NEW Yorkers came out last Saturday afternoon to pay tribute to their heroes Cheddi and Janet Jagan. March happens to be the birth and death anniversaries of Dr. Cheddi as well as the death anniversary of his wife.  They were popular heroes leading the anti-colonial movement and the struggle against the dictatorship that was established after independence in 1966.  An ad hoc group called Jagan Memorial Committee planned and organized a tribute to the two heroes at the Nareesa Palace in Queens.  It was a commemorative service celebrating their lives. There were lectures, poetry, and musical entertainment.  The speakers recalled their experiences with Cheddi and Janet.  It drew a nice crowd to fill up the ballroom complete with dinner.  I applaud Faiuze Ali, Chuck Mohan, and other organizers for a job well done.

The speakers talked about Jagan’s entry into politics and his victory in winning a parliamentary seat in 1947 and his leadership role in the formation of the Political Affairs Committee (PAC) and the People’s Progressive Party (PPP). They reminded the audience that the struggle for freedom by Cheddi and Janet must never be forgotten for “we can never thank them enough for their enormous contributions to the nation”.  Their struggle changed the course of Guyana’s history.
One speaker noted that Guyanese did not have the right to vote when Cheddi and Janet came to Guiana from the US and after independence their right to a ballot was taken away from them through electoral fraud. It was the struggle of Cheddi and Janet and others that succeeded in getting the British to grant universal adult suffrage in 1953 that led to the landslide victory of the PPP.  And when the right of the vote was taken away from 1968 in fraudulent elections, they renewed the battle for the restoration of democracy and free and fair elections.  When democracy was restored, Cheddi was elected as the first democratic president and his wife Janet became the second president to be chosen in a democratic ballot. She was also recognized as a woman with a number of firsts in her long history of involvement in politics.
The audience was also reminded that support groups in NY, although only the ACG’s name was mentioned, helped in the struggle for the restoration of democracy in Guyana.
Through the tireless efforts of Cheddi and Janet, Guyana experienced a wealth of benefits including gains in eradicating poverty, free education, and social advancement for many.
Another speaker noted how Jagan fought for peace and freedom around the globe and for debt relief for heavily indebted poor countries. He advocated  a New Global Human Order as well as sustainable development at every international fora, while in opposition or in government.
We were reminded that Cheddi viewed the world as being divided between rich and poor, the haves and have nots, and North and South. Jagan called for the eradication of poverty and preservation of scarce resources as well as transfer of wealth from North to South. The speakers noted that Cheddi called for poor nations to co-operate with one another and for the rich to help them overcome developmental problems. He wanted development to take place with a human face and that the environment be protected. He called for the transfer of resources from the rich nations to the poor to reduce poverty in developing countries. To promote peace, he called for the reduction in military spending and a more equitable trading arrangement between rich and poor countries.  At home, Cheddi sought to create job opportunities and improve basic services in health, education, and welfare.  He ran a lean, clean, and mean government to serve the needs of the population.  There were cheers when the many contributions of Cheddi and Janet were uttered.
Jagan and his wife were not selfish.  No one can point a finger at them for taking a cent from the treasury.  Both lived a modest life.  They were incorruptible.
The event provided an opportunity for those who partook in the struggle against the dictatorship to meet and reminisce. It was good seeing PPP old timers, some of whom collaborated with us in NY during the 1970s thru the 1990s in the anti-dictatorial movement organizing protests, marches, leafleting, penning commentaries in newspapers to inform the world about rights abuses in Guyana, etc. The group also recognized several old time PPP stalwarts who were involved in the struggle against oppression and against the dictatorship.  Among the honourees were Albert Boodhoo from GAWU and Swasi Deola from Port Mourant.
The audience was entertained by several artistes including the popular Joyce Ormilla Harris and a band of musicians as well as karaoke music and singing. There were popular renditions,including those that were sung in 1997 after Cheddi’s death at his various wakes in Guyana and NY.