Tributes were also paid to those who played a role in the achievement and "in particular to the people of British Guiana united across ethnic and class lines."

Present yesterday were former President Janet Jagan and Senior Counsel, Ashton Chase both of whom were with Mr. F. Bowman, Mr. Jai Narine Singh; Dr J.P. Latchmansingh; Ms J.I.S. Burnham; Mr. F.O. Van Sertima; Mr. L. F.S Burnham; Mr. Ramkarran; Mrs. J. Phillips Gay; Mr. C.S. Persaud; Mr. S. M. Latchmansingh; Mr. Ajodha Singh; Dr. R. S. Hanoman Singh; Dr. Cheddi Jagan and Mr. M. Khan, on that historic day.

The inaugural meeting of the House of Assembly of the colony of British Guiana was held in the Chamber of the Legislature of the Public Buildings.

A special exhibition was hosted by the National Archives during yesterday's sitting of the National Assembly in recognition of the occasion.

Minister of Foreign Trade and International Cooperation, Mr. Clement Rohee moved a motion in which he ably captured the events of that year, and quoted excerpts from the late President Cheddi Jagan's book, `The West on Trial', Senior Counsel Chase's booklet `133 Days Towards Freedom in Guiana'; Karl Marx's seminal work `A contribution to the critique of Political Economy', and Mr. Brindley Benn's `Why the people voted for the People's Progressive Party'.

From the Government benches support came from Minister of Fisheries, Crops and Livestock, Mr. Satyadeow Sawh; PPP General Secretary Mr. Donald Ramotar, and Mr. Cyril Belgrave.

Belgrave, in his inimitable style, recounted from the time he joined the trail with the stalwarts of those days and "walked, talked and lived the experience of the struggle", took the cake for the afternoon's observance.

He said: "1953 was a momentous occasion for me."

Speaking for the main opposition PNCR were Mr. Vincent Alexander; Mr. Winston Murray and Mr. Lance Carberry.

Others were ROAR Leader, Mr. Ravi Dev; Ms. Sheila Holder and Ms. Shirley Melville of GAP/WPA.

Following pressure from the PPP, which was formed in 1950, the British Government was forced to introduce Universal Adult Suffrage based on a more liberal Constitution so that control of the legislature, the executive and the civil service will be in the hands of the Government.

Universal Adult Suffrage changed the procedure where only those of a certain status quo were allowed to participate in the voting process.

This gave everyone the right to be involved in the governance process and to cast their vote for the party of their choice.

At the first election, held after the introduction of Universal Adult Suffrage in 1953, the PPP secured the majority of seats and formed the Government.

The first sitting of Parliament was on May 30, 1953.

The PPP went on to receive substantial support from all races, but more so from the working class people.

On May 26, 1966, Guyana attained Independence after the coalition in 1964 of the People's National Congress (PNC) and the United Force (TUF).