Summaries of Articles written by Dr. Jagan - 1972
This is a listing of articles written by Dr. Jagan in 1972 that are housed at the Cheddi Jagan Research Centre in Georgetown, Guyana. Some of these articles can be found on this website.
(Date = year/month/day)
id# 2201
Title: Radical Change (Straight talk)
Year written: 1972/01/30
Place delivered: Guyana
Medium: Straight Talk "A West Indian State" pg 47-51; "The Caribbean Rev." pg 131-133; Mirror Jan 30, 1972
Summary: Dr. Jagan questions the readiness of Caribbean leaders to change. Evidence of opportunism national chauvinism and anti-communism prevail. The free enterprise system dominates. In Guyana, the PNC vacillates and practices state capitalism and not using nationalization to develop in an anti-imperialist, non-capitalist or socialist oriented direction. The need for Caribbean Unity is paramount for any radical change and to take the Caribbean out of the clutches of imperialism.
Title: Speech at World Peace Council Jan 28, 1972
Year written: 1972/01/28
Place delivered: Finland
Medium: Speech
Summary: Dr. Jagan outlined the strategy for the attainment of World Peace – the recognition and isolation of the enemy in its various forms: - Imperialism as a world force – a danger to world peace - Predatory imperialism and massive arms build up, racism, national /and cultural suppression, colonialism and neo-colonialism - US hegemonic role in imperialist camp – No1. enemy of mankind. - Club and carrot, deceitful tactics to suit its US aggression and involvement in many countries are cited to express solidarity with Cuba, Chile and Peru blazing a new trail in the Western Hemisphere.
Title: Guyana Retrogresses Under PNC
Year written: 1972/01/22
Place delivered: Guyana
Medium:
Summary: Rigged and fraudulent general elections in 1968, local government elections in 1970 and the Amerindian Captains elections coupled with political repression and coercive measures have led to Guyana, 7 years after independence in a neo-fascist type of state. It is a period of mounting economic, political and social crises. Harassment, intimidation, restriction of the freedom of movement, anti strike measures, corruption, nepotism, racial and political discrimination, etc have become the norm of the Guyanese society. An air of disgust looms. Pressure groups have supported the PPP in a fight back.
Title: Uzbekistan and Iran (Straight talk)
Year written: 1972/01/23
Place delivered: Guyana
Medium: Straight Talk printed in "Mirror" pg 5; "A West Indian State" pg 44-46; "The Caribbean Rev." pg 91-94
Summary: Dr. Jagan compares development in Uzbekistan with Iran and supported his view that socialist organization of society is superior. From a mere backward and semi feudal state before 1917, Uzbekistan under the Soviet system has grown into a highly industrial producer of cotton, silk fabrics, machines, fertilizers, vegetable oil, cement, slate, natural gas, non ferrous metals, etc. Illiteracy has been wiped out; there is a rich Uzbek culture, growing student population and over 18,000 scientists. Much more comparisons are recorded.
Title: People's Power (Straight talk)
Year written: 1972/02/20
Place delivered: Guyana
Medium: Straight Talk printed in "Mirror" pg 3; "A West Indian State" pg 59-67; "The Caribbean Rev." pg 134-138
Summary: Problems of poverty and unemployment in Guyana and the West Indies will worsen as in Latin America unless an anti-imperialist, pro-democratic and pro-socialist programme as formulated by the PPP is adopted, Dr. Jagan writes. Nationalization of the commanding heights of the economy, expanding the public sector to include industry and agriculture, heavy focus on a progressive foreign policy based on non-alignment, peoples education, land reform, rent controls, workers control and involvement at all levels, etc – a sure way to guarantee peoples power for progress.
Title: Strategies of Planning for Social Transformation & Development in Newly Independent States
Year written: 1972/03/04
Place delivered: India
Medium: Paper presented to International Seminar on "Imperialism, Independence and Social Transformations in the Contemporary World" held in New Delhi, India in March 1972
Summary: Dr. Jagan convincingly proved that the much touted Puerto Rican model of planning for economic development two decades ago for the Caribbean failed to be the panacea for people in the region. Nowhere has it worked, rather it facilitated a faster drain of profits and recovery of investment. Everywhere people are left in poverty and unemployment and all the ills of colonial societies. Boasts of wonderful performance in Jamaica and Guyana proved a decline in per capita national income over the past 3 successive sugar periods. No imperialist strategies/models of development have created a better life for exploited peoples the world over. Only an anti-imperialist, pro-democratic and pro-socialist programme can guarantee the all round development of peoples anywhere. Dr. Jagan’s article is very revealing.
Title: Poverty: Cause and Cure in Developing Countries
Year written: 1972/03
Place delivered: India, Guyana
Medium: Booklet
Summary: Poverty – Cause and Cure by Dr. Jagan has been perfected and delivered in New Delhi, Critchlow Labour College and Bishops High School. This paper is cogently researched and elaborately authenticated by a number of references from renowned academics. This work is recommended as a vital contribution towards a scientific understanding and approach to the growing problems facing Guyana and other so-called Third World countries and reference for researchers. Good material for serious reading and research.
Title: Nixon's Visit to China (Straight talk)
Year written: 1972/03/12
Place delivered: Guyana
Medium: Straight Talk printed in "Mirror" pg 5 March 13, 1972
Summary: Dr. Jagan analyses President Nixon’s visit to China which underwent various stringent measures by the USA – “peace through strength”, liberation”, use of the atom bomb against the “yellow peril” and blockade as in Cuba. Why the visit is premised on the policy of “dollar diplomacy”. – in the past the USA bribed, coerced, corrupted, and policed a large part of the world. Because of the weakened US dollar the aim is to cash into the China market. Too, the “big stick” method has failed in North Korea and Indo China in the 60’s and 70’s communism cannot be rolled back by force – need to change tactics and Nixon therefore desirous of winning the next elections posing as a peace candidate. His week long visit in China is also viewed as diplomacy to bring about a rift between the USSR and China and at the same time an ideological warfare – that China/Socialism is moving towards capitalism. A good expose of US diplomacy.
Title: The Resurrection of Cuffy
Year written: 1972/03/26
Place delivered: Guyana
Medium: Straight Talk printed in "Mirror" pg 5, March 26, 1972
Summary: Dr. Jagan highlighted and defended the cause of sugar workers. Their plight exists in the presence of high profitability of the industry. While wages are low, monetary incentives sabotaged, proper medical and working conditions not implemented, workers are urged to fight for their just demands.
Title: Floods and Agriculture
Year written: 1972
Place delivered: Guyana
Medium: Thunder: April-June 1972 Vol 4 #2 pg 23-30
Summary: Dr. Jagan’s article on “Floods and Agriculture” traces past realities of floods and its impact on agriculture and the livelihood of workers and farmers. With the establishment of the Political Affairs Committee and the PPP, work was initiated on drainage and irrigation which was given the highest priority. Several projects were undertaken to have effective control of water. With the PPP cheated out of office in 1964, projects were ignored and much money was diverted to the non productive areas. The answer to floods and droughts is the conservancy system.
Title: Fight for Decent Standards (Straight talk)
Year written: 1972/04/14
Place delivered: Guyana
Medium: Straight Talk printed in "Mirror" pg 4, April 16, 1972; "The Caribbean Rev." pg 126-130
Summary: Dr. Jagan echoed the need for a comprehensive modernization and sustainability of the sugar industry. Guyana too can become like Cuba – prosperous and moving ahead. Unfortunately, the versatility of sugar cane and like crops are not developed for their maximum utilization to produce a variety of other products. While the problems of the people in Guyana are compounded, workers in Cuba are increasingly receiving benefits from their sugar industry and relief in a number of other areas. Nationalization and transformation of the local industry is advocated.
Title: Letter to Editor, Evening Post - June 12, 1972
Year written: 1972/06/12
Place delivered: Guyana
Medium: Letter
Summary: Dr. Jagan addresses PNC government’s failure to allocate adequate funding for flood control so as to protect the farmers. Government’s also reneged from commitments to honour a functioning parliamentary democracy.
Title: Super Power Ideology (Straight talk)
Year written: 1972/08/06
Place delivered: Guyana
Medium: Straight Talk printed in "Mirror" pg 3
Summary: Super-power Ideology may be misunderstood and equated when some talk about it and identify two super powers. This only serves the interests of the exploiting class – imperialism and its puppets in the “Third World”. The Soviet super-power represents Socialism, a qualitatively different and of the most humane considerations. It fights all forms of exploitation and for world peace. A class approach is necessary for an understanding of either ideology, who it serves, how and for what?
Title: Patriotism and Ideology (Straight talk)
Year written: 1972/08/20
Place delivered: Guyana
Medium: Straight Talk printed in "Mirror" pg 9
Summary: There is no contradiction between national and international interests, duties and obligations. Marxism/Leninism therefore views exploitation and capital as an international phenomenon and the proletarian struggle in any one country is interlinked to the worldwide struggle for the overthrow of “international capital”. Nationalism hedging on narrow chauvinistic aspirations is not patriotism. Patriotism is not an antagonistic manifestation, but merely a reaffirmation to join with the rest of the world towards the attainment of a unique identity, bur for a world free from any form of exploitation. Patriotism and Ideology have to be looked at from a CLASS analysis since conditions are peculiar in each country. However, the general principles of Marxism/Leninism clearly outline the scientific method of approach to dialectically and objectively deal with every/any situation towards the end goal of socialism.
Title: The Caribbean Revolution - Tasks & Perspectives
Year written: 1972/08/30-31
Place delivered: Guyana
Medium: Speech
Summary: Dr. Jagan addresses the Caribbean Anti-Imperialist Conference. He analyses the region comprehensively and advocated “the Caribbean Revolution – Tasks and Perspectives”. Students and youths can benefit from this thorough research. Resolutions on solidarity, free and fair elections, etc, were adopted.
Title: Address to 17th PPP Congress
Year written: 1972/09/2-3
Place delivered: Guyana
Medium: Thunder July-Sept 1972
Summary: Dr. Jagan addresses PPP 17th Congress. In his unique style, he analyses the international, regional and local political economic and social situation. Several resolutions were adopted covering a wide range of subjects typical to the concerns of Marxist/Leninist parties, how they conduct their struggles as well as local concerns of the farmers, workers and the nation as a whole. Messages to Congress from fraternal delegations are recorded too.
Title: Letter to Editor Daily Chronicle - September 13, 1972
Year written: 1972/09/13
Place delivered: Guyana
Medium: Letter
Summary: Dr. Jagan clears the misrepresentation of what he is reported to have said on the Organization of African Unity. He cited the case of Non-Alignment to prove his well intentioned constructive criticism. He is supported of all activities against colonialism, neo-colonialism and imperialism. Welcomes Non-Align Movement on its right footing of the founding fathers.
Title: The Artist and the Intellectual (Straight talk)
Year written: 1972/09/17
Place delivered: Guyana
Medium: Straight Talk printed in "Mirror" pg 8+9
Summary: Dr. Jagan writes in defence of a peoples art and culture, the need to catalogue our “roots” culture in place any borrowed one. To appreciate that culture and art belong to the masses, the people, one needs to have a dialectical – materialist approach for an understanding of the interconnection and interaction between economics, politics, ideology and culture. One should not look at events and historical processes in isolation. The various forms of socio-economic formations determine the base, the foundation upon which is built up the political, ideological and cultural superstructures.
Title: Address to Presidential Committee of World Peace Council
Year written: 1972/10/4-9
Place delivered: Chile
Medium: Speech
Summary: An address by Dr. Jagan at the World Peace Council Meeting in Chile. He highlighted the current role of imperialism, poverty and underdevelopment. Imperialist hegemonic interests and trade/economic plunder. He called for the World Peace Council to extend its hand of friendship and solidarity since there is a common enemy. Dr. Jagan succeeded in having a Resolution on Guyana passed. A press statement on Dr. Jagan’s visit to overseas.
Title: Sugar Still Sweet for Owners (Straight talk)
Year written: 1972/11/19
Place delivered: Guyana
Medium: Straight Talk printed in "Mirror" pg 8+9
Summary: Although the sugar industry is highly profitable, workers continue to live in miserable conditions and Guyana gets a pittance from it only. The commanding heights of the economy are under foreign ownership and control.
Title: Debate in National Assembly - November 20, 1972
Year written: 1972/11/20
Place delivered: Guyana
Medium: Hansard
Summary: Dr. Jagan argues strongly in parliament for the New Guyana Company – Printer of the Mirror Newspaper to be allowed to obtain newsprint to continue Mirror’s publication. In the course of the debate, he exposed the PNC Government for its unprincipled role in international relations and always favouring imperialism. Its double talk. Sincerity is needed to move Guyana forward.
Title: Dr. Jagan's Silver Jubilee in Parliament
Year written: 1972/12/19
Place delivered: Guyana
Medium:
Summary: Copy of a Programme to honour and pay tribute to Dr. Jagan on his Silver jubilee in Parliament. Similar activities were carried out in other parts of the country. Dr. Jagan refuses to take part in a PNC government ceremony to honour his Silver jubilee in Parliament.
Title: Letter -Open December 27, 1972
Year written: 1972/12/27
Place delivered: Guyana
Medium: Letter
Summary: PPP wants an end to neo-colonialism and Dr. Jagan writes a friend to convey the adumbrated pro-democratic and anti-imperialist programme of the Party’s 1972 Congress.
Title: New Imperialist Strategy (Straight talk)
Year written: 1972/02/06
Place delivered: Guyana
Medium: Straight Talk printed in "Mirror" pg 8; "A West Indian State" pg 52-54; "The Caribbean Rev." pg 95-96
Summary: Revolutionary upheavals – from China in 1949 to the Cuban and Algerian revolutions from 1958 to 1960, etc led to a new strategy by the imperialists. It decided to change and confer independence with new devices and maintain its economic domination or risk losing everything via violent revolutions. That followed from what Prime Minister Harold Macmillian said in 1960 when he visited South Africa – “the wind of change”. India, Africa and the Caribbean too, political independence came, but as mere tokenism. The commanding heights of the economy is under imperialist control. Guyana nationalized some entities, but in the context of state capitalism.
Title: Cultural Nationalism (Straight talk)
Year written: 1972/01/09
Place delivered: Guyana
Medium: Straight Talk printed in "Mirror" pg 8; "A West Indian State" pg 37-40; "The Caribbean Rev." pg 86-88
Summary: Cultural Nationalism has a common historical and cultural past - a major premise for a political union among Caribbean advocates. Black people in every Caribbean country were forcibly dragged away from their mother country to work in the plantations. Subsequent ethnic groupings as indentured labourers were treated no differently. Their past is common – ruthless exploitation knows no colour as is evident in Africa itself, Brazil and the Caribbean. Cuba has done a lot with its diverse ethnic mosaic. Culture cannot be divorced from politics and economics.
Title: Haiti & Cuba (Straight talk)
Year written: 1972/01/16
Place delivered: Guyana
Medium: Straight Talk printed in "Mirror" pg 8; "A West Indian State" pg 41--43; "The Caribbean Rev." pg 89-90
Summary: Not every successful revolution addresses progress and the general good of the whole society. The Haitian revolution 1798 -1804 and the American Revolution (War of Independence in 1776, unlike the Cuban Revolution in 1959 did not put an end to exploitation and oppression. Class rule and domination continued under a changed format - no wonder, genuine betterment and an end to poverty discrimination still exist in Haiti. Cuba, in the entire Latin America has made outstanding success in all spheres of life with the best education and medicare in the region. The Cuban farmers now have their own plots and foreign industries were nationalized in the interest of all the Cuban people in their advance towards socialism. Who owns and controls the means of production and in whose interest wealth is distributed is always the basic consideration in categorizing any society.
Title: Balance of Forces (Straight talk)
Year written: 1972/02/13
Place delivered: Guyana
Medium: Straight Talk printed in "Mirror" pg 8; "A West Indian State" pg 55--58; "The Caribbean Rev." pg 97-98
Summary: Maintaining the status quo or balance of forces is always the concern of reactionary, world imperialism as well as the progressive world revolutionary socialist forces. To avoid a standstill imperialism is willing to accommodate nationalization – reformist in essence (state capitalism) as with the bauxite industry in Guyana. Various contraptions are introduced to influence and lure poor dependent states to tangle in the web of deception and thus lull under imperialism’s designs. Anti-Sovietism and Anti-Communism are focused on heavily.
Title: Burnham Practices Deception (Straight talk)
Year written: 1972/03/19
Place delivered: Guyana
Medium: Straight Talk printed in "Mirror" pg 8
Summary: Burnham continues his posturing and demagogic stance on the USSR and socialism. After years of not supporting China to be seated at the UN and only when the US changed its position to suit its own agenda, did the PNC vote in favour of China in 1971. Much slogans are mouthed, but Burnham follows in the footsteps of Nixon’s neo-colonialist strategies the world over
Title: Unemployment - Cause and Cure (Straight talk)
Year written: 1972/05/14
Place delivered: Guyana
Medium: Straight Talk printed in "Mirror" pg 8
Summary: Unemployment must be seen within the context of what is obtained nationally, internationally and also historically – in totality. An analysis of the two competing systems of capitalism and socialism provides answers to the cause and cure of unemployment. A planned economy and a free enterprise economy, and the other, where the drive for profit is the sole consideration one where people come first.
Title: Between Cuba and the OAS (Straight talk)
Year written: 1972/11/12
Place delivered: Guyana
Medium: Straight Talk printed in "Mirror" pg 8
Summary: The OAS is an instrument of US foreign policy and is used to put pressure on Caribbean states that establish diplomatic and trade relations with socialist Cuba. PPP and its likes mount pressures and urge closer relations to forge and strengthen the anti-imperialist process. The Caribbean masses in the face of rising unemployment and prices are attracted to Cuba. OAS, Alliance for Progress and ECLA have created greater dependency. Some Caribbean leaders are vacillating.
Title: Ending of an Era (Straight talk)
Year written: 1972/12/31
Place delivered: Guyana
Medium: Straight Talk printed in "Mirror" pg 6+7
Summary: Harry Truman subverted the war time efforts and liberal policies of Roosevelt. He launched the “cold war” and US Truman foreign economic policy. He declared that governments with planned economies were “not the American way” and “not the way of peace. He urged to world to adopt the American system and “containment of communism” and regarded it as a disease. Such a policy became institutionalized inside the USA and throughout the world. It was “war communism”. The CIA and several regional US inspired organizations were formed to promote the American (World) system. Hardliner Truman’s death was the end of an era.
Title: A Strategy to Create Employment Opportunities
Year written: 1971-1972
Place delivered: Guyana
Medium:
Summary: The strategy to create employment opportunities must be dealt with from a global perspective. What happens nationally and internationally, and, historically. Look at the competing two world systems – imperialism and socialism. Excepting Yugoslavia, unemployment has been abolished in socialist countries while it is a growing problem in the capitalist states. Guyana and its likes in the “third world” cannot solve the problem as their economies are under foreign domination.
Title: Press Freedom in Jeopardy in Guyana
Year written: 1972/07/28
Place delivered: Guyana
Medium:
Summary: Press Freedom is in jeopardy in Guyana. Restriction of printing materials especially to the Mirror which led to the suspension of its publication for weeks is a sign of worst to follow under the ruthless PNC. Bad policies and failure of the government to deliver are some of the reasons to muzzle press freedom. All other publications critical of the government are also pressured and a law enacted to increase the ban on all publications.
Title: Guyana at the Crossroads
Year written: 1970's early
Place delivered: Guyana
Medium: Straight Talk
Summary: Deep-going changes the world over have impacted positively and influenced the balance of forces in favour of national liberation, socialism and progress. Guyana has been forced, though reluctantly, certain steps and its contamination can move to a pro-democratic and anti-imperialist course. The pressures are due to failed imperialist inspired development plans with emphasis on infrastructure rather than on industry and agriculture. Cut in social services and anti working class measures breed discontent with signs of growing working class unity. PNC vacillation and demagogy demand mobilization for an anti imperialist economic programme.
Title: The Death of Reformism (Straight talk)
Year written: 1971/01/31
Place delivered: Guyana
Medium: Straight Talk printed in "Mirror" pg 7
Summary: Only revolutionary, Marxist-Leninist approach in theory and tactics can lead to an anti imperialist/pro socialist course for socialist changes, peace and progress. Reformist measures cannot suffice. There has to be a consistent, principled, ideologically backed political struggle. Milton Obote, Nkrumah and Prince Sihanou failed – reformism is confusion and a diversion.
Title: No Taxation Without Representation (Straight talk)
Year written: 1972/04/09
Place delivered: Guyana
Medium: Straight Talk printed in "Mirror" pg 7
Summary: Dr. Jagan advised sugar workers not to pay taxes without representation. The SILWFC should subsidize sugar workers rates and taxes. Workers should also demand fresh local authority elections since those elected are from fraudulent elections.
Title: Speech on Angela Davis
Year written: 1972
Place delivered:
Medium: Speech
Summary: Dr. Jagan salutes Anglela Davis – Black freedom fighter and communist and urged her freedom from a US death cell. Caribbean and Latin American people are in solidarity with Angela Davis for her courage and intellect. Freedom Fighters are hounded and elections rigged to avoid progressives forming governments.
Title: Visit to Rupununi District
Year written: 1972/04/01
Place delivered:
Medium: Statement
Summary: Dr. Jagan reports after his 4 days visit to the Rupununi District. Tremendous hardships prevails – inadequate transport facilities, potable water problem, agri-machine spares, shortage of doctors, high prices and gross frustration. Need to “industrialize” the cattle industry.
Title: The Caribbean Revolution
Year written: 1972?
Place delivered:
Medium: Notes
Summary: Dr. Jagan traces Pre and post World War 2 struggle against colonialism in the Caribbean. Changes in favour of socialism, the Cold War and the attitude of the colonial powers – Britain, France, Dutch are chronicled. The inadequacies of the masses of poor vis a vis fraud, terror and force are identified and dictators in the Caribbean, etc singled out. Marxist/Leninist thrust. A powerful documentation by Dr. Jagan.
Title: Guyana and Non-Alignment
Year written: 1972/02/16
Place delivered: Guyana
Medium:
summary
Cheddi Jagan Research Centre
Dedicated to Cheddi & Janet Jagan
