British Guiana: Cheddi Against the Field

• Share

(2 of 2)

Cuba, and calling for Cuban-style "socialism" in British Guiana. Yet he insists that "my party is not a Communist party." Is Cheddi himself a Communist? "If you mean to each his own," he says, "then I am a Communist. But if you mean denial of freedom, then I am not." Chance for a Coalition. Cheddi's chief opponent, Negro Leader Forbes Burnham, considers this pure doubletalk. A graduate of London University, Burnham is an able, experienced politician who would strengthen the colony's ties with the U.S. Chances are that Jagan will win the most votes, but not the 51% majority he needs to form a government. In second place will come Burnham, and third, the United Force Party, led by Portuguese Businessman Peter d'Aguiar. Anti-Jaganites then hope that these two will stitch together a ruling coalition, allowing British Guiana to recover, with Western help. "Jagan," says Burnham, "has antagonized the West as far as assistance is concerned, and failed to get assistance from the East."