Former President Burnham’s 25th death anniversary today

Aug 06, 2010 News

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Guyana will today mark the 25th death anniversary of its first Executive President, Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham.
The People’s National Congress Reform will today commence a serious of activities to commemorate the date of the party’s founder leader with a floral tribute ceremony at the Mausoleum; Seven Ponds, Place of Heroes in the Botanical Gardens.
The Chairperson of the proceedings will be party Vice-Chairman, Dr. George Norton.
Wreaths will be laid by relatives of the late president, as well as officials of the Party and its organs, representatives of organisations and individuals.
Other activities slated for the death anniversary, include a Cocktail Reception which is slated for next Thursday; a Symposium by the Burnham Foundation on Friday 13th August; a cavalcade of Sport at the Mackenzie Sports Club Ground on Sunday 15th August; an Intra-Regional Debating Competition in Region #4; a Celebration of the Life and Legacy of L.F.S. Burnham at the Square of the Revolution on Friday 27th August and a Gala Concert at the National Cultural Centre on Sunday 29th August.
In addition there will be religious observances that would be held by the Party’s Regional structures throughout Guyana, as well as special features on the Party’s Nation Watch programmes on HBTV Channel 9 throughout the month.
Oscar Clarke, General Secretary of the party, recently told media operatives that Burnham played a significant role in the political, social and economic development of Guyana.
“It was under his Leadership that Guyana attained political Independence and Republican status. It was under his leadership, in collaboration with other Caribbean Leaders, that Caricom was initiated and developed…It was under his leadership that Carifesta became a reality….and, it was also under his leadership that many of the significant infrastructural developments in Guyana materialised.”
He drew reference to the MMA Scheme, the expansion of the Black Bush Polder and the Tapacuma Drainage and Irrigation schemes; the Demerara Harbour Bridge and the Canje Bridge; the entire network of coastal roads from Corentyne to Essequibo; and the National Cultural center, “to name just a few.”
Clarke emphasized that it was under the leadership of Forbes Burnham that education was made free for Guyanese from Nursery to University, “President’s College was built and initiated and the Guyana National Service was established…During the month of August, the PNCR will remind the nation of his many accomplishments.”
He recalled that two years ago, on a Motion by the Leader of the Opposition, Robert Corbin, the National Assembly of the Parliament acknowledged Burnham’s many achievements and placed on record his contribution to Guyana’s development.
Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham was the leader of Guyana from 1964 until his death on August 6th, 1985, as the Prime Minister from 1964 to 1980 and as the country first Executive President from 1980 to 1985.
He was also the co-founder the People’s Progressive Party along with the Late President Dr. Cheddi Jagan.
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Septuagenarian gets six years for manslaughter

Alfred Campbell, the 70-year-old man who was before the Berbice High Court for murder and later changed his plea to guilty of manslaughter, was yesterday sentenced to six years in jail by Justice Brassington Reynolds. This was after a probation report was presented by Probation and Social Services Officer Medford Ward and a plea in mitigation was made by state appointed attorney Charrandass Persaud.
Campbell was accused of the shooting death of his 20-year-old stepson, Travis Cleon Fraser, called “Black Boy”. The victim was shot to death some time between January 22 and January 23, 2004, while he was asleep in his Liverpool, Corentyne home.
The probation report had stated that the accused had fathered 25 children and had a chequered past. He was never stable in his younger days, the report continued. It also stated that during the time of the incident the accused was living with two women and was a heavy drinker. He was one who was said to have lived a reckless life in his formative years.
Campbell had told the Probation Officer that he was taken over by evil forces, which caused him to commit the act.
In mitigation, attorney at law Persaud begged the court to be lenient with his client who he said is aged. “He has thrown himself to the mercies of this court” the attorney pleaded and stated that his client did not waste the court’s time and was very remorseful for what had happened.
“My client did not have much of a violent background your honour,” Persaud continued.
In continuing his mitigation plea, the attorney asked the court to take into consideration Campbell’s age and that he had been incarcerated for almost six years.
Before passing sentence, Justice Reynolds told the accused that it seemed that he lived a cavalier lifestyle during his younger days and did not take much into consideration. The judge also told him from his own admission he fathered 25 children, and he (Justice Reynolds) wondered what example he was setting for his offspring.
The judge then said that after taking everything into consideration the accused would serve six years in jail.
Attorney at law Dionne Mc Cammon appeared for the state.
Campbell was previously tried and found guilty of the capital offence and sentenced to death, on March 3, 2008. He however appealed his conviction and won a retrial in the Appellate Court.
Another trial was underway a few weeks ago and this had to be aborted after a juror had failed to disclose that he was before the magistrate’s court on an indictable matter of unlawful assault. It was also learnt that defence attorney in the murder trial, Charrandass Persaud, was representing the juror in the ongoing assault matter in the Magistrate’s court.
(Samuel Whyte)

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