i Table of Contents Editorial ............................................................................................ ii THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION: Is it one or several? ...................... 65 Badrie Persaud Cheddi Jagan’s Ideas continue to Illuminate our Path ...................... 1 Donald Ramotar The ‘Mystique of Mustique’ Another Unsolved Caribbean Mystery? ......................................... 67 Cheddi’s Bold, Daring Socio-Political Innovation in 1990 Mr. Khame Sharma and my Bridge Into Politics ............................................................... 4 Samuel A.A. Hinds DR. JAGAN AND CULTURE. .............................................................. 14 Al Creighton Cheddi Jagan Annual Lecture ......................................................... 20 President Irfaan Ali China’s Investments in the World: Liberative or Exploitative? ....... 23 Donald Ramotar Booker’s Bitter Legacy: British Guiana after Empire ....................... 27 Dr. Ben Richardson Blood on the River: A Chronicle of Mutiny and Freedom on the Wild Coast ........................................................................... 33 Dr. James Rose Janet Jagan and the Democracy of Social Liberation ...................... 37 Eddie Rodney PARIKA-GOSHEN ROAD PROJECT .................................................... 40 Joseph Holder, A.A. The Pandemic, Jobs and Technology .............................................. 43 Alexi Ramotar The Coup in Myanmar .................................................................... 45 Oliver Sam NEW GLOBAL ‘MORAL’ ORDER ....................................................... 48 Hydar Ally Sugar’s Renaissance........................................................................ 51 Seepaul Narine Vaccine Inequity and the Developing World .................................. 53 Dr. Jacquelyn Jhingree Black on Magenta ........................................................................... 56 Dr. Frank Anthony PASSING OF A COMRADE: Feroze Mohamed ................................. 59 Harry Narine Nawbatt Dr. Walter Rodney: Revolutionary Intellectual ............................... 61 Donald Ramotar The Thinker (French: Le Penseur) is a bronze sculpture by Auguste Rodin. ii Editorial This edition of The Thinker coincides with a number of significant landmarks, both at the national and international levels. At the national level, March 22 marked the 103rd birth anniversary of former President, Dr. Cheddi Jagan. Dr. Jagan is widely regarded as the Father of the Nation and the main architect of our national liberation struggle. March 6 also marked the 24th death anniversary of Dr. Jagan who, along with his wife Janet, were the founder members of the People’s Progressive Party. As fate would have it, Mrs. Jagan also passed away on March 28, 2009. At the international level, this year marks the 100th anniversary of the Communist Party of China. China today is a major economic player on the world stage. Of significance also is the Covid-19 virus which continues to take a heavy toll on human lives not to mention the devastation inflicted on the global economy. Coincidentally, this year also marked the 100th anniversary of the H1N1 influenza. The virus, also referred to as the Spanish Flu decimated over 100 million people worldwide. Several of the articles centered on these broad thematic areas such as the inequity in vaccine distribution, tributes to Dr. Jagan from close associates, commentaries on international issues including the recent coup in Myanmar. We have also included a tribute to the late Feroze Mohamed and a book review on Blood on the River. A few of the articles, even though dated, have been selected due to their perspicacity and historical relevance. This year, our country will observe its 55th Independence celebrations on May 26, 2021. An article carried by the Mirror newspaper dated May 31st, 1966 highlights the status of the newly birthed nation during a state of national emergency. In keeping with editorial policy, these articles provide readers with perspectives that are informative, balanced and progressive in outlook. The Editorial Committee wishes to thank all our contributors for submitting articles and also our readers for their continued support and patronage. Editorial Committee The Thinker Editorial Committee Contact Information Frank Anthony 65-67 High Street, Kingston, Donald Ramotar Georgetown, Guyana, South America Clement Rohee Tel: (592) 223-7523/24 Hydar Ally Email: [email protected] Indranie Chandarpal iii Cheddi Jagan’s Ideas continue to Illuminate our Path Dr. Jagan addressing the UN General Assembly On March 22, 2021, we mark the 103rd birth anniversary working people and established tertiary institutions of Cheddi Jagan, the man most responsible for lifting the such as the University of Guyana and the Guyana School political consciousness of the people of British Guiana of Agriculture, opening the door to the underprivileged. and led the struggle for independence. In the area of health, the Georgetown Public Hospital He led the government of British Guiana from 1957 was expanded to become the largest hospital in the to 1964. Those were extremely difficult years, for he English-speaking Caribbean. Malaria was eradicated and his comrades worked under some of the most and Health services spread across the country. Due to trying conditions. The PPP government of that period this and the improvement in the economic conditions was opposed by the combined forces of the British of the working people life expectancy grew sharply. The Colonialists, who had real power in their hands, the leadership of Dr. Jagan was most important in making US imperialists, which by then had become the most progress in the wake of the opposition to the socio- powerful nation in the world and the local collaborators, economic development. the PNC and the United Force who became tools in the hands of the British and the Americans. However, since the passing of Dr. Jagan twenty-four years ago, some have begun to say that his ideas are no The PNC, as they are doing today, used race to divide longer relevant. This is expressed by those who in his and weaken the movement to stall independence and to lifetime were opposed to him. But it is not confined to be given the government by the US and British Imperial them, even among those who express sympathies with powers. him, share those views. Despite that formidable opposition, the PPP government It is true that in the twenty-four years that have elapsed scored very important achievements in the economy. since Dr. Jagan’s passing a lot have changed. Therefore, When the PPP left office in 1964, British Guiana had it is not every speech that he had made or all his writings one of the highest per capita income in the colonies and will reflect the reality of today. However, what has not semi-colonies. In the social area, the PPP administration changed is the direction which societies are going which expanded areas to education for the children of the Cheddi Jagan spoke about. His principles remain sound 1 and worthwhile to be emulated. years or so. That may be true. However, relative poverty has grown exponentially. The world has never witnessed His approach to issues and problems internally and such concentration of wealth as we see today, much internationally remains valid as ever. greater than when Dr. Jagan was with us. Some of the issues that Cheddi Jagan championed are Those who were and are opposed to his visions often still with us today. Indeed, many have become even point to the collapse of the socialist countries of Eastern more acute now than they were during his lifetime. Europe to say that Cheddi Jagan’s views are outdated. For instance, the question of inequality in our world Yet a close examination of Cheddi’s works and practices today. That is even more skewed now than in his lifetime. would show that he had many views that were very Figures from Oxfam and others have shown that wealth different from what was happening in Eastern Europe. is more concentrated in fewer and fewer hands. Today the wealth of ten (10) of the richest persons have more For instance, he always advocated a tri-sectorial wealth than the lower 50% of the world’s population. economy - the public, private and cooperative sectors of the economy. He believed all were important in the This is mind blowing. creation and distribution of wealth. Poverty, which Dr. Jagan saw as a systemic problem That brings up the contentious question of foreign capital rooted in the capitalist mode of production is a which many of his detractors say he was against. He worldwide problem. Not only in the third world where himself corrected that position over and over particularly it is more acute, but in the developed world as well. The during the 1957 to 1964 period. He demonstrated that poor today are not just those who are unemployed, but he could work with foreign investors. Jock Campbell, they are in the category of the working poor. chairman of Bookers and many other foreign investors expressed confidence in his government and even These are people who are working but are homeless and increased their investments. However, he was opposed cannot afford some of the basics of life. to them controlling the economy and being the dominant Some would argue that the number of people living in factor. absolute poverty in our world has fallen over the last 25 For him, it was more a question of sovereignty. He was Dr. Jagan, along with other officials at the launch of The New Global

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