Colony In Trouble

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30169, 28 June 1963, Page 11

Colony In Trouble

(Special Correspondent NZ.P.A.)

LONDON, June 27. The unpopularity of Dr. C. B. Jagan, the Communistminded Prime Minister of British Guiana, arid his American-born wife, Mrs Janet Jagan, now Minister of Home Affairs, W'as evident everywhere in the country—they were booed when they appeared in public, says a “Daily Telegraph” correspondent writing from Georgetown. If Dr. Jagan deliberately set out to plunge the country into, economic, political and industrial chaos it appeared he couldn’t have done a better job. the newspaper said. “With the introduction of

the Labour Relations Bill which precipitated a strike nine weeks ago, Dr. Jagan infuriated the Trades Union Council and also upset employers by failing to have prior consultations with either before publishing the bill. “What began as an industrial dispute has flared into a political one. /‘Dr, Jagan accuses the unions of trying to overthrow the Government by striking and the employers of supporting the unions in this aim. “In the last few weeks Georgetown, the capital and ch.ef port which contains a quarter of the country’s population of over 500,000. has had shooting, burning looting and robbing in its streets.

“East Indians who are the main supporters of Dr. Jagan —himself an Indian—but in a minority in Georgetown, go in fear of the Africans. “In rural areas where the Indians dominate, Africans are afraid. “There is no doubt that but for the presence of British troops and, naval patrols the rioting and violence would have been far worse. “Dr. Jagan shouts for Independence but is believed to have troops now. “Mrs Jagan admitted to me she and her husband were

thankful for the presence of British troops although it was ‘not pleasant’ to have to rely on them,” the correspondent said. The correspondent describing British Guiana as “a disturbed and unhappy land of dangerous and treacherous political, industrial and racial waters where ships of all parties are grounding on mudbanks and colliding with each other.”

What is needed most now. he says, is a first-class political pilot to guide the country through the twisting shallow channels of its dilemma. “Unfortunately, her political pilots do not seem to know where they are heading or how to agree on a course. “The obvious solution of a coalition, bristles with difficulties or personalities and in the present atmosphere of distrust, racial feeling and industrial strife the chances of British Guiana solving her problems seem remote,” the correspondent says. Seeking Help ( N Z.P A.-Reuter—Copyright) LONDON, June 27. The Deputy-Premier of British Guiana. Mr Brindley H. Benn, arrived in London by air today from New York for talks on the prolonged crisis in the colony.