Tag Archives: Ashton Chase

Guyana Politics: The suspension of the British Guiana constitution in 1953

03/28/2019 – 2:17 am

By Winston McGowan – Stabroek News – October 31, 2002

British Soldiers arrive in British Guiana in 1953

Turning Back the Clock

1953 was one of the most important years in Guyanese history. It witnessed two major developments. One of them was the country’s first essentially democratic election, held on April 27 in accordance with the provisions of a new and comparatively advanced constitution recommended by the Waddington Commission of 1950.

This constitution introduced several new features into Guyanese political life, including universal adult suffrage at the age of 21 and a ministerial system. It provided for a two-Chamber legislature, comprising a House of Assembly of three official and 24 elected members and an Executive Council.          Continue reading →

By guyaneseonline | Posted in Economics/Finance, Government, Guyana, History, Personalities, Philosophy, Politics, Racial Conflict | Also tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments (0)

Guyana Politics: British perceptions of Guyanese politicians in 1953: Cheddi Jagan– By Winston McGowan

03/27/2019 – 3:30 am

— By Winston McGowan – Stabroek News  – October 4, 2002

(Left to Right): Jainarine Singh, Sidney King (Eusi Kwayana), ​Forbes Burnham. Janet Jagan, Cheddi Jagan, Joseph Latchmansingh and Ashton Chase – 1953

British perceptions of Guyanese politicians in 1953: Cheddi Jagan

1953 was one of the most momentous years in the history of British Guiana- now Guyana. It witnessed two striking but contrasting events. Firstly, in April the country had a general election under a new constitution distinguished by universal adult suffrage and the grant of a measure of ministerial responsibility to the winning political history. The election resulted in a convincing victory for the People’s Progressive Party, led by Cheddi Jagan with Forbes Burnham as his chairman. The PPP won 51 per cent of the votes cast and 18 of the 24 seats in the new House of Assembly.      Continue reading →

By guyaneseonline | Posted in Agriculture, Commentary, Government, Guyana, History, Personalities, Philosophy, Politics | Also tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments (3)

Reflections of Cheddi Jagan (1918-1997) – By Ralph Ramkarran

03/24/2018 – 2:08 am

REFLECTIONS ON CHEDDI JAGAN (1918-1997)

By Ralph Ramkarran – 
Friday, 23rd March 2018  – Conversation Tree Blog

Cheddi and Janet Jagan

Cheddi Jagan returned from studies in the United States to a British Guiana in 1943 that was a cauldron of poverty. The report of the Moyne Commission, which investigated poverty in the region in the 1930s concluded that “for the laboring population, mere subsistence was increasingly problematic.” The report was so explosive that it was not published until 1945. It weighed heavily in subsequent developments.

In 1946 Cheddi Jagan, Janet Jagan, Jocelyn Hubbard and Ashton Chase, the latter two of whom were active trade unionists, formed the Political Affairs Committee (PAC). In 1947 Cheddi Jagan fought and won a seat in the Legislative Council.        Continue reading →

By guyaneseonline | Posted in Business, Commentary, Government, Guyana, History, Personalities, Politics, Racial Conflict | Also tagged , , , , , , , | Comments (7)

This Elderly Gentleman Welcomes AGE EIGHTY – by Francis Quamina Farrier

03/17/2018 – 7:53 pm

This Elderly Gentleman Welcomes AGE EIGHTY – by Francis Quamina Farrier

Francis Quamina Farrier

Please permit me to inform you that on March 12, 2018, I celebrated my Eightieth Birthday. I am hard pressed to realize it, since it seems to me as though it was only last year that I celebrated my 18th birthday. Now here I am at eighty years of age!

Goodness, Gracious, me! So it gives me great pleasure to relate to you, just a few of the things which happened in British Guiana/Guyana and the rest of the World, during the early and later portions of the past eight decades, and which I enjoy talking about from time to time.      Continue reading →

By guyaneseonline | Posted in Arts / Culture, Education, Guyana, History, Personalities | Also tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments (11)

BALRAM SINGH RAI – By Ralph Ramkarran

06/10/2015 – 12:31 am

BALRAM SINGH RAI

Ralph Ramkarran

Ralph Ramkarran

Posted on June 6, 2015 by Ralph Ramkarran

Guyanese who have served their country with distinction can once again look forward to being recognized. National Awards to three persons, Brynn Pollard and Llewelyn John, the latter a vintage politician going back to the 1940s, and Hamilton Green, a politician from the 1950s with a controversial past, revive the possibility that distinguished service given in the distant past by those ignored by the PPP can still be recognized.

I refer to Fenton Ramsahoye and Balram Singh Rai, of the same era as the above three, but this article is about the latter. The atmosphere may now be more conducive and the time opportune to raise the issue of Rai.  Continue reading →

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