British Guiana
British Guiana was a British colony, part of the mainland British West Indies, which resides on the northern coast of South America. Since 1966 it has been known as the independent nation of Guyana.
The first European to encounter Guiana was S ...
on 24 November 1947. The
British Guiana Labour Party
The British Guiana Labour Party (BGCP) was a political party in British Guiana.
History
The BGCP was formed in June 1946, with its leadership included Jung Bahadur Singh, J.A. Nicholson, Hubert Nathaniel Critchlow and Ashton Chase. It contested ...
emerged as the largest party, winning five of the 14 seats. Voter turnout was 71%.
Electoral system
Constitutional changes in 1943 resulted in a 25-member Legislative Council, of which 14 seats were elected, seven held by appointed members and four by members of the appointed Executive Council. The franchise was also changed; with the right to vote was extended to people earning at least $10 a month, although candidates were required to have a monthly income of at least $100.The PAC and the 1947 Elections Guyana.org As a result, the electorate increased in size from 9,514 in the 1935 elections to 59,193.The 1947 parliamentary elections in colonial British Guiana Stabroek News, 6 May 2010
The elections were using fourteen single-member constituencies.
Campaign
The elections were contested by the
Manpower Citizens' Association
The Manpower Citizens' Association was a trade union and political party in British Guiana.
History
The MPCA was first registered in 1937, and was initially led by Ayube Mohamed Edun.Political Affairs Committee (PAC) and one from the Women's Political and Economic Organisation. The BGCP contested 13 of the 14 seats, with the MPCA putting forward seven candidates.
The BGLP campaigned for the introduction of
universal suffrage
Universal suffrage (also called universal franchise, general suffrage, and common suffrage of the common man) gives the right to vote to all adult citizens, regardless of wealth, income, gender, social status, race, ethnicity, or political stanc ...
, and creation of a 24-member Legislative Council and self-government within five years, as well as land redistribution and more housebuilding. The MPCA called for the nationalisation of industry and the introduction of land settlement schemes. Grenadian independence campaigner
T.A. Marryshow
Theophilus Albert Marryshow (7 November 1887 – 19 October 1958), sometimes known as "Teddy" or "Albert", was a radical politician in Grenada and considered the father of the West Indies Federation.
Early life
Theophilus Albert Maricheau, was ...
arrived in British Guiana to celebrate the BGLP's anniversary, and also campaigned for the party.
Results
Elected members
Aftermath
Following the elections, the election of
Hubert Nathaniel Critchlow
Hubert Nathaniel Critchlow OBE (18 December 1884 – 14 May 1958) is notable as the founder of the modern trade union movement in Guyana.
Background
Critchlow was born in Georgetown, Guyana. Little is known of his early childhood but in his ...
in South Georgetown was overturned by an electoral petition that claimed false statements had been made against his opponent Frances Stafford, including that she had kicked an African child and been fined. The subsequent by-election was won by John Carter, who defeated Stafford.Some events of 1947–1949 Guyana.org
British Guiana
British Guiana was a British colony, part of the mainland British West Indies, which resides on the northern coast of South America. Since 1966 it has been known as the independent nation of Guyana.
The first European to encounter Guiana was S ...
British Guiana
British Guiana was a British colony, part of the mainland British West Indies, which resides on the northern coast of South America. Since 1966 it has been known as the independent nation of Guyana.
The first European to encounter Guiana was S ...