UNREST IN GUIANA

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27169, 13 October 1953, Page 9

UNREST IN GUIANA

Workers Ignore Strike Call

(Rec. 11 pjn.) GEORGETOWN, Oct. 12. British officials are adopting a “wait and see” attitude to the strike call in British Guiana. A strike of any proportions would quickly have a serious effect on the colony's already shaky economy. The strike call had no effect in Georgetown yesterday. Employees of public utilities, hotels, and transport organisations all worked normally. A minor blaze in Georgetown last night served to emphasise the danger most feared by British officials in this troubled city—arson. Georgetown has been razed by fire four times in its history. Colonel Charles Ward, the Commissioner of Police for the colony, made an aerial inspection tour yesterday of British Guiana’s southern coastline. He then flew over the border into Dutch Guiana to discuss co-ordinated frontier control with the authorities. His pilot was an Auckland man. Mr John Wilson, formerly of the Royal New Zealand Air Force. Units of the Royal Welch Fusiliers were placed on guard at all docks and business premises when intelligence officers learned that an attempt was likely to be made by a gang led by a known Communist, to set fire «to Georgetown. Members of the gang wandered through the dock area during Saturday toght, and the guards challenged them several times. A complete intelligence system, which has accurately reported the moves of Communists, exists in the colony. The existence of a plot involving arson, looting, and attacks on white residents was known to the intelligence service some weeks ago. Intelligence reports show there have been plans for attacks on the lives'of the Governor (Sir Alfred Savage), the Colonial Secretary (Mr John Gutch), and the Commissioner of Police. The plot would have been put into effect at a critical stage of the constitutional crisis, which would have occurred this week if the Governor had not taken action. It is estimated that there are in the colony 500 desperate men led by Communists. It is known that they have dumps of petrol in the jungle and possess quantities of dynamite and sulphuric acid.