ABSTRACT
A significant part of Guyana’s nonpartisan middle class had become deeply distressed by the dictatorial tendencies of Forbes Burnham. Great Britain rejected Venezuela’s claims, but agreed to discussions in order to avoid violent incidents on the border as Guyana prepared for freedom in 1966. Burnham was delighted that the Amerindian leaders had pledged their loyalty to the Guyana government and had democratically selected a representative to serve on the Lands Commission. In the midst of frantic celebrations in Georgetown, but of suspicion in the East Indian countryside, Guyana became a Cooperative Republic in February 1970. Fortunately, the Guyanese were demonstrating a great degree of independence and self-reliance by dealing with their many problems in a cooperative manner. Prepared to accept some of Burnham’s moderate socialist proposals if they would build a better Guyana for everyone, these citizens saw, instead, corruption and incompetence with no chance for a constitutional change if elections were permanently rigged.
