THE People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) she helped found almost 60 years ago and her children and extended family yesterday joined in a stirring memorial service for former President Janet Jagan at the party’s Freedom House headquarters on Robb Street, Georgetown.

President Bharrat Jagdeo was among those in a packed auditorium for the three-hour proceedings which were also broadcast live on NCN radio and relayed on a wide TV screen outside the ground floor of Freedom House, where a wake was continuing for Mrs. Jagan last night.

She is to be accorded a State funeral today before her cremation at Babu John, Port Mourant, Corentyne in Berbice where her husband and late President Cheddi Jagan was also cremated after his death on March 6, 1997.

The tributes yesterday to Mrs. Jagan, 88, who died at the Georgetown Hospital early Saturday morning after she was admitted there Friday afternoon, came from all arms of the governing PPP/C – the youth, women’s and labour organizations and the Civic component.

Her son Cheddi ‘Joey’ Jagan Jnr stirred mixed emotions among party supporters and others when he delivered a tribute in which he, among other suggestions, urged the “authorities” to rid the Georgetown Seawall of packs of stray dogs that threaten people using the venue for relaxation and exercise.

Suggesting that this could be a small memorial to his mother who also paid great attention to little things, he recalled that his parents often took his sister Nadira and him as young children to the seawall and it now badly needs to be cleaned and rid of stray dogs.

In almost sharp contrast to his spirited outpouring, sister Nadira Brancier recalled how much her mother gave up for the sake of Guyana and Guyanese and said she wants her to be remembered as much for what she did as the nation honours her father Cheddi.

She said she also asked that her mother’s funeral be today, the last day of March, because she wanted this to be the month in which both will be honoured. The PPP/C has set aside March as a month of observances in honour of Dr. Jagan.

Joey’s two children and Nadira’s three and their spouses were also at the service.

Several of those paying tributes recalled the dishonour and injustice Mrs. Jagan suffered from the main Opposition People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) which engineered sustained street demonstrations after she was elected President at the December 1997 elections.

In August, 1999, she announced she was resigning because of ill health but indicated clearly that she was doing so also because of the violent demonstrations and in the interest of peace for the country.

Nadira was blunt yesterday in denouncing those who tried to put her mother down, saying that was terrible and she hated the people who did it. “I am sorry, but that’s how I am”, she added.

Youth, Culture and Sport Minister, Dr. Frank Anthony, also First Secretary of the Progressive Youth Organisation, the youth arm of the party, said there are those “on the lunatic fringe who may try to savage her contributions, but try as they may, they cannot hijack her greatness with their mean spiritedness.”

He said Mrs. Jagan was not a “mere witness to our history, but an active participant, a creator of our history.”

He and other speakers also hailed her as a freedom fighter for Guyana – a theme displayed on a banner in the auditorium proclaiming ‘Guyana’s Freedom Fighter Janet Jagan – Your legacy will live on’.

Mrs. Indra Chandarpal, General Secretary of the Women’s Progressive Organisation (WPO), hailed Mrs. Jagan as a champion of women’s rights and said she lived a purposeful life.

Dr. Roger Luncheon, Head of the Presidential Secretariat, said party supporters and others should propagate what she stood for and exemplified.

The influence of the Jagans still prevails, he noted, adding that Mrs. Jagan stood strong and majestically to provide the leadership Guyana needed in its struggles.

“She inspired us and cultivated in us the same commitment and steadfastness she brought to the struggle”, he declared.

Luncheon said she was also beyond corruption and waged a war against corruption in all forms throughout her life, urging others to commit to walking in the footsteps of the Jagan couple.

Senior Counsel Ashton Chase, who was with Dr. and Mrs. Jagan in the early days of the political struggles that eventually led to the formation of the PPP, said her contributions to Guyana were unique, exceptional and praiseworthy.

He recounted her contributions to the political, labour and other struggles and said she was a great and unparalleled organizer.

Prime Minister Sam Hinds traced Mrs. Jagan’s role in Guyana’s evolution, noting that she played a leading role in many of the changes that are taken for granted today.

The challenge of her legacy, he said, is for the party and others to keep working for greater unity and prosperity for all Guyanese.

PPP General Secretary Donald Ramotar said the party is looking to broaden its support among Guyanese to fulfill the dreams of the Jagans and other liberators.

Chairman and Speaker of the National Assembly, Ralph Ramkarran said party members and others must try to emulate the examples of kindness and dedication Mrs. Jagan has left, noting her indomitable courage and strength in the face of adversity.

Other speakers included Dharamkumar Seeraj, General Secretary of the Rice Producers Association; Komal Chand, President of the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union; and Mannie Singh of the Association of Concerned Guyanese in Canada.