Ashton Chase a mam of class and dignity.

Congratulations to a great patriot of Guyana. Best wishes and hope many more to come.

Ashton Chase deserves birthday congratulations indeed. Living history of a man. 

I remember this man. He had a very pretty young red wife, a nice big car and lots of young red children. I use to think 40 years ago what a lucky old fellow. I am amazed that the old man is still alive. 

Not only is Mr. Chase still alive.  He is still a practicing attorney.  His compadre Eusi Kwayana turned 90 last year.

Kwayana is a great man.

Mr. Chase was the choice to become Chairman of the first PPP but he suggested Burnham take his place as he was still studying for the bar. This selfless sacrifice eventually gave Burnham the initial power which he used to build his political career.  And we all know the rest is history. 

Prashad posted:

Kwayana is a great man.

He calls the PPP a racist party, and left for that reason.

Is he still a great man?

Now I happen to think so as he fought down both Cheddi, and Burnham, suffered as a result, but still continued to fight.

Pity that PPP creatures lack his integrity.

Bibi Haniffa posted:

.  And we all know the rest is history. 

Yes the rest is history. The man was sidelined by the PPP as it became a "coolie people party".  Now imagine if the PPP put him forward during the 60s and 70s, which would have seriously undermined Burnham's hold over the black population.

But since 1957 with apan jhat the PPP marginalized its blacks, even the loyal ones like Chase.   THAT is why Eusi Kwayana left, even though the man never trusted Burnham.

Carib, what nonsense you are writing here about PPP is a coolie party.  You start up again with your racism.

When Guyana became a Cooperative Republic on Feb 23, 1970, the PPP put forward Ashton Chase to be named as Guyana's first president. The PNC named Arthur Chung as their Presidential Candidate.

When the vote was taken in the National Assembly, the PNC candidate was declared winner, and so Arthur Chung became the first President in a rigged vote!!

Bibi Haniffa posted:

Congratulations dear son of the soil and Founding Member of the PPP Party.

There is a subplot to his life story. He divorced his wife and over the years refused to settle up their property and denied the lady her dues for decades. I just read that in a piece in one of the news papers. One cannot get the kudos for ones life work in one area and when where it matters, respect and duty to ones loved ones, to be fair, generous and circumspect. He was instead cruel. I think Freddie wrote the article. I have to check.

Here it is.....

Bibi Haniffa posted:

Carib, what nonsense you are writing here about PPP is a coolie party. 

Your hero screamed that the PPP was "consolidating its East Indian support base", even as he is aware that is a mere 40% of the population, and no more than 45% of the votes.

Rohee ranted that Jagdeo was correct to call the PPP a "coolie people party" in 2015 when he was screaming race panic to terrify Indians away from the AFC, and into the PPP plantation.

So if the PPP behaves like an Indian party then that is how it will be seen, and in 2020, with limited ability to buy the votes of non Indians its future is dire, unless it ceases to be an Indian party.

Now Bibi after the early days of the PPP what role did Ashton play.  I am just under 60, so was old enough in the 70s to be aware of him had he been active.  But we never heard of him.  Ashton to me is a man of the history books.  Unless you delve into Guyana of the 50s you wouldn't know who he was.

The PPP wanted Ashton as a figure head just as Burnham used Arthur Chung.  With the exception of the rabid communist and self hating Roger Luncheon blacks in the PPP have been mere tokens post 1960.  And Luncheon is self hating when he described blacks as being unqualified, therefore unsuitable to leadership posts.