SUNDAY GRAPHIC JANUARY 1, 1967
THIS WILL BE THE YEAR OF OIL: Mr Graphic’s “Crystal Ball” makes his 1967 forecast.
“The New Year is upon us and once again I have the urge to consult my old crystal ball about the future.
But before I tax the powers too much about 1967, let me pause a while to pat it gently for the accuracy of the forecasts for 1966.
The year ahead is going to be a tough one for Guyana not only for the Government but also for the opposition and indeed all of the people.
Government’s call for import restrictions in the interest of bringing about a more healthy balance of payments issue will give rise to many grumblings from the mercantile community and a campaign for relaxation of the controls will develop, and we may be treated to the spectacle of more coalition difficulties on this score.
Difficulties will be forgotten however with the glad news that oil has been discovered in marketable and commercial quantities in two widely separated areas of Guyana.
Apart from the discovery of oil, construction work will begin on an oil refinery which will depend on imported crude oil, to begin with.
Following further disagreements over portfolios and tax policy, Mr Peter D’Aguiar will resign within the next three months from the Coalition Government.
However, four members of the United Force including one Minister will adhere to the Government.
A new Government will then be formed by the PNC with the help of ex-UF and PPP members with a further reshuffle of major Cabinet posts.
The Prime Minister will assume responsibility for three Ministries- External Affairs, the Public Service and Economic Development.
One of Guyana’s ambassadors will resign for private reasons.
An ex-PPP MP will rejoin that party but there will be new bickering and other crises and threatened splits.
Government will introduce an American type registration for voters involving the use of Identity cards and voting machines.
The big social news of the year- the marriage of Prime Minister Burnham – will turn out to be a disappointment to the thousands who expect to be invited to the ceremony and the reception afterwards.
THE MARRIAGE WILL BE IN SECRET.
Practicing what he preaches the Prime Minister will have a “Buy Local” honeymoon in Guyana.
There will be several changes within the Prime Minister’s Office. There will be some transfers, retirements and at least one resignation.
RELATIONS BETWEEN GUYANA AND VENEZUELA:
Relations between Guyana and Venezuela will improve and the Venezuelans will eventually withdraw from Ankoko peacefully and without any publicity. There will, however, be some bickering over the long-drawn-out discussions of the Guyana Venezuela Mixed Commission.
Guyana’s position as one of the leading powers in the Caribbean area becomes more clearly defined. Guyana will be the champion of the “small islands”.
The Free Trade Area begins to function with a greatly increased membership although there will be abstentions among the bigger islands.
By the end of 1967, a way is found for all the English speaking Caribbean territories except British Honduras to join the Association.
Road accidents will continue to soar and a vigorous campaign will help to publicise this fact without stopping accidents.
Emergency works will have to be undertaken in one hitherto neglected coastal area and new drainage and irrigation works will have to be hurriedly installed.
A major smuggling ring will be uncovered and justice will take its full course.
The Attorney General Ramphal may return to private practice in Jamaica by year end.
There will be major strikes in the sugar and bauxite industry following which the Government will begin taking steps to enact an Industrial Stabilisation Act along the lines of the Trinidad Act.
There may be a split in a major sugar union.
The Sugar Commission which at last will be appointed will recommend steps to settle the struggle for Union recognition.
The Civil Service will make demands for increased pay.
The trade unions will form a rival body to the TUC.
There will be a strike of doctors.
The new airport terminal building will be opened in July.
Lufthansa the German airline will begin to fly to Georgetown.
A franchise for the introduction of TV into Guyana will be awarded to a UK company.
The Government will start its own radio station.
One weekly paper will go out of circulation.
Chief Justice Bollers will be knighted.
The Guyana women’s hockey tour of West Germany will be remarkably successful.
No new hotels will be built in Georgetown.
Guyana’s own currency coins will be issued.
A society divorce case will provide the scandal of the year and will feature a leading personality in the Arts.
A wealthy widow will marry a leading legal figure in the most talked about marriage of the year.
There will be a national catastrophe when the seawall breaks on the East Coast of Demerara and on the Essequibo Coast during the year.”
“IN DAYS THAT ARE DEAD-A Look Back in Time” is made possible with Newspapers stored in the Archives of the Guyana Chronicle newspapers. Quotation marks surround stories as they appeared in the Guiana Graphic and the Chronicle newspapers 100, 75, 50 and 25 years ago, with their original grammar, punctuation and spelling. You can contact Clifford Stanley at cliffantony@gmail.com.
