GUIANA STRIKE

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30176, 6 July 1963, Page 11

GUIANA STRIKE

Infantry On Way (N Z.P.A.-Reuter —Copyright) LONDON, July 4. The Governor of British Galana (Sir Ralph Grey) last night asked Britain for an additional company to reinforce the existing garrison. British troops are now on their way to the capital of the colony, Georgetown. The first aircraft of three carrying infantry to British Guiana took off today from Britain. Troops have been standing i by for several weeks waiting for the order to reinforce a battalion of the Coldstream Guards sent in April, when a general, strike began. The strike is now in its eleventh week Accompanied by violence and rioting it has | placed a strain on the collony's security forces. I Sir Ralph Grey’s request ' for reinforcements met with (the approval of the British I Guiana Premier, Dr. Jagan The Deputy-Premier of British Guiana. Mr Brindley Benn, said in a statement issued in London today that Britain, the Governor and the Commissioner of Police in ; the territory must bear full responsibility for the worsening of the situation. He called on the British Government to carry out "its constitutional responsibilities of assisting the Government of British Guiana in maintain, ing law and order in a positive way.” He said the time had come for immediate consideration for the need to remove Sir Ralph Grey, and the Commissioner of Police "for failure to discharge their duty in a proner way.” Mr Benn said that in spite of repeated requests by the Premier and the Minister of Home Affairs, adequate action had not been taken to pacify Georgetown where violence and criminal acts were perpetrated daily. < The British Colonial Secretary (Mr Duncan Sandys) told the House of Commons today he was considering going to British Guiana next week to try and bring the situation back to normal. The constitutional deadlock which had led to the breakdown of the last independence conference could then be resolved, he said. The general strike is a protest against a controversial Labour Relations Bill which Dr. Jagan has been trying to pass through Parliament. Opposition and trade union •leaders believe the bill would apply stringent Government controls to the unions.