# London Constitutional Conference of 1960 (7 to 31 March 1960)

URL: https://allhistories.com/guyana/timeline/1960-london-constitutional-conference-of-1960
Location: London, United Kingdom
Themes: main-event

A constitutional conference met in London in March 1960 under the Colonial Secretary, Iain Macleod. It agreed that British Guiana would move to full internal self-government, with a two-chamber legislature of an elected House of Assembly of 35 seats and a 13-member nominated Senate. Britain would keep control of defence and external affairs. The delegation included PPP, PNC and other representatives. The conference also agreed that a fresh election be held and that the question of independence be taken up later, once the new system had operated. The Peter D'Aguiar-led business and Portuguese-Guyanese interests that formed the United Force in October 1960 emerged soon afterwards. The conference prepared the 1961 constitution, which took effect that July, and the election of August 1961. The delay on independence left a decisive window in which the Cold War and ethnic politics could intervene. London, Washington and local parties would shape the final outcome over the next five years.

## Why it matters
The 1960 agreement set the framework for self-government but postponed independence into a turbulent period.

Ruler at the Time: [Ralph Francis Alnwick Grey](https://allhistories.com/guyana/rulers/ralph-francis-alnwick-grey)

Chief Minister (1957-1961) and Premier (1961-1964) of British Guiana: Cheddi Jagan

## Sources
- [British Guiana](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Guiana)
- [british-guiana-1928-1966](https://uca.edu/politicalscience/dadm-project/western-hemisphere-region/british-guiana-1928-1966)