February 20, 2022, marks the 99th birth anniversary of Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham, S.C, O.E.
The founder of the People`s National Congress was also the first Prime Minister of Guyana and First Executive President of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana.
To commemorate his life and legacy, the Forbes Burnham Foundation and Kitty Methodist Church will be hosting a church service.
The church service will be held at the Kitty Methodist Church on the 20th Sunday, February 2022.
Forbes Burnham is an alumnus of Kitty Methodist Primary. The school now bears the name: FE Burnham Primary in memory of his father and former Head of that School.
President Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham was also a parishioner of Kitty Methodist.
He is often regarded as a strongman who embraced his version of communism.
Throughout his presidency, he encouraged Guyanese to produce and export more local goods, especially through the use of state-run corporations and agricultural cooperatives.
Regarded as one of the principal architects of the postcolonial Guyanese state. His presidency was marred by repeated accusations of Afro-supremacy.
Accusations of State-sanctioned violence, economic collapse, electoral fraud, and corruption, complete a partial list of accusations.
Burnham was one of the founders of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), which was launched on 1 January 1950.
The Indo-Guyanese labour leader Cheddi Jagan became Leader of the PPP and Burnham became its chairman.
In 1952, Burnham became the president of the party’s affiliated trade union, the British Guiana Labour Union.
1953 saw the PPP winning 18 of 24 seats in the first election with universal suffrage in Guyana, with both Burnham and his sister Jessie elected to the House of Assembly.
In the short-lived PPP government that followed, Burnham served as Minister of Education.
The Forbes Burnham Foundation is sponsoring the Annual Commemorative Cycle Race from Homestretch Avenue.
The race will head to his former residence in Belfield and back on Sunday 20 from 2 pm.
Commemorative activities will culminate on February 27 when the Foundation will hold its Annual General Members meeting.
