RELEASE FROM THE EMBASSY OF GUYANA, WASHINGTON DC THE FOLLOWING IS THE TEXT OF AN ADDRESS TO THE NATION BY HIS EXCELLENCY DR. CHEDDI JAGAN, PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF GUYANA. (This was broadcast in Guyana on radio and television at 6.00 p.m on Wednesday November 27, 1996) While I was in Canada recently, I addressed meetings on the broad theme of Race, Class and Politics, and on economic and socio/cultural developments in Guyana. In so doing, I analyzed the Guyana experience of the removal of the PPP Government in 1964 and argued that foreign intervention in Guyana's internal affairs resulted from class, political, and not racial, factors. Indeed, I have done this on repeated occasions, and it reaffirms my class outlook to political and social issues. In presenting this analysis, I referred to the status of Blacks. As I have explained in previous statements, I had meant to underline the American perception of race, and Blacks in particular, prior to the removal of my Government in 1964. This was never meant as an attack on our Afro-Guyanese population. Those who know me would know that this would be uncharacteristic of me. I have no interest in offending any section of our multi-ethnic nation. So, at my last press conference, I dealt at length with my long, personal association with Afro-Guyanese and my own struggle and that of the People's Progressive Party for the upliftment of all Guyanese. I have always taken pride in our multi-racial origins in the Political Affairs Committee and in the multi-racial leadership, support and victory of the early PPP. I have always stressed the spirit of unity which was achieved in 1953, and which I have pledged to re-create. I have worked ceaselessly for a political solution in Guyana based on ethnic, working class and national unity and I will continue to do so. However, I am advised that my statement lent itself to misinterpretation and misunderstanding, and was construed in a manner that caused genuine hurt to some Guyanese. To those who are distressed at what I said, I express my regrets, and I wish to again assure them that it was never my intention to denigrate Blacks in general and Afro-Guyanese in particular. I remain firmly committed to national unity and to the security of all races in Guyana as I have been for my entire political career of over fifty years. Certain elements in our society have distorted and are exploiting my remarks to create disunity, hate and violence, and to disrupt the peace, harmony and progress in Guyana. We must never allow this to happen. In regretting any misunderstanding or hurt which unintentionally resulted from my statement, I am also counting on the good judgement of all Guyanese in resisting current attempts to whip up racial tension. Now, we must go forward unitedly. We are all involved. LONG LIVE THE UNITY OF ALL GUYANESE! LONG LIVE GUYANA!