POLICE OPENED FIRE AND A STATE OF SIEGE WAS IMPOSED IN GEORGETOWN, CAPITAL OF BRITISH GUIANA, AFTER ANOTHER DAY OF ANTI-GOVERNMENT CLASHES IN WHICH THREE PEOPLE WERE KILLED, FEB 16.

AT THE SAME TIME TWO COMPANIES OF BRITISH TROOPS WERE BEING FLOWN FROM ENGLAND AND ANOTHER TWO FROM JAMAICA TO HELP RESTORE ORDER IN THE STRIKE-BOUND COUNTRY.

THE PROTESTS AGAINST THE POLICIES OF THE PRIME MINISTER, DR. CHEDDI JAGAN, AND HIS LEFT-WING GOVERNMENT BEGAN - AS SHOWN IN THIS FILM - DURING THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH'S VISIT TO THE COLONY TEN DAYS BEFORE.

MAIN TARGET FOR THE DEMONSTRATORS, LED BY THE OPPOSITION LEADER, MR FORBES BURNHAM, WAS THE NEW AUSTERITY BUDGET BROUGHT IN BY THE GOVERNMENT. IT INCLUDED A COMPULSORY SAVINGS LEVY AND NEW DUTIES ON GOODS RANGING FROM CARS TO BUTTER.

OBSERVERS IN LONDON WERE SPECULATING WHETHER DR JAGAN'S FAILURE TO PRESERVE LAW AND ORDER COULD WRECK BRITISH GUIANA'S PROSPECTS FOR FULL INDEPENDENCE THIS YEAR.