.
On reflection, it must be acknowledged that the Party was blessed with mighty stalwarts like Forbes Burnham, Ptolemy Reid, and Desmond Hoyte. Even today, we bask in the respect and achievements of Bishwaishwar “Cammie” Ramsaroop, Sir Shridath “Sonny” Ramphal, and Dr. Mohammed Shahabuddeen.
The Party had stellar leaders like Winifred Gaskin, Shirley Field-Ridley, Jane Phillips-Gay and Viola Burnham, to name just a few. AND, significantly, the Party has always had women from all walks of life who were prepared to advance and defend the struggle from the front lines. Today, many are still around and we must salute them on this occasion.
Under the stewardship of successive PNC administrations, between 1964 and 1992, Guyana experienced not only significant political and constitutional advance, but also unprecedented nation building efforts in every aspect of human endeavour.
As one reflects upon the housing schemes around Guyana from New Amsterdam to Linden; the drainage and irrigation projects, in support of agriculture development at the MMA, Black Bush Polder, Tapakuma, and Boerasirie; the major road networks development including, the Soesdyke/Linden Highway and the Corentyne Highway; and, the Demerara Harbour Bridge and the Canje Bridge, the role of the PNC administration cannot be denied.
As one reflects upon the now disbanded policy of free education from Nursery to University; the National School of Dance; the Burrowes School of Arts; the National Cultural Centre; the recognition of Phagwah, Deepavali, Youman Nabi, Eid Ul Adha, Good Friday, Easter and other significant religious and cultural festivals as national holidays, the significant role of the PNCR cannot be wished away by the rewriting of our history.
That is why on its 53rd anniversary, everyone who bears allegiance to the PNCR can wear their badge of membership with pride and commemorate the achievements of our founding fathers and mothers with admiration and celebration.
Despite the mountain of criticism from detractors, when others talked, criticised and sabotaged, the PNC achieved.
REVERSAL
Eighteen years after demitting office, the PNC – now PNCR – has witnessed the almost reversal of its efforts at nation building, by a PPP/C Administration more interested in perpetuating itself in office, through selfish and partisan approaches to governance.
Political and racial discrimination have become the order of the day. There is widespread and entrenched corruption at all levels of the society.
Insecurity has become the number one concern of the average citizen, due to widespread violence springing from official collaboration with notorious criminals linked to drug cartels and gun running outfits; the continuing violation of the human rights of citizens, including the illegal and unconstitutional use of torture; the increasing violence and widespread abuse of women and children; and, the obvious inability of the state apparatus to maintain law and order in the society.
Meanwhile, it is no secret that the young people of our country are once again looking to the People’s National Congress Reform to restore their faith in the future of Guyana by visionary leadership, of the kind experienced by their parents and grandparents, generations ago. Our young people yearn for the day when our nation building approach to governance can be resumed, whereby they would be able to foresee the bright future of a modern developed Guyana in which they and their offspring feel wanted and are able to play a meaningful role.
It would be neither appropriate nor wise for the PNCR to bask in the achievements of the past. It is all well and good to reflect on past achievements, but life moves on and times change.
Whilst the Party needs to take strength from its past successes, it must make a realistic assessment of our present condition lest it becomes irrelevant to the trials and challenges of the current times.
The working classes are, in many places, suffering under the burden of incompetence, underdevelopment, injustice and marginalisation, and the PPP/C government has shown no increased capacity for reconciliation, institution building or international vision. The challenge is now. The battle lines have been drawn for 2011. At stake, is the survival of Guyana as a coherent nation and the turnaround of our economic fortunes to sustained viable growth.
HIGH EXPECTATIONS
Many Guyanese now have high expectations that, like the proverbial phoenix, the Party will rise, alone or in partnership with others, to rescue our Nation from the misery brought upon its people by the PPP criminalised regime, just like our Party did in 1964 when our country, still a British colony, but led by this very PPP Government, was divided by racial violence, strife and economic ruin.
At that troubling period, it was the PNC under the guidance of our Founder Leader, L.F.S. Burnham, which, after two election defeats, reorganized itself and then found it necessary to form an alliance with the United Force to attain the seat of Government.
Can we do it? The resounding answer of the PNCR is: YES! WE CAN! WE MUST! WE WILL.
THIS IDIOT TELLING GUYANA WE HAVE NO SAY IN THE 50% PROFIT SHARING AGREEMENT WE HAVE WITH EXXON.
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