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1953-1957 2Nd PPP Government

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1953-1957 2Nd PPP Government poster1.qxd 2/8/2002 11:56 AM Page 2 While in prison, Dr. Jagan’s 2nd PPP Government fight for better conditions This is a copy of the First PPP Government for prisoners continued original book “Forbidden Formation of the PPP throughout his term, Freedom” written by Dr. Members of the 1957 Cabinet with Governor Sir Ralph Grey. causing him to be taken Cheddi Jagan, Forbes Burnham and Jagan after the suspen- On the political front, the most significant event was the (Photo taken in 1960) before the Superintendent sion of the constitution Governor Savage in 1953 on the grounds of formation of the People’s Progressive Party in January 1950, with of Prisons on more than to explain to the world Government House. Cheddi Jagan as leader, L.F.S. Burnham as chairman and Janet one occasion, and being what had occurred in Jagan as general secretary. They replaced their duplicated PAC charged for organizing British Guiana and to Bulletin with the printed Thunder, as the official PPP organ, to hunger strikes of protest. expose the lies written help counter the propaganda of government and big business. He wrote articles on prison about the PPP. It was conditions, exposed the published in 1954 while Their activities on the legislative, political and industrial fronts poor state of meals, and he was in prison. increased the awareness of the workers and led to actions which led prison protests. In resulted in significant gains. On the industrial front, with strike prison he organized a after strike, they forced the employers to make many concessions. “I for one do not intend reading circle for prisoners to play the role of stooge On the political front, the party achieved its first success at the and arranged for literature colonial leader such as Georgetown Municipal Elections in 1950 when they contested (mostly political) to come Janet Jagan on a Constituency visit. Britain loves to parade three of the nine wards. Janet and Cheddi Jagan and L. F. S. into the prison clandes- Recognising her hard work, the Party put her in charge of the before the world. I will Burnham, were the party’s candidates. Cheddi and Burnham tinely, so that prisoners West Demerara, Essequibo Coast in the 1953 Elections. She not rest until my country lost, but Janet won and became the first representative of the could read and learn. won handsomely and became a member of the Legislative working class to grace the Municipal Council in recent times is free.” Cheddi Jagan Council in 1953. She won that seat again in the 1957 Elections and made those areas PPP strongholds. When the British thought it had everything under control, and had manipulated the constituency boundaries, it held general elections in 1957. The PPP won 9 of the 14 seats, the PNC 3. In fact the votes received by Cheddi Jagan were more than the combined support of Janet was imprisoned a the 5 opposition seats and he became Minister of Trade and Industry. few days before the Iron Rule and Treachery - 1953-1957 release of her husband, The years 1957-1964 were the period of the PPP in office but not in for holding an alleged A visit to the ancient pyramids of Egypt in 1953. power.The government was deemed PPP, but the real power remained political meeting. She Cheddi and Janet at home in 1953. in the hands of the Governor. Dr. Jagan had the opportunity for the spent six months in first time to embark upon the program of social and economic reform prison with hard labour. for which he had advocated over the years. They were successful in Because she was opening up agriculture, providing benefits to workers and improved locked up with crimi- The year 1953 was one of great historical importance the health and education system. On the constitutional front the PPP nals, life in prison was to all Guyanese. It was the year when, organized and embarked on a campaign for cabinet status and independence. much harder for her led by the newly-formed People's Progressive Party, a than it had been for her resounding success was obtained at the first elections husband who had been ever held under Universal Adult Suffrage (which had locked up with other been introduced due to the agitation of the PPP). The political prisoners. PPP won 18 of the 24 seats. Trouble began when it was time to select ministers. Burnham demanded to be "leader or nothing." The The biggest gains were made on the constitutional front. Photo of Janet Jagan entering the Georgetown prison in 1954 party was plunged into a crisis for nearly a week. It Because of the PPP’s continuous agitation the Waddington ended with a compromise in the naming of ministers, Constitution Commission visited British Guiana in late 1950. including Janet Jagan’s being dropped. The new gov- The PPP delegation in its presentation to it, called for an ernment was formed, headed by 35 year old Cheddi advanced constitution and the introduction of universal adult Jagan as Minister of Agriculture, Lands and Mines. suffrage. Real power, however, continued to reside in the hands "Today, Guyana is a of the British. The PPP was in office but not in power! vast prison. Whether I am outside or inside Jagan's first term in office lasted only 133 days, from matters little. Prison the opening of parliament on May 30 to the suspension holds no terror for me. of the constitution on October 9 and the arrival of British troops. I expect no justice from When Janet Jagan became Minister of Labour, Health and this or any other Court. Housing, malaria was practically wiped out, a mass campaign Justice has been dead was launched to wipe out filaria and children throughout since the British troops our country were inoculated with anti-polio vaccine and an landed. I am looking to On Friday, October 9, 1953 British warships anti-typhoid scheme was also launched. New health centers the day when there will landed in Georgetown harbour, dispatching were constructed. Cottage Hospitals along with maternity and marines and other troops, the Constitution be greater justice in child welfare clinics were established in all parts of the was suspended and the PPP was thrown out of country. It was under her guidance that pure water supply Guiana." office. This was the beginning of a period of was spread throughout the countryside. In housing great Cheddi Jagan martial law, of curfews, restrictions on the progress was made both in towns and country areas. The movements of certain leading members of the Cheddi Jagan with other delegates at the Caribbean Conference logies on the sugar estates were eliminated, and extra PPP, the curtailment of most civil liberties, held in Curacao in December 1950. At that conference he Nuclear Housing Schemes were created. Working people detention, searches and imprisonment. proposed a motion calling for independence for all the colonial made rapid progress both in wages and conditions of work. Crowd waiting outside Georgetown prison for Dr. Jagan to be released. territories. Domestics, watchmen, quarry workers, rural cinemas, The PPP issued a statement urging the people groceries, etc., were protected by the Ministry. to remain calm, quiet but firm. They called for non-violence and non-co-operation, civil disobedience and passive resistance. At this juncture, Guyana experienced a bitter period in its history and many of its current problems can find their roots Cheddi Jagan addressing the Lok Sabha (parliament) in India in 1953. Prime in the sad days of British occupation. Minister Nehru and Burnham are sitting next to him. The British used all its experience at Cheddi and Janet Jagan with PPP members subversion and division to maintain its Pandit Sama Persaud, Sydney King and rule. It did everything possible to break Mohammed Khan in 1953. the PPP and its mass support. And there were many willing opportunists of the local brand ready to do their bidding. Photo of Janet Jagan with the 1953 cabinet members: Dr. Latchmansingh, The most significant success of the Sydney King, Forbes Burnham, Janet Jagan, Cheddi Jagan, Jai Narine Singh British was the split in the PPP in 1955. and Ashton Chase. Mrs. Jagan was not a member of the cabinet. Her name had been dropped because of Burnham’s opportunistic machinations. Burnham's first attempt to take over the party before the 1953 elections was defeated but in the aftermath of October In 1951 Dr. Jagan made his first trip to the United Kingdom and 9, he tried again and ultimately split the Europe with a twofold objective: to attend the World Youth With Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, Prime Minister of the newly PPP in 1955. He founded the People's Festival in Berlin (photo above) and to have discussions with the independent Ghana in 1957 (above). National Congress (PNC) party in 1957, Colonial Office on the question of independence. While there he helped by the British who supported spoke at public meetings calling for immediate independence for what they believed were his more British Guiana and the West Indies. Throughout his life he has With his daughter Nadira, who moderate politics. fought for the peoples rights and for world peace. was born in October 1955. The PPP leadership decided that Cheddi and Burnham should go to London to brief the British "Prison life was for me a Parliament and put their case to the British public. new experience, a novel They also visited India and Egypt to protest the suspension of the Constitution. and welcome one in some A wave of terror against the PPP, its leaders and the working people ensued.
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