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A portrait of late President Forbes Burnham.

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August 7, 2017

— says President Granger in tribute to late President

PRESIDENT David Granger on Sunday paid tribute to Guyana’s first Executive President and founder of the People’s National Congress (PNC), Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham, on the occasion of the 32nd anniversary of his death.

The wreath-laying ceremony was held at the Mausoleum at the Seven Ponds in the Botanical Gardens, where the former President was laid to rest.

President Granger in his remarks said the late Forbes Burnham, OE, SC, will always be remembered with reverence for his fight against inequality, poverty, illiteracy and other social ills, which affected the lives of the ordinary Guyanese.

A section of the attendees at the commemorative service

“We recall Forbes Burnham’s courageous campaign to transform the backward colony of British Guiana when he entered office on 14th December 1964 up to his death on 6th August 1985. Forbes Burnham described his mission as “… a struggle… against poverty, ignorance, unemployment, hunger and exploitation….”

He launched a process of national transformation to eliminate the inequalities associated with economic, geographic and demographic disparities.

Forbes Burnham’s policy of national transformation was based, in part, on providing easier access to public education,” the President said.

He noted that the institutions which were established by the late President still sustain social change and the evidence of his monumental achievements is visible everywhere, particularly in the University of Guyana at Turkeyen, the Cyril Potter College of Education, the Cooperative Training College at Kuru Kuru, the Technical Institute at New Amsterdam in East Berbice-Corentyne, the first hinterland secondary school at St Ignatius, in the Rupununi, the extension of  free education as an entitlement and the Teaching Service Commission and production of local textbooks, among others.

Attorney General Basil Williams, paying his tribute to the late President

“Forbes Burnham will always be remembered with reverence.  We renew, on this solemn commemoration of his death, our collective commitment to continue his campaign ‘…against poverty, ignorance, unemployment, hunger and exploitation…’” President Granger said.

Meanwhile, Attorney General Basil Williams, who also serves as Chairman of the PNC, in his brief remarks said the late prime minister and first Executive President of Guyana was a giant of history, who transformed not just a nation, but also the Caribbean.

“Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham was a consummate statesman and a freedom fighter whose keen commitment to the development of Guyana and its people is undeniable.

Members of the Guyana Police Force’s Band paying tribute to the late President through music and songs

Burnham played a significant role in shaping the political, social and economic landscape of Guyana. It was under his leadership that Guyana attained political Independence and Republican status. It was also under his leadership that many of the transformative infrastructural developments of Guyana materialised. Under Burnham, Guyana’s status in international and regional affairs was elevated and respected,” Minister Williams said.

Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham served as Prime Minister of Guyana from 1964 and as President from 1980 until the time of his death in 1985 at age 62. He was a lawyer, a politician, a fierce freedom fighter and a father of six children.

President David Granger lays a wreath at the Mausoleum where the late President was laid to rest

The event was attended by Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, other Ministers of the Government, members of the diplomatic corps as well as representatives from the 10 administrative regions.

 

Replies sorted oldest to newest

In the year 1964,i was 11yrs old,what can a little boy know about politics,by the 1970's i started understand the political situation gathered from the limited media and street corner discussions.I lived thru the Burnham era,every idea he had was besmirched by suppressing Democracy starting with rigged elections in 1973,rigged 1980 referendum that gave Guyana a Constitution that unto this day have the country in turmoil,it continues until his death,he became a Dictator.

In my book there is nothing much to celebrate,if any one is offended i am sorry,i called Spade a Spade.

Django

Burnham's name should never be revered, this is the campaign that the Granger and AFC are launching, to sanitize Burnham as the current generation did not live under his rule.

FM
Drugb posted:

Burnham's name should never be revered, this is the campaign that the Granger and AFC are launching, to sanitize Burnham as the current generation did not live under his rule.

Why were you praising him for your fortunes from your smuggling business when he banned certain food stuff?

Rumor has it that your Dad was a stable hand at the Belfield Estate.

Mitwah

In the 70's Burnham and his Ministers systematically sought  out Indo Civil servants who were attending UG in the evenings  and had them transferred  out of GT or greater GT to Berbice, Essequibo and the interior so that they cannot access classes. This created the exodus of many like my self to Colleges and Universities in N/A and England. Yes Caribj, we are clannish. We learned to share; books, jobs, apartments, food and helped one another with rent, school fees and our music.

So how and when did we learn to fight and abuse one another on this BB?

Mitwah
Drugb posted:

Burnham's name should never be revered, this is the campaign that the Granger and AFC are launching, to sanitize Burnham as the current generation did not live under his rule.

When compare the Jagabaat record he should not be treated no different than Burnham. He should be banish from Guyana politics. He done enough damage sugar industry and young people with making the country - drug capital, human trafficking capital, after 23 years still remain most poor and corrupt in the western hemisphere just above Haiti.

Burnham does not have a mansion to show so he also thief more of the nation assets to enrich himself than Burnham. Like Burnham he also  run out all young talents to neighboring countries while hiring Chinese labor for Marriot and Airport projects.

sachin_05

Bibi,

The two current leaders of Guyana one a Burnhamite and the other a Jaganite,does it ring a bell,papa C.B.Jagan wanted a National Front Government,it came in 2015.

Django
Last edited by Django
Django posted:

Bibi,

The two current leaders of Guyana one a Burnhamite and the other a Jaganite,does it ring a bell,papa C.B.Jagan wanted a National Front Government,it came in 2015.

Both of these leaders need to depart from the wicked ways of the days of old or Guyana will never move forward.

Bibi Haniffa
Bibi Haniffa posted:
Django posted:

Bibi,

The two current leaders of Guyana one a Burnhamite and the other a Jaganite,does it ring a bell,papa C.B.Jagan wanted a National Front Government,it came in 2015.

Both of these leaders need to depart from the wicked ways of the days of old or Guyana will never move forward.

Well i will not say they are extremely wicked,the lawlessness needs to be checked,also the age-able men will not be there forever,I am optimistic Guyana will move forward.

Django

This painting is a distortion of Forbes Burnham's real face. At this rate, 32 years from now the artist's memory would have dimmed further and he might draw Burnham to look like Cuffy.

Now, to the meat of the matter. When Burnham was Head of Government I was a PPP member. In 1977 Party Leader Cheddi Jagan wanted a National Patriotic Front Government with Burnham's PNC. His overture was rebuffed. In 1985 Jagan and Burnham were holding talks for a National Unity Government of the PPP+PNC. Burnham died midway and his successor Desmond Hoyte killed the project.

Obviously, Jagan saw some virtues in Burnham and vice versa. Gilbakka sees some virtues in both Burnham and Jagan. True, both had flaws but they were products of their era.

According to one newspaper report, President Granger said yesterday that the State will henceforward finance the commemoration of death anniversaries of ALL Guyana's presidents. That is a good thing.  

FM
Bibi Haniffa posted:

Praying to Burnham with your eyes open.  Smart move though.  And people say de man stupitttt!!

20621833_1571759939550246_2969247190119792699_n[1]

Where did you get this pic from?  Naga knows how to quarrel. You better no provoke the man again.  He will go on a rampage in parliament cussing out the PPP. Dracula bit him a couple of years ago. Beware of the Naga.

Billy Ram Balgobin
Gilbakka posted:

This painting is a distortion of Forbes Burnham's real face. At this rate, 32 years from now the artist's memory would have dimmed further and he might draw Burnham to look like Cuffy.

Now, to the meat of the matter. When Burnham was Head of Government I was a PPP member. In 1977 Party Leader Cheddi Jagan wanted a National Patriotic Front Government with Burnham's PNC. His overture was rebuffed. In 1985 Jagan and Burnham were holding talks for a National Unity Government of the PPP+PNC. Burnham died midway and his successor Desmond Hoyte killed the project.

Obviously, Jagan saw some virtues in Burnham and vice versa. Gilbakka sees some virtues in both Burnham and Jagan. True, both had flaws but they were products of their era.

According to one newspaper report, President Granger said yesterday that the State will henceforward finance the commemoration of death anniversaries of ALL Guyana's presidents. That is a good thing.  

Sounds like the Israelis and the PLO. 

Billy Ram Balgobin
sachin_05 posted:
Drugb posted:

Burnham's name should never be revered, this is the campaign that the Granger and AFC are launching, to sanitize Burnham as the current generation did not live under his rule.

When compare the Jagabaat record he should not be treated no different than Burnham. He should be banish from Guyana politics. He done enough damage sugar industry and young people with making the country - drug capital, human trafficking capital, after 23 years still remain most poor and corrupt in Bthe western hemisphere just above Haiti.

Burnham does not have a mansion to show so he also thief more of the nation assets to enrich himself than Burnham. Like Burnham he also  run out all young talents to neighboring countries while hiring Chinese labor for Marriot and Airport projects.

Get your head out of the sand, Burnham left a legacy of failure and a depressed economy with bruck up roads, economic blight and trampled on civil liberties. Jagdeo on the other hand presided over the most successful economic period that Guyana had ever experienced. The treasury was flushed when he left. The infrastructure vastly improved and the economy buzzing.  Freedom fighters were sent 6 feet under and investors were a plenty. Burnham and Jagdeo were not the same people. Burnham was a tyrant and dictator, Jagdeo was a liberator, both economically as well as from the wicked PNC. 

FM
Billy Ram Balgobin posted:
Bibi Haniffa posted:

Praying to Burnham with your eyes open.  Smart move though.  And people say de man stupitttt!!

20621833_1571759939550246_2969247190119792699_n[1]

Where did you get this pic from?  Naga knows how to quarrel. You better no provoke the man again.  He will go on a rampage in parliament cussing out the PPP. Dracula bit him a couple of years ago. Beware of the Naga.

A good friend took the pic at the Burnham event yesterday.  Is it me or does Naga already look like he vex bad?

Bibi Haniffa
Gilbakka posted:

This painting is a distortion of Forbes Burnham's real face. At this rate, 32 years from now the artist's memory would have dimmed further and he might draw Burnham to look like Cuffy.

Now, to the meat of the matter. When Burnham was Head of Government I was a PPP member. In 1977 Party Leader Cheddi Jagan wanted a National Patriotic Front Government with Burnham's PNC. His overture was rebuffed. In 1985 Jagan and Burnham were holding talks for a National Unity Government of the PPP+PNC. Burnham died midway and his successor Desmond Hoyte killed the project.

Obviously, Jagan saw some virtues in Burnham and vice versa. Gilbakka sees some virtues in both Burnham and Jagan. True, both had flaws but they were products of their era.

According to one newspaper report, President Granger said yesterday that the State will henceforward finance the commemoration of death anniversaries of ALL Guyana's presidents. That is a good thing.  

Burnham look like he gat lil Putagee in him in this pic.  Did Granger reiterate on who he thinks would be the next President added to the commemoration list?

Bibi Haniffa

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