§ 104. Mr. Fisherasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will make a statement on the present situation in British Guiana.
§ Mr. GreenwoodThe General Election held on 7th December resulted in the People's Progressive Party securing 24 seats, the People's National Congress 22 seats and the United Force 7 seats. None of the remaining parties received sufficient votes to be allocated a seat.
After consultation with the leaders of all three parties securing seats in the new House of Assembly, the Governor concluded that Mr. Burnham, as leader of the People's National Congress and assured of the support of the United Force, was, in the words of the Constitution, "the member best able to com- 128W mand the confidence of a majority of members of the House of Assembly", and should therefore be appointed Premier.
I regret that, despite appeals by the Governor and myself to Dr. Jagan that he should remove uncertainty and growing tension by resigning, he refused to do so and it therefore became necessary to make constitutional provision to enable Mr. Burnham to be appointed in his stead. Mr. Burnham has now been appointed Premier and is in process of forming a government.
Voting at the election followed racial lines to a disturbing extent and I have welcomed Mr. Burnham's prompt public assurances that his government will promote, both politically and economically, that racial co-operation so essential to British Guiana's future.