Burnham Holds On To Lead

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31866, 19 December 1968, Page 17

Burnham Holds On To Lead

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter —Copyright)

GEORGETOWN, December 18. The Prime Minister (Mr Forbes Burnham) today seemed certain of gaining victory 7 over his Marxist opponent (Dr Gheddi Jagan) in Guyana’s first General Election since the country gained independences

■With seven district returns still outstanding, the People’s National Congress, led by Mr Burnham, led with 114,113 votes, compared with 108,103 for the People’s Progressive Party, headed by Dr Jagan. The struggle between these two major parties developed into a neck-and-neck race overnight, but the P.N.C. was expected to gain a commanding lead today as results from its last electoral strongholds were received. The P.N.C.’s former coalition partners, the United: Front, had polled 13,297: votes, and the Guyana United Moslem Party, 711. The controversial overseas ballots have still to be counted. Most observers believe the majority will go to Mr Burnham, but no-one is

sure how many of the 68,600 overseas Guyanese have voted. Mrs Janet Jagan, general secretary of the P.P.P., said last night her party could not win because of voting irregularities at home and abroad, but she added that her remarks should not be interpreted as meaning the P.P.P. had conceded defeat. Mr Burnham yesterday again dismissed accusations of irregularities. He said: “Let’s not bother about the overseas vote. I fought the Selection in Guyana. I am beating Dr Jagan and his \ cohorts here in Guyana.” Despite party platforms, 'the voting in Guyana is largely racial, most African votes going to Mr Burnham and most Indian to Dr Jagan.