Burnham, Linden Forbes Sampson (1923–1985)

Born in Kitty, British Guiana in 1923, Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham was prime minister of Guyana (which until 1966 was British Guiana) between 1964 and 1980, and president between 1980 and 1985.

After receiving his law degree from the University of London, in 1949 Burnham returned to Guyana, where he joined a Marxist-Leninist party founded by Cheddi Jagan (1918–1997), the People's Progressive Party (PPP). When the PPP won the 1953 elections, Britain worried about the socialist leaning of the party-suspended the nation's constitution and reinstated colonial rule. Burnham left the PPP and in 1955 created the more moderate People's National Congress (PNC).

After the United Kingdom in 1964 introduced a new electoral system based on proportional representation, Burnham established a coalition with a right-wing party, United Force, and became the first prime minister of the nation. He pursued moderate policies until 1970, but in the 1970s, despite the anticommunist platform on which he became prime minister, Burnham established close relations with Cuba, the Soviet Union, and other socialist countries. In 1971 Burnham began a process of nationalization of foreign-owned bauxite mines, sugar plantations, and refineries. In 1973 he introduced the principle of the "paramountcy of the party," by which the three branches of government and all organizations and institutions in Guyana were subordinated to the PNC.

Burnham was reelected several times; allegations of electoral fraud had an impact on the perceived legitimacy of his administration. In 1980 the promulgation of a new constitution established the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, a process of transition from capitalism to socialism, and the position of an executive president with extensive powers (a job that Burnham filled).

He died in office, in Georgetown, Guyana in 1985, while undergoing a throat operation, and was succeeded by his vice president, Desmond Hoyte.

See alsoGuyana .

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Brotherson, Festus Jr. "The Foreign Policy of Guyana, 1970–1985: Forbes Burnham's Search for Legitimacy." Journal of Interamerican Studies and World Affairs 31, no. 3 (Autumn 1989): 9-35.

Economist Intelligence Unit. Country Profile: Guyana, 1997. London: Author, 1997.

Economist Intelligence Unit. Country Profile: Guyana, 2007. London: Author, 2007.

Griffith, Ivelaw L. "Political Change, Democracy, and Human Rights in Guyana." Third World Quarterly 18, no. 2 (June 1997): 270.

                                        Mariana McLoughlin