MR. EDWIN Carrington, Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), has hailed the contributions of former President of Guyana, Mrs. Janet Jagan to the development of Guyana.

“Hers was truly a life lived for her people,” the Secretary-General said.

In a message of condolence on her death, the Secretary-General said Mrs. Jagan “served her country in tumultuous times and displayed a fortitude and uncompromising commitment to her ideals which ensured that she maintained her focus through the most difficult of circumstances.”

Here is the text of his message:
“It is with deep sadness that the Caribbean Community has received news of the death of the former President of Guyana, Mrs. Janet Jagan.

Although born in the United States Mrs. Jagan devoted her life to the development of Guyana and the Guyanese people and in particular the women of the country. In pursuit of that goal, she co-founded the People’s Progressive Party, along with her late husband Dr Cheddi Jagan, himself a former President of Guyana.

Through that vehicle, Mrs. Jagan waged a tireless struggle to improve the lives of Guyanese, a struggle which earned her the nation’s highest award, the Order of Excellence in 1995 and its highest office, the Presidency, in 1997. She served her country in tumultuous times and displayed a fortitude and uncompromising commitment to her ideals which ensured that she maintained her focus through the most difficult of circumstances.

Her abiding love for journalism was demonstrated through her devotion to her beloved Mirror newspaper, to which she devoted a lot of her energies throughout her career and even more so after demitting office.

Mrs. Jagan was the mother of two children and a grandmother as well as a devoted wife to her late husband. Her invaluable contribution to Guyana will long be remembered.

As Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community, I offer sincere condolences to the family of Mrs. Jagan, and the Government and people of Guyana, on behalf of the Community, its Secretariat and on my own behalf. Hers was truly a life lived for her people. May she rest in peace.”