Dr. Jagan commemorative stamps unveiled
Sister of the late Dr. Cheddi Jagan Dr. Barbara Jagan and Chairman of Board of Directors of the GPOC Dr. Raphael Massiah unveil the commemorative stamps Wednesday (Adrian Narine photo)
Sister of the late Dr. Cheddi Jagan Dr. Barbara Jagan and Chairman of Board of Directors of the GPOC Dr. Raphael Massiah unveil the commemorative stamps Wednesday (Adrian Narine photo)

THE Government of Guyana, in collaboration with the Guyana Post Office Corporation (GPOC) and the Cheddi Jagan Research Centre (CJRC) on Wednesday unveiled commemorative stamps in honour of the 100th birth anniversary of former President Dr. Cheddi Jagan.

Chairman of Board of Directors of the GPOC Dr Raphael Massiah

The unveiling ceremony took place in the Mazaruni Room of the Ministry of the Presidency (MoTP) in the presence of Dr Jagan’s relatives, members of the GPOC and staff of the MoTP. Director of the CJRC, Hydar Ally, said the stamps represent a fitting tribute to Dr Jagan, who served as the country’s third executive president.

“This year, 2018, is a very special year, the 100th birth anniversary of Dr Jagan,” said Ally, who described Dr Jagan as a man who dedicated his entire life to a peaceful, progressive and democratic Guyana. “It was his steadfast dedication to free his people from the yoke of colonialism and poverty that really distinguished him from others of his type…Dr Jagan has left us a rich and enduring legacy of struggle for a better Guyana and I may add, a better world,” he said.

Ally, who outlined Dr Jagan’s life, expressed elation that the commemorative stamps and First Day Covers have been launched. “We feel good about the launch, I think it is a very rewarding experience to have reached this point —to have the handing-over ceremony,” he said, while reminding that it was the CJRC’s expectation that the handing-over ceremony would have been held in March, the month of Dr Jagan’s birth.

President David Granger had said earlier this year that his Cabinet took a decision that commemorative stamps, which are national symbols, must adhere to national criteria. He said such symbols must not be used for private, partisan or political messages, but ought to be used for national purposes.

A section of the gathering at Wednesday’s unveiling of the commemorative stamps in honour of Dr Cheddi Jagan (Adrian Narine photo)

The printing of the commemorative stamps to honour Dr Jagan was scheduled to mark his 100th birth anniversary in March, but was placed on hold. Government had said that it had no objection to honouring the life and legacy of Dr. Jagan, but noted that there should be equity in the printing of such commemorative stamps, which are national symbols.

“We were disappointed… but I feel that the important thing for us is that we have gotten the First Day Covers,” while noting that the research centre had invested some $400,000 into the project. “It is kind of a business transaction between the centre and the post office,” Ally noted.

The stamp was produced and designed by the Inter-Governmental Philatelic Corporation (IGPC), located in New Jersey in the United States of America (USA). Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo, along with members of the opposition, including Mr. Zulfikar Mustapha, Ally, Indra Chandarpal, Komal Chand and Neil Kumar were invited to the ceremony by the CJRC, but were no-shows. As part of an agreement between the MoTP and the CJRC, a list was submitted by the CJRC on April 30 to ensure their smooth access to the venue. But Ally did not view the absence of the PPP, the party which Dr Jagan formed, as the

Chief Protocol Officer at MoTP, Colonel Francis Abraham

“breaking of ranks”. “There is a very close relationship between the centre and the party (PPP), so there is no question of breaking ranks. I am not seeing any kind of breaking of ranks as far as the occasion is concerned,” he told reporters just after the unveiling ceremony. “So we feel pleased that we have reached this point, so there is nothing we should feel bad about. What was felt bad about is what I already indicated and that is we didn’t get the launch at the time when the daughter of the former president was here,” he explained.

Defining occasion
Meanwhile, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the GPOC, Dr. Raphael Massiah, said the unveiling of the stamps represents a defining occasion befitting the former Guyanese leader. He said he was proud of observe the unveiling of the stamps in honour of Dr Jagan, whom he described as an honourable man. “He not only fixed the geo-political boundary, but he was born at a time when there was great struggle and he was in the forefront at that time even until his demise,” Massiah stated, while acknowledging the “little glitch” in relation to the initial launch of the commemorative stamps.

“The reset button was pressed and now rather than just a presentation and a launch that would have honoured him in a way that would only have reflected his work in a partial manner, we are now witnessing a launch that is truly reflective of his life and work being honoured by this nation,” said Massiah.

He characterised the launch as a “sign of hope for this nation,” while urging Guyanese to work together for the advancement of Guyana. Representing government, Chief Protocol Officer at MoTP Colonel Francis Abraham applauded the CJRC for initiating the process to have a commemorative stamp printed in honour of Dr Jagan. He said while the stamp was not launched to coincide with Dr Jagan’s 100th birth anniversary as was the intention of the executive of the CJRC, the ceremony still holds great significance.

Director of the CJRC, Hydar Ally

“However, this does not make this day any less fitting; it was always the government’s position that Cheddi Jagan should be so honoured in recognition of a life of national service and personal sacrifice. It was decided that the launch of the stamp would not merely be a poster event, but rather one which would have the approval of the National Awards Committee as these stamps are indeed national symbols,” said Abraham, who served as the Aide-de-Camp for the duration of Dr Jagan’s presidency.

The symbolic stamps were also presented to the CJRC and the GPOC. The limited-edition stamps will be made available across the country at the GPOC’s locations for sale today. Dr Jagan was born on March 22, 1918, at Plantation Port Mourant, British Guiana, and passed away on March 6, 1997. He was first elected Chief Minister in 1953 and later Premier of British Guiana from 1961 to 1964. He later served as president 1992-1997.

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