– Corbin hails important role that Mrs. Jagan played in shaping the early political culture of our nation
‘If the 1950s and 1960s had their difficulties for her and the PPP, the 1997 to 1999 period was even more testing. It was during this period that the vilest and wickedest forms of protest including public recourse to obeah, political manoeuvres and subterfuges were used to dislodge her from office eventuating in the reduction of her term by two years…This undoubtedly contributed to her illness. But she bore the indignity with dignity, the insult with courage, and the gamut of indecency with resilience. Such was the nature of the woman!’ – Clement Rohee

THEY represented two opposing political parties. One quoted from the famous Guyanese poet Martin Carter and the Constitution of the United States of America; the other from renowned philosopher and poet Khalil Gibran. In the end they both concurred: ‘She was a great woman who contributed immensely to the development of Guyana and Guyanese’.

Minister of Home Affairs, Clement Rohee delivers the eulogy of former President Mrs. Janet Jagan at the Parliament Buildings.

Yesterday morning, at a solemn and very moving ceremony at Public Buildings that lasted just over 90 minutes, several persons including President Bharrat Jagdeo and the daughter and grand-daughter of Mrs Jagan, saluted this exceptional woman who helped thousands of Guyanese without ever craving attention or public accolades for her kindness.

But while my fellow Journalist colleagues have undertook to delve and cover in greater detail the stirring tributes of President Jagdeo and others at the State funeral ceremony at the Public Buildings in Georgetown, I want to narrow-in on the two contributions made by longstanding stalwart of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) and someone who has worked closely with Mrs. Jagan over the years, Mr. Clement Rohee, and that of the Leader of the main Opposition political party, the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) Mr. Robert Corbin.

Corbin, in his tribute, recognized the important role that Mrs. Jagan played “in shaping the early political culture of our nation”.

Opposition Leader Robert Corbin paying tribute to the former President.

“Today we say farewell to Her Excellency Mrs. Janet Jagan – a founding member of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), a life-long member of the PPP Central Executive Committee, former President and a long standing Journalist and Editor.”

In acknowledging that Mrs Jagan has left “a legacy of rich service to this nation”, Corbin said as we reflect on the life of “this stalwart of struggle in Guyana”, the words of Khalil Gibran in ‘The Prophet’, come to mind:

“You give but little when you give of your possession.

It is when you give of yourself that you truly give. There are those who give with joy and that joy is their reward.

It is well to give when asked, but it is best to give when asked through understanding”.

According to the Opposition leader, “it would be true to say that Mrs. Janet Jagan gave of herself, for her party, her beliefs, the struggle of the working class of Guyana and for the independence and development of Guyana”.

“The PNC/R, opposition Members of Parliament and indeed I believe all Guyanese, extends sympathy to Mrs. Janet Jagan’s children Joey and Nadira; her grandchildren, relatives, friends and other leaders and members of the PPP,” Mr. Corbin told those gathered in the forecourt at Public Buildings.

These sentiments expressed by Mr. Corbin came on the heals of a very emotional tribute by Mr. Rohee, the current Minister of Home Affairs in the PPP/Civic administration.

Rohee said the memory of this ‘true patriot’ will be enshrined in the hearts of all Guyanese.

According to him, it is no exaggeration to say that the People’s Progressive Party is a living monument to the vision, discipline, energy and organizational skills of Janet Jagan.

As Executive Secretary of the Party, Rohee said she made a tremendous contribution to the strengthening and consolidation of the PPP while working for the unity and cohesion of the Party at all levels.

And yet, year after year, since 1948, she never missed attending the events that commemorated the martyrdom of the Enmore Five, nor the assassination of Michael Forde.

This, Rohee said, was no political posturing, but a public display of heartfelt sympathy for, and solidarity with, those who suffered the criminality of colonial officialdom.

Moreover, he said, it was during this period while she was International Secretary that the Party extended its international connections with fraternal parties, National Liberation Movements and Peace and Solidarity Organizations around the world.

Rohee noted that activities related to these international connections would lead to “Cde. Janet” being awarded the Gold Medal for Peace, Democracy and Women’s Rights – a fitting tribute to the contribution she made in these areas and particularly her strong advocacy for Women’s Rights in Guyana.

Following the victory of the PPP in 1992, Mrs Jagan became First Lady, “a role she filled with dignity, charm and simplicity,” Rohee said.

However, desirous of a change from the demands of the role of First Lady, she went on to serve as Ambassador to the United Nations during the 48th Session of the UN General Assembly from 1993 to 1994.

After the death of her husband and colleague Dr Cheddi Jagan on March 6, 1997, she was sworn in as Prime Minister of Guyana.

With the advent of the 1997 elections, Mrs Jagan became the Presidential Candidate of the PPP/C and won the elections receiving a larger percentage of the votes than in the elections of 1992.

With that victory she became Guyana’s first female to hold the highest office of the land from December 19, 1997.

But, as Rohee recalled, it was to be one of the most painful periods in her political life, and that of the Party.

“If the 1950s and 1960s had their difficulties for her and the PPP, the 1997 to 1999 period was even more testing,” Rohee said.

He noted that it was during this period that “the vilest and wickedest forms of protest” including public recourse to obeah, political manoeuvres and subterfuges were used to dislodge her from office eventuating in the reduction of her term by two years.

Rohee said this undoubtedly contributed to her illness. But she bore the indignity with dignity, the insult with courage, and the gamut of indecency with resilience. According to Rohee: “Such was the nature of the woman!”

“For a woman who struggled all her life for the advancement of our country, our people and for future generations, to have been treated in that manner, the only decent thing for those who are guilty of these acts to do would be for them to offer her, even in death, an apology in their quiet moments for what they did to her while she was alive,” a teary-eyed and very emotional Rohee told mourners gathered at Public Buildings.

“And, as for those who, to this day, never ever recognized her Presidency, only history would prove otherwise,” he lamented.

“Held in high esteem by her Party, its members, supporters and all well wishers coming from every nook and cranny and from every stratum of her beloved Guyana, the country which Cde Janet unreservedly and devotedly held as her own – sugar workers, farmers, and other working people – Janet Jagan’s memory will be enshrined in their hearts.”

“Here was a woman, humane, simple, feisty as her Mirror editorials indicated, industrious, committed, dedicated to the cause of the advancement of her people’s welfare. What would she want to say to us today?” Rohee questioned.

Giving a rhetorical answer to his own question, Rohee told the gathering he believe that she would want to use the words of her beloved friend, Martin Carter to say, with that characteristic twinkle in her eye:

“Death must not find us thinking that we die

Too soon, too soon our banner draped for you

I would prefer the banner in the wind,

Not bound so tightly in a scarlet fold

Not sodden, sodden with your people’s tears

But flashing on the pole we bear aloft

Down and beyond this dark, dark lane of rags.

Dear Comrade, if it must be you speak no more with me

Nor smile no more with me, nor march no more with me

Then let me take a patience and a calm

For even now the greener leaf explodes

Sun brightens stone and all the river burns.

Now from the mourning vanguard moving on

Dear comrade, I salute you and I say

Death will not find us thinking that we die.”

“Farewell, JJ, friend, colleague, patriot and thank you from all of Guyana,” Rohee ended.