The reports of the 303 Committee and a memorandum by Thomas H. Karamessines, Deputy CIA Director entitled “Plans of Guyana Prime Minister Forbes Burnham, Leader of the People’s National Congress (PNC), to Rig the Elections Scheduled for Late 1968 or Early 1969” might be a good starting point for anyone who cares about facts.
Here is a sample:
“In a meeting of high level government and People’s National Congress (PNC) leaders [2 or 3 words deleted*] Forbes Burnham, Prime Minister of Guyana and leader the PNC, gave instructions to rig the election scheduled for late 1968 or early 1969 in order to permit the PNC to win a clear majority.”
It is not lost on younger Guyanese that rigged elections produced a PNC government that inflicted a host of socioeconomic setbacks, including a brain drain that caused long-term damage to the country.
However, as long as the PNC, in one form or another, is the alternative, the Indo Guyanese vote will go to the PPP not because of race, but because of the record, reputation and persistent rigging by the PNC.
That may give elections the appearance of an ethnic contest but that voting pattern is simply a reflection of the fact that the PNC is the alternative.
