LINDEN FORBES SAMPSON BURNHAM, O.E., S.C. NATIONAL ASSEMBLY SPEECHES VOLUME 4 January 1964 - December 1965 1 Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham, O.E., S.C. National Assembly Speeches Volume 4 © National Assembly of Guyana Cover design by Peepal Tree Press All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form without permission. ISBN 978-1-907493-83-6 2 Biographical Summary Scholar : Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham was born to a Headmaster father and a devout Christian mother on February 20, 1923. His scholastic career is one of the outstanding features of his life. He went from Kitty Methodist School to Central High School and then to Queen’s College in 1935 and one year later gained the Centenary Exhibition as well as a Government Junior Scholarship. In 1937, he won the Percival Exhibition Award and in 1942 he won the coveted Guyana scholarship. The war prevented him from proceeding to University overseas and he therefore read externally for a degree from London University. After the war, he proceeded to read Law at Gray’s Inn, winning the best speaker’s cup in the process. But the Law could not hold him. Politics was in his blood. Several Caribbean Leaders, especially Errol Barrow of Barbados have testified how Burnham and others “tired the sun with talking” on all subjects political. The destiny of Guyana and the Caribbean region claimed his attention. Left wing politics attracted him and soon Burnham was involved with the youth arm of the Communist party of Britain and the politics of the Caribbean students. Brilliant Lawyer: In 1944, he was awarded the Bachelor of Arts Degree at the External Examination of the University of London. In 1947 he gained with honours, the Bachelor of Laws Degree from the same University. In 1948, at the age of 25, he was admitted to the Bar of the Honourable Society of Gray’s Inn, London. In 1949 he returned home and was admitted to the local Bar. By 1959 he had so established himself as a brilliant lawyer, that he was elected President of the Guyana Bar Association. Politics: While a student in London, his keen interest in politics earned him the presidency of the West Indian Students’ Union in 1947 and participation as a delegate to the Students’ Congresses in Prague in 1947 and Paris in 1948. Upon his return to Guyana he became a co-founder and Chairman of the People’s Progressive Party. In 1952, he was elected to the Georgetown City Council where he served as Mayor on two occasions, in 1959 and 1964. First Executive President: In 1957, he founded the People’s National Congress and served as Leader of the Opposition within the Legislature until 1964 when he became Premier at the head of the People’s National Congress / United Force Coalition Government. When Guyana became independent in 1966, he became Prime Minister and with the advent of a new Constitution, he was 3 elected the First Executive President on December 15, 1980 , remaining in that position until his death on August 6, 1985. International Respect: He earned for his country international recognition and the respect of friends and foes alike for his articulation of commitment to the practice of Non-Alignment. He made it clear that he was not prepared to sacrifice Guyana’s right to determine its own path of political, economic and social and cultural development. He was also an indefatigable foe of apartheid and was repeatedly praised for the strong support to the liberation struggles in Southern Africa. Carifta/Caricom/Carifesta: Within the Region, he was a Founding Father of both Carifta and Caricom and was regarded as “a regional Leader of utmost importance and highest esteem.” His was the vision of an integrated Caribbean Community of independent people and he worked hard towards making that vision a reality. In the quest for cultural independence, under his leadership, Guyana hosted the first Caribbean Festival of Creative Arts (Carifesta). Women’s Rights: He ensured the passing of legislation which gave children born out of wedlock equal rights with those born of wedlock. A State Paper on Women in 1976 gave birth to three laws - The Equal Rights Act; The Family and Dependants Provision Act and the Married Persons (Property) Amendment Act. These Acts ensured for women equal rights in all spheres of political, economic and social life. Concern for Youth: His concern for youth was manifested in the establishment of the Guyana National Service which was meant to give early school-leavers additional opportunities and to build in young people a spirit of nationalism and engender a zeal for service to the nation. Awards: He received Guyana’s highest award, the Order of Excellence (O.E.) in 1973. His work as an internationalist earned him the grand Cordan Dh’orde du Mil award from the Government of Egypt, the Jose Marti award from the Government of Cuba in 1975 and an honorary Doctorate of Law from Dalhouse University of Canada. Three countries awarded him their highest awards - in October 1983, Brazil honoured him with the Cruseiro DoSol, in 1984, Bulgaria with the Star of Planinay and in 1985, Yugoslavia with the ‘Order of the Red Star’. 4 Contents: Appropriation Bill 1964 (Budget Debate): 16th January, 1964 .....................1 Estimates of Expenditure - In Committee of Supply: 21st January, 1964 ........................................................................................ 24 Estimates of Expenditure - In Committee of Supply: 29th January, 1964 ....................................................................................... 31 Development Estimates 1964: 29th January, 1964....................................... 33 Development Estimates 1964: 30th January, 1964....................................... 36 Departure of the Governor, Sir Ralph Francis Alnwick Grey: 26th February, 1964 ..................................................................................... 39 Assistance to Farmers for Flood Losses: 26th February, 1964................... 40 Situation in the Sugar Industry: 26th February, 1964 ................................ 45 Assistance to Farmers for Flood Losses: 28th February, 1964................... 49 Unemployment in British Guiana: 28th February, 1964............................ 50 Unemployment in British Guiana: 4th March, 1964 .................................. 54 Motion on the Revocation of Governor’s (R.E. Luyt) Appointment: 4th March, 1964 ............................................................................................ 60 Approval of Financial Paper No. 1 of 1964: 14th May, 1964 ...................... 65 Identity Cards with Photographs for Voters: 14th May, 1964 .................. 72 Motion on the Second Reading of the Statutory Publications Bill: 26th May, 1964.............................................................................................. 76 Motion on the Seconding Reading of the Public Corporations (Amendment) Bill: 26th May, 1964 ........................................................... 77 Georgetown Cultural Centre: 26th May, 1964 ............................................. 79 Motion on the Second Reading of the F.W.E. Case Pension Bill: 26th May, 1964.............................................................................................. 80 Motion on the Second Reading of the Liquor Licensing (Amendment) Bill 1964: 26th May, 1964 ............................................................................ 82 Appeal for End to Racial Disturbance: 26th May, 1964 .............................. 84 Death of Mr. Nehru: 2nd June, 1964 ............................................................... 86 Extension of Emergency Regulations: 3rd June, 1964 .................................. 88 First House of Assembley Constituted under the British Guiana (Constitution) Orders 1961 - 1964 Congratulations to the Speaker: 31st December, 1964 .............................. 105 Emergency Regulations: 18th May, 1965 .................................................... 106 Death Sentence for two Rhodesians: 25th May, 1965................................ 111 Motion on Proclamation No. 2 of 1965 State of Emergency: 13th July, 1965 ............................................................................................ 112 International Commission of Jurists: 29th July, 1965 ............................... 115 5 Motion on the Extension of Proclamation of Emergency: 8th October, 1965 ....................................................................................... 120 National Cane Farming Committee Bill – In Committee: 19th October, 1965 ..................................................................................... 124 Motion on the Second Reading of British Guiana (Constitution) (Adaptation and Modification of Laws) Bills: 19th October, 1965 ..... 125 Financial Paper No. 14 of 1965 – Committee of Supply: 22nd December, 1965 ................................................................................. 129 Season’s Greetings: 23rd December, 1965 ................................................... 131 Motion on the Second Reading of the Property Tax (Amendment) Bill: 29th December, 1965 ............................................................................... 132 Property Tax (Amendment) Bill Second and Third Readings: 30th December, 1965 .................................................................................. 138 Second and Third Readings of the Legal Practitioners (Amendment) Bill: 30th December, 1966 .......................................................................... 140 New Year Greetings: