Byline; Guyana

This is James Dawson softening at least its occasional radio network for some of what is funny this is the independence of this. Is consummated. TWENTY SIX SIX SIX. Thirty five years ago. This presents. Herself. Mission ship after. Major independence came with a lowering of the British Union Jack and the raising of the red gold and green flag of Guyana heroes the ceremony is taped at midnight May 25. First the playing of the British national anthem God Save the Queen followed by the change of flags and applause. And finally the playing of the gunnies national anthem. That event symbolized the passing of an era on the start of a new experience here in

what has been for 135 years British Guiana for the government is in the hands of the Ghione multi-racial society in which racial and political friction have often boiled up to the point of violence and rioting. The friction of the past remains just below the surface although the friction is not always evident today as it was a few years ago. It is too early to tell just what the future holds for a nation of 600 20000 people composed largely of descendants of African slaves and indentured servants from India. And this is not a report that attempts to guess the future. What follows is a look at the celebrations which are shared in the new nation and some comments on the nation from one of the major political figures in Guyana. Festivities began on the weekend before independence with the arrival of the Duke and Duchess of Kent as the personal representatives of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second. There were many of the official ceremonies but usually in the background as the gaieties themselves

took over many of the performances. The festivities continued through the week with many spontaneous celebrations throughout the countryside. One of the early activities was a trip by the duke and duchess to the countryside east of Georgetown the capital. They flew by helicopter to visit the small mixed community of Fort Wellington. Our reporter was at Fort Wellington when these dignitaries landed and here is a segment of the landing recorded at that time now. Oh of course of the. Helicopter name to fight. The rudder flayed never going to slow down. And they have nothing at all.

The duke and duchess were greeted by local dignitaries led by the district commissioner William pro-Saddam and his very beautiful wife and they were then escorted to a platform for a brief ceremony took place. Three to four thousand persons watched as a local official welcome to the royal pair. Children presented the duke and duchess with several presents and the couple also went on to inspect Rice of schoolchildren as a local band played music in the background. If they went to the next star.

First of all they. Have a. Right right. Have a. Party. Well you know right. Now I'm taking the lead off. For New Hampshire damn. Next quarter. Hark. To. The Duchess. Later on the same day a British Army band played for the traditional beating over a treat at the parade ground in Georgetown. Much of the music from the regimental band and drum corps of the Middlesex regiment was martial in tone. But some was of more popular themes and the performance won the rounds of applause and excited cries of pleasure from the crowds attending the ceremony. Here are

brief excerpts from some of the music. There were popular songs like.

Fantasia which the crowd liked as you'll notice. Hee. Hee. Hee.

Hee. Hee. Hee. Hee. Hee. Hee. Hee. Hee. Hee. Hee. Hee. Hee. Hee. Hee. Hee. Hee. Hee. Hee. And finally the playing of the evening hymn which brought a note of nostalgia to the whole

affair. The marking of an end of the day and an era in the ones far flung British Empire. This was a sad occasion for many in the crowd many British civil servants having spent much of their lives in British Guyana and now these same persons watched with tears in their eyes as the music sounded retreat. And there was something very symbolic to them with the beautiful sunset in the distance glowing red and orange and yellow. Here's a portion of that evening him. Mm.

Mm. Mm. Mm. The big ceremony marking the accomplishment of Independence the flag raising ceremony which began this program was attended by more than 50000 gunnies crowded into and around the big stadium and Queen Elizabeth the second park. It began with more music by the Middlesex regiment band and drum corps and it included the arrival of the Duke and Duchess of Canton the British governor of the colonies or Richard Light and his wife

and the prime minister of London Forbes Burnham shout went up when the popular Mr. Burnham the African leader who has brought this nation to independence arrived. Not all gaieties are pleased with Mr. Burnham but for the one night there was considerable harmony and even Mr. Burnham's bitter rival former Prime Minister chatty Jagan embraced him for the photographers. Among the performances at the ceremony before the flag raising was the beat of four steel drum bands a very popular musical form in Guyana. Mm. Hmm.

Need. To. Eat.

And then came the big moment. The flag raising and the actual accomplishment of Independence. This was followed by fireworks. Right right. Right or rather ethical right.

And although that was the big ceremony our reporter also went out on Independence

Day May 26 and visited a number of the major as it places where celebrations were taking place and where people were in a festive mood. At one village the African village of house Clinton dances were going on in the bright afternoon sunlight to music from an antiquated and jerry built phonograph player vintage on known anything hundred. Fifteen. Hundred. In the African village. Job has been done only for New Hampshire family home joint style. Home mice and men young and old alike playing and singing and singing. It's a joyous occasion smiles all round. On every side. And this village of housing to him had a steel band also. And now the evil of having been there. There are steel drums out of the opening on I

perform as far as the orchestra. But how did the gunnies really feel about independence. Reactions are varied among the populace but generally speaking the gunnies are pleased. This is particularly true of the Africans who are represented basically by Prime Minister Burnham whose People's National Congress essentially African dominated is the party in power. What of the East Indians. Dr Jagan Who is Mr Burnham's leading opponent

undoubtedly wished it had not been Mr. Burnham who presided over the nation at independence for independence had long been a cherished Jagan dream. Mr Jagan supported independence and only counselled his supporters to refrain from celebrations. Independence Yes celebrations no. Was the dragon motto. And most of the East Indians mainly his supporters stayed away from the celebrations although not entirely Dr Jagan was interviewed on the eve of Independence. What follows are portions of that interview. What about his country's independence first. You never know. The circumstances surrounding. This whole question of independence is one which has been surrounded by a lot of hypocrisy. And secondly. With our with our.

Real genuine independence. Such as the pattern and development program which is now. Where the government has launched a 7 x 7 which is a. Condition that is a bad question. It will be running source for. Imperialist pressure in our domestic affairs. United States has a right. And I expressed yesterday. Then our government spokesman and the British will. Have a continuing interest in the security of this country. Which has some very much like internal interference in our domestic affairs. Of course nothing what is happening in the public we are not surprised

anymore. Just as independence was being celebrated a report came to Guyana that the United States was willing to cooperate with Britain and the guy in his government to preserve peace. Should a situation similar to the 1964 racial rioting arise Dr. Jagan expressed displeasure over this. Well let's put it this way rights and I want to get rid of the foreign. Office. That's a balance here. I mention the future here in this government. When it becomes unpopular I think it's dictatorial. When you're in a government just to give you one example the British government said we couldn't afford and now we're in the country. And you definitely said in fact he doesn't know how the legislature passed the

bill. Party establishment of a national army. The British government and the governor refused to sign the bill. Now the country is not going to be banned from Dr Jagan as a self-styled Marxist and many United States observers rightly or wrongly call him a communist who would turn Guyana into a Castro nation if he were prime minister. He answers a question on Cuba by saying at the start he wants friendly relations with all nations. Then he went on to comment on the difference he sees between Cuba and the United States. His comments are important because of the possibility that his party will win a future election in this new nation the rest of the answer on Cuba follows them ending with the current economic system. That I once had a revolution. Against oppression. They're experimenting with a new economic

system. That is. Government ownership rather than private ownership. And Americans should remember that need to believe in absolutes that I would be like me not to impose hardships and so forth. I let the world see what system can survive in the competition. Those comments by Dr Jagan Yet Dr Jagan and most Guy Annis are pleased that they have won their independence. Tomorrow will not be easy and they know it but they are looking forward to a brighter tomorrow based on their own independence. This report was compiled by James Nelson goods hall in Georgetown Guyana.