GUYANA achieved its political Independence on May 26, 1966. This represented the successful culmination of several years of agitation, lobbying and political filibustering but in the end the nation celebrated its deliverance from over 300 years of colonial domination of one form or the other.

In Guyana, there are those who would trace the beginning of the anti-colonial struggle to 1763 when the African liberator Kofi entreated the Dutch colonial administrator, Governor van Hogenhein to take his troops, his people and his slaves and depart to the upper reaches of the Berbice River leaving the lower reaches to the freed African revolutionaries.

Then there are others who, less expansive, would confine the start of the movement to the March 1945 announcement by Secretary of State for the Colonies, Mr Oliver Stanley that

“The declared aim of British policy is to quicken progress of all Colonial peoples toward the ultimate goal of self-government.”

Still others, there are who credit the start of the movement to the maverick Chinese politician, Theo Lee, who on August 25 1948, requested the Legislative Council to support a motion for the appointment of a British Commission to consider the reform of the local Constitution.

Whichever the choice, the process ushered in a long and, on occasion, acrimonious struggle not just between the nationalist and the imperial power but also with the politically ambitious Anglo-centric elements at home.

This division within the ranks of the local representatives, their respective sponsors and constituencies provided both the British and, subsequently the Americans, who were never without their own political ambitions in the region, with opportunities to frustrate the process and prolong the struggle. Over the years, therefore the local movement for political independence treaded an uneven passage.

In 1960, the British accepted the principle of Independence for British Guiana not earlier than two years after the 1961 election or upon it being decided that the West Indian Federation should attain Independence, whichever period is the shorter, then, for an assortment of reasons, proceeded to renege on this principle.

The Americans, sensitive to the souring of relations with Cuba were apprehensive that an Independent British Guiana would join Cuba outside the pale of American influence and was determined that this should not be. They therefore mounted an unwavering campaign to persuade the British to prolong the delay

The delay generated frustration and the frustration nourished instability which in turn encouraged and justified further delay so that between 1960 and 1964 British Guiana became the scene of intense social unrest and political instability.

In this series of articles, we will examine the entire process leading up to the achievement of political Independence in 1966. The aim is to encourage sober reflection even as we celebrate 50 years since the lowering of the British flag, the Union Jack and the hoisting of the Golden Arrowhead, the replacement of the British national anthem God Save the Queen with our very own Greenland of Guyana and the change in moniker from British Guiana to Guyana.