I WAS privileged to have been assigned the task to teach a fifth form Social Studies class here in St Lucia on the proportional representational system of government. Guyana is the only English- speaking Caribbean country that has this form of government, therefore the Social Studies Department of my school thought it best to draw on my knowledge of the subject as a resource personnel. Being a Guyanese myself, I was able to explain the system in a detailed way, being careful to highlight the advantages and disadvantages of its operation.
Prior to the 1964 elections, Guyana conducted its affairs under the constituency system as its Caribbean counterparts, which saw the rise of the PPP to prominence and power. It was a workable system, which saw the expression of the will of the Guianese people then. However, this system did not provide the desired results for the likes of Forbes Burnham and his British allies; hence, a grand scheme with all the plausible reasons was instituted in a constitutional change to Proportional Representation.
This would provide a more equitable distribution of votes, the British asserted; it will give rise to a party that is the “true reflection of the will of the people.” The sum total of which would stymie “racial suffrage.” Be that as it may, the real aim of the colonials was none of the above, but rather a well-orchestrated plan to get rid of Jagan. Thus they achieved what they determinedly set out to do when Peter D’aguiar was advisedly coaxed into a coalition with Burnham’s PNC; proportional representation would finally work in their favour.
The system made it easier for them to put a minority party into power which, for the next twenty eight continuous years ruled Guyana. Hardly had those words gone out of my lips when those smart kids asked the question:  “Why, then, was Burnham’s party in power for so lengthy a period of time?”  The answer lay in my explanation of the PNC’s artful institutionalization of rigging. They rigged every election since that time, perfecting the art to the point that Burnham could have boasted to Errol Barrow with those infamous words of his: “You would be a fool to be in power and lose it”.
With the event of the return to the current system and free and fair elections, the PNC was booted out of office by raw people power. We are holding on to this process for dear life and will not allow rigging to raise its ugly head again; so Mr. Granger, take heed.