British Guiana: The Gimpex Way

“Hello, late workers,” reads the cheery newspaper ad. “Are you usually late for work, appointments and dates? Well, let Gimpex take care of this with a Russian alarm wristwatch.” And if timing is no problem, how about Chinese or Czechoslovakian sewing machines, glassware, pots and pans, brushes, cut-rate food items? In British Guiana’s capital of Georgetown, Gimpex, short for Guiana Import-Export Corp., offers them all. The company is the colony’s biggest importer of Communist goods, and Marxist Premier Cheddi lagan’s lifeline to the Red world.

No one in the tiny South American country questions any more whether

Cheddi Jagan is a Communist. “Communism,” he says, “is winning throughout the world—it will win everywhere.” The smiling East Indian has long insisted that British Guiana will never be come an out-and-out satellite, but the evidence of Red influence is everywhere. Czech and Russian trade mis sions abound; ships carrying Russian and Cuban cargo frequently nose in and out of the harbor, 31 by actual count in the last 20 months.

“Private Company.” The most dramatic evidence, though, is Gimpex. As a colony, Guiana must have Britain’s consent to conduct trade behind the Iron Curtain. But a “private company” can proceed on its own. Hence Gimpex. Organized 21 months ago, Gimpex is run by lagan’s own People’s Progressive Party and operates as an extension of the government. Last month Gimpex moved into potatoes, onions and garlic with imports from Poland and Czechoslovakia; it is filling lumber orders for East Germany and Russia. To Cuba it ships railroad ties and rice; in return, Castro sends cement, printing machinery and foodstuffs.

During British Guiana’s crippling, 79-day strike, Gimpex saved the day for Jagan. When food reserves dried up and the opposition threatened to starve the government out of office, Gimpex imported petroleum products, flour and other staples, using Cuban and Russian ships. Last July Gimpex actually managed some indirect aid from Cuba. The company sold $1,000,000 worth of railroad ties to Cuba, and the money—paid in advance—was lent by Gimpex to Ja-gan’s government.

Just Wait & See. Last week Jagan was in London lobbying for independence and some free world investment. He accomplished little. Colonial Secretary Duncan Sandys has already laid down the condition for British Guiana independence: a coalition between Jagan and Opposition Leader Forbes Burnham of the People’s National Congress. But that seems a long way off. In talks with British investors, Jagan was less than reassuring: “About my government and my party, it is only when we have independence that the people will know where we stand.”