Jagan was born on March 22, 1918 on the sugar plantation of Port Mourant, Berbice. His father was a foreman of a work crew on the plantation. His grandparents had come from India as indentured labourers.
After primary school and two years of secondary school, his father sent him to Queen’s College in the city of Georgetown. He was then fifteen years old. In September 1935, Cheddi left for the United States where he did pre-dental studies at Howard University. He was able to earn a scholarship to pay for his second year at Howard.
In 1938, he entered Northwestern University and embarked on a four-year dental program graduating in 1942. While studying dentistry he was also doing courses in social studies. He graduated in 1942, with a degree in dental surgery (DDS) and a Bachelor of Sciences degree (B.Sc).
On August 5, 1943 he married a student nurse, Janet Rosenberg before returning home in October that year. Cheddi set up his dental practice with the help of his wife, as dental assistant, his brother, as laboratory assistant, and a cousin. He also spent a great deal of time with the workers and was soon established as a labour leader.
In 1947 Dr. Jagan formally entered the political arena with his election to the National Assembly. In 1950, three years later, he created the People’s Progressive Party (PPP). In 1953, the PPP won the first elections held under Universal Adult Suffrage. However, Britain suspended the Constitution, citing the PPP’s pro-communist ideology. The British sent troops and warships to deal with any resistance they might encounter but there were only peaceful demonstrations. Dr. Jagan was imprisoned for six months for not obeying an order limiting his movements.
In 1955 Dr. Jagan was re-elected leader of the People’s Progressive Party. Between 1953 and 1957, the PPP was split in two factions. Dr. Jagan continued to be leader of the PPP, while the new faction, named the People’s National Congress PNC), was led by Forbes Burnham.
The PPP won the 1957 and 1961 elections becoming the country’s first Premier, and formed the Government. In 1964 the PPP again won the election with a majority of the votes cast. However, the elections, was held under the system of Proportional Representation, the Government was formed by a Coalition comprising the PNC, led by Burnham and the United Force (UF), led by businessman, Peter D’Aguiar.
Dr. Jagan was leader of the Opposition until 1992, when the PPP won the elections that year. He became President and remained so until his death on March 6, 1997. (GINA)
L. F.S. Burnham – (1923-1985) First Executive President of the Republic of Guyana: (Oct 6, 1980 – Aug 6, 1985)
Burnham was born in Kitty, on February 20, 1923. He was the son of James Ethelbert and Rachel Abigail Burnham. He attended the Kitty Methodist School; Central High School, and Queen’s College. His hobbies included cricket, chess and horseback riding.
In 1954 he won the Centenary Exhibition and a Government Junior Scholarship. In 1955 he was awarded the Percival Exhibition. In 1942, Burnham received the highest scholastic award in the country at that time, the British Guiana Scholarship. This annual award was reserved for the scholar attaining the highest grades at the Senior Cambridge Examinations held locally.
In 1944, Burnham earned the Bachelor of Arts Degree at External Examinations of the University of London. In 1947, he received his Bachelor of Laws (Hons.) degree at the University of London. In 1948 he was admitted to the bar of the Honourable Society of Gray’s Inn, London.
An extemporary scholar, Burnham was noted for his oratory skills. In 1947 Burnham was elected President of the West Indian Students Union in London, a position which allowed him to participate as a delegate of the Union in the International Union of Students’ Congress in Prague (1947) and Paris (1948)
In 1951 he married Sheila Bernice Lataste. They had three daughters: Roxanne, Annabelle, and Francesca. In 1957 he married Viola Victorine Harper together they had two daughters, Melanie and Ulele. Burnham returned to British Guiana (Guyana) and in 1949, along with Dr. Cheddi Jagan they founded the People’s Progressive Party (PPP). Burnham was Chairman of the Party.
In 1952 Burnham was elected to the Georgetown Town Council. In 1959 he became Mayor of Georgetown, and again in 1964. In 1959, Burnham was elected President of the Bar Association of Guyana. In 1963 and in 1965 he was elected President of the Guyana Labour Union. In 1953 when the PPP Government came to power, Burnham was appointed Minister of Education.
In 1957 he founded his own political Party – the People’s National Congress. This followed the suspension of the British Guiana Constitution by the British Government, and the rift in the PPP. In 1964 the PNC became the major party in a coalition Government with the United Force and Burnham became Premier of British Guiana.
May 26, 1966, Burnham led the country to independence and was the first Prime Minister of Guyana. Guyana became a Republic in 1970. On October 6, 1980 Burnham became Guyana’s first Executive President, a position he held until his death.
On August 6, 1985 Burnham died at the Georgetown Hospital in Guyana after a throat operation. (GINA) (Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)
