Latest update April 19th, 2024 12:59 AM
Oct 10, 2015 Book Review…, Features / Columnists
Author: Colin A. Palmer
Reviewer: Dr. Lomarsh Roopnarine
The following is a review of Cheddi Jagan and the Politics of Power: British Guiana’s Struggle for Independence by Colin A. Palmer. University of North Carolina Press: Chapel Hill 2010. Colin Palmer’s book is the most recent analysis of why and how the British and American governments invaded British Guiana and suspended its 1953 Constitution during the early stages of the Cold War. Palmer also shows how these imperialist nations delayed Independence for this underdeveloped agricultural and multi-ethnic British colonial outpost on the northeastern shoulder of South America. Palmer reiterates that the British and Americans overreacted to unfounded evidence of communism, supposedly sweeping through British Guiana under the leadership of the Indian dentist-turned-politician, Cheddi Jagan, and his People’s Progressive Party (PPP). The reality was that the British and American governments wanted an independent British Guiana that would be subservient to the views of the capitalists, while local politicians wanted an independent and sovereign national government. The consequence of this polarized beginning, Palmer argues, has devastated Guyana, and the country, independent since 1966, has never fully recovered.
Palmer shows how the splitting of the PPP into two political parties, the retention of the former PPP under Jagan and the newly created People’s National Congress (PNC) under British-educated African lawyer, Forbes Burnham, led to ethnic cleavage, racial politics, and a divided colony. Each party jockeyed for power through destabilizing methods such as violence, arson, protest and strikes (some sponsored by the CIA). Palmer posits that the British and American governments were so obsessed with containing, or destroying, the PPP that they helped to divide the colony and produced a politics of race that scarred the nation’s soul (137).
Palmer initially blames the British and Americans for all of British Guiana’s problems, but midway through the book, he chastises both Jagan and Burnham for not doing enough to create a safe environment in British Guiana during the turbulent 1950s and early 1960s. Actually, both Jagan and Burnham used race to secure their power base and mobilize their political careers. Palmer writes that “Lacking the desire and will to subordinate their political ambitions to the larger good, Guiana’s leaders bore much of the responsibility for the divisions that had become suffocatingly normative” (298). Although Palmer is supportive of Jagan’s position against colonialism, he is also very critical of Jagan’s leadership. For example, Palmer states that Jagan was, “Never adept at the art of governing,” (161) and “largely incapable of taking (sic) a decision.” (175).
The author dedicates about one hundred pages to a critical analysis of the Guianese leaders, mainly Jagan and Burnham. These frank criticisms have not been seen before in other books, and supporters of Jagan might be offended. Jagan is viewed by his followers as the Gandhi of British Guiana. While these criticisms provide a new and frank look at Jagan, one questions why the author relied on the records and views of colonialists to analyze Jagan. Given their position and purpose in British Guiana, which the author highlights, readers would not be surprised by the imperialist view of the British Guianese leaders. While Jagan was popular in British Guiana, particularly among his rural Indian supporters, Burnham was favored by the British and Americans to lead the colony to Independence, mainly because Burnham was perceived to be the lesser of the two evils. Jagan was seen to be a communist and Burnham was not. Jagan was subsequently removed from the leadership of British Guiana, first by the proportional representation political system, and then by the dictatorial policies of Burnham, and remained out of power for most of his political career. Burnham rigged most of post-independent Guyana’s elections to stay in power.
Palmer’s book certainly makes one feel sad for Cheddi Jagan. Nevertheless, Jagan’ s determination to fight for justice for his people and country, using whatever means possible, made him de facto one of the heroes of Guyana, and to some extent, the international community. Palmer recognizes this and underscores that “Cheddi Jagan emerges as the classic tragic hero. He was never the demon that his detractors loved to excoriate and plotted to defeat, and Jagan never lost his passion for his country’s welfare. He was, arguably, the most outstanding leader produced in the twentieth century, although his enormous limitations interfered with any claims to greatness. All too frequently, Jagan appeared a prisoner of Marxist rhetoric, even if the ideas he embraced so tenaciously had many fathers, ultimately creating the bewildering ideological hybrid of Jaganism” (312).
More studies will be done on Cheddi Jagan, mainly because Palmer does not seem to have closed the gaps in the literature of this deceased leader. The author relies too much on the records of the colonialists, particularly on the views of resident British governors in British Guiana, and less on the records of local politicians. None of the local politicians who were involved in this period were interviewed, even though some of them are still around. In this regard, the jury is still out as to what transpired in the 1950s and early 1960s in British Guiana.
(Dr. Lomarsh Roopnarine
Associate Professor
Latin American and Caribbean History
Jackson State University, USA)
Please share this to every Guyanese including your house cats.
Apr 19, 2024
SportsMax – West Indies Women’s captain Hayley Matthews delivered a stellar all-round performance to lead her team to a commanding 113-run victory over Pakistan Women in the first One Day...Kaieteur News – For years, the disciples of Bharrat Jagdeo have woven a narrative of economic success during his tenure... more
By Sir Ronald Sanders Waterfalls Magazine – On April 10, the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States... more
Freedom of speech is our core value at Kaieteur News. If the letter/e-mail you sent was not published, and you believe that its contents were not libellous, let us know, please contact us by phone or email.
Feel free to send us your comments and/or criticisms.
Contact: 624-6456; 225-8452; 225-8458; 225-8463; 225-8465; 225-8473 or 225-8491.
Or by Email: [email protected] / [email protected]