"Georgetown Looks to the East Coast to Decide its Political Matters" April 1919
‘As one correspondent of the Chronicle wrote in October 1918, "It is a common thought among the poorer peoples of this colony that places under British rule do not make rapid progress . . . Until the policy of a country gets into the hands of the people through their representatives, it is bound to make slow progress.”
By the end of the war, the electorate was faced with a 'Progressive Party', which was not an organisational unit, but an alliance of politicians, which had emerged out of the Recall Movement with the intention of capturing all fourteen of the seats which were to be filled by election.
Again they identified themselves with the masses, and this itself was to provide grounds for disillusionment when they were successfully elected.’
I am confident Corbin is not only on stupidness but also - that scenario has been tolerated for far too many years . . . I recall the debacle following Vincent Alexander challenge to Corbin . . . The mere fact that Black people, African Guyanese and especially those of the communities of the villages of the East Coast of Demerara still blindly support the PNC is simply most revolting . . . it is beyond my simple mind set . . . when I was a child they taught me a ridiculous tale which amounts to who will bell the cat . . . that syndrome has handcuffed Guyanese people as long as I can remember . . . More over I advocate the PNC membership needs to strip Corbin of his authority. Further more PNC should simply expel Corbin, immediately . . . as was done to Manning in Trinidad. PNM kicked him out. They should have kicked his butt . . . How much of Corbin and his shenanigans are our people going to endure? I say toss him out, right this minute . . . while you are at it, also toss out the entire cadre of the old guard . . . all of them needs to be immediately replaced with young and vibrant people armed with visions of promoting development of all phases of life in Guyana.
“Women's autonomy in Guyana has been shaped by its unique history of colonial rule, slavery. and indentureship, its ethnic composition, its proximity to the US and its small size. The two major political parties, the Afro-Guyanese dominated People's National Congress and the Indo- Guyanese dominated People's Progressive Party have been locked in a struggle for power in the post-independence decades. Voting is along ethnic lines and the elections were marked by violence. The political and economic problems the country in the last three decades has led to massive emigration and the flight of the educated middle class. This scenario has also had an effect on the politics of gender and on women's solidarity in Guyana.”
. The PNC must distance itself from its past. It must truly become a people’s party. By that I mean every member of the party must be confident they have equal opportunity to become the leader of the party. Elections within the Party must be above scrutiny . . . I am not aware of any elections within the PNC to be without incident and/or above suspicion. The process seems to be reminiscent of that found in publications relative to the mafia in the USA.
Perhaps, I expect too much of the people of the rural districts . . . Perhaps, I expect too much of our females . . . I expect leadership to spring from the villages of the East Coast of Demerara . . . Dr. Rodney tells us, ’peasant farmers of the East Coast Demerara met at Victoria Village, condemned the government in power, and agreed to form a 'Political Association', embracing members from Ann's Grove and Bachelor's Adventure. All this was in the period after the Recall Movement and the formation of the 'Progressive Party,” and it may appear futile because the workers had no vote.’
Dr. Rodney stated, ‘the initiative on the issues concerning the well-being of the masses came from the rural peasantry. The Chairman of the Victoria Institute remarked in April 1919 that "Georgetown looks to the East Coast to decide its political matters,” and the facts did bear out this situation. The weapons which the rural proletariat and peasantry fashioned for their struggle included credit banks and agricultural societies, while the Village Councils and the Village Chairmen's Conferences were forums for the expression of the will of the rural masses and their determination to confront the planter class’.
I cannot for the life in me understand why our people continue to support the petty bourgeoisies . . . These personalities possess middle class aspirations. They are selfish. Certainly, they are not about the greatest good of our people. They are solely committed and interested in acquiring personal prestige and accumulations of personal wealth.
I still believe PNC could still become a formidable contender . . . They could probably win a narrow victory, by simply throwing out all of the old guard and signaling they are embracing the females . . . voters would favorably consider a ticket with females as viable candidates . . . Such a move would show that PNC is about changing its image.
I would love to reside in an egalitarian society in Demerara . . . That was my dream. The reality has been just as terrible as the experiences of my ancestors during the days of physical bondage on the plantations . . . Such a nightmare - What a rat race?
Das, Maitreyi (2000) Women's Autonomy and Politics of Gender in Guyana: Economic and Political Weekly, Vol. 35, No. 23 (Jun. 3-9, 2000), pp. 1944-1948
Rodney, Walter (1966) Masses in Action - on the Canvas of the World - New World - Guyana Independence Issue - George Lamming and Martin Carter (Editors) pp. 46-55
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