Biography
of Cheddi Jagan
The years 1957 -1964 were the period of the PPP in office but not in power. The government was deemed PPP, but the real power remained in the hands of the Governor. Cheddi Jagan became Minister of Trade and Industry in 1957. Janet Jagan became Minister of Labour, Health and Housing.
During the period from 1957-1961 Cheddi Jagan had the opportunity for the first time to embark upon the program of social and economic reform for which he had advocated over the years. They were successful in opening up agriculture, providing benefits to workers and improved the health and education system.
Cheddi Jagan in 1961 after winning the 1961 General Elections.
Cheddi Jagan's dream was that all Guyanese should have a chance at higher education and so in 1963 the University of Guyana was opened, running on a shoe string budget. Critics called it "Jagan's Night School" because its classes were run at Queen's College (a High School) after school hours.
On the constitutional front the PPP embarked on a campaign for cabinet status and independence. This fight for Guyana’s independence had remained the core objective of the People’s Progressive Party from its conception.
The 1961 general elections was contested by three parties - the People's Progressive Party, the People's National Congress led by Forbes Burnham and the United Force led by Peter d"Aguiar. The PPP won 20 out of the 35 seats despite the "gerrymandered" constituencies changes made by the British Government in 1960. The PNC won 11 and the UF 4.
Cheddi Jagan was asked to form the government and was designated Premier. On October 25, 1961 Cheddi Jagan met with President John F. Kennedy in Washington. On December 18, 1961 he addressed the 4th Committee of the United Nations calling for the British Government to decide on a date for Independence. His address set a precedent at the United Nations in allowing other delegates from non-self-governing countries the right to address the UN as petitioners.
The next three years, 1961-1964, were a period of strife and disturbances, the principle object being to remove the PPP from government and to prevent Independence while they were in power, even though it had been understood that the party that won the elections would lead the country to Independence.
The PNC raised high the banner that under no circumstance were the British to consider independence under Jagan. They concentrated their attacks on the PPP and its leading members who were harassed, framed on trumped-up charges, jailed. They plotted and planned and unearthed every conceivable trick to destabilise the country. The communist bogey was always used as a pretext. The British and local reactionaries rallied to stop the march for independence. They succeeded in dividing the country along ethnic lines and in the early sixties the country erupted in bitter racial conflicts. It was all done in the name of freedom and liberty.
The pretext for the riots and fire in February 1962 was the PPP budget with new taxation proposals. These same tax proposals were described by the New York Times as "courageous and economically sound" and by the London Times as also "courageous and certainly not far from what Guiana must have."
The disturbances failed to bring down the PPP Government, but they succeeded in postponing the Constitutional Conference slated for May 1962 to October 1962. The PNC and UF opposed independence and called for new elections under a system of proportional representation. The PPP rejected this call but put forward many other compromise proposals. Talks broke down. The breakup of the 1962 Conference was the signal for the violence of 1963.