Was Jagan a communist?

Dear Editor, A comparative analysis of General Secretary of the PNC Oscar Clarke’s version of certain events and Dr Cheddi Jagan’s, leaves no doubt that there are fundamental differences between the two understandings of what really took place.

Suffice it to say that Mr Clarke’s claim that, “the parting of Burnham and the late Dr Jagan came about because Jagan wanted communism while Burnham wanted socialism” is highly questionable. Percy C Hintzen in his pamphlet: Cheddi Jagan (1918-97): Charisma and Guyana’s Response to Western Capitalism, had this to say: “But the simple characterization of Jagan as a communist misses the complexity of his political philosophy... if Jagan was indeed a communist, it was certainly not reflected in the policies and programs that his party attempted to implement while in office.

“Jagan’s brand of socialism was infused with those distinctively American values of security, plenty, peace and freedom located at the core of America’s national self-concept and at the very heart of American political philosophy.”

In light of the constant harping on this chapter in our country’s political history I take the opportunity throw out a challenge to Mr Clarke to engage me in a public debate on this matter at a mutually agreed time and place.

The 60th anniversary of the founding of the PNC and the 100th anniversary of the birth of Dr Cheddi Jagan can be the appropriate setting for this public debate to take place.

Yours faithfully, Clement J Rohee