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Reply to "The richness of Cheddi Jagan’s parliamentary struggle is second to none."

Cheddi Jagan was a communist who transformed the PPP into an ethnically based entity.  People like Eusi Kwayana, who didn't trust Burnham so didn't leave with him, left when they saw the writing on the wall.  While Cheddi didn't coin the phrase "apan jhat" he certainly didn't discourage voting on that basis.

In fact in 1961 victory celebrations legions of PPP thugs had a motorcade through black villages on the East Coast screaming racially incendiary threats, including promises to re-enslave blacks.  A black woman, who was still a Cheddi supporter, was roundly abused by these people, who assumed that she voted PNC, because she was black.  I bet that she voted PNC in 1964.

Those who praise Cheddi need to ask why in 1961 did some of his supporters feel perfectly free to engage in racist behavior as they celebrated the PPP victory.

Cheddi cynically based his strategy on the fact that a race based vote would benefit the PPP given that Indians the majority in most of the in the then constituencies.    The PNC was confined to McKenzie, New Amsterdam and most, but not all, of the G/T seats, not sufficient to win. With most of the seats in rural areas "apan jhat" voting guaranteed the PPP victory!

FM
Last edited by Former Member
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