The navel string of this freedom-fighter extraordinaire may not have been buried here, but her heartstrings certainly were.
She died as she had lived – with grace and dignity, causing little or no trouble to anyone, and maybe she remembered the long lines that had delayed the funeral of her late husband when she requested no viewing.

That she was greatly loved by many was evident by the seemingly unending double-lanes of vehicles which formed the funeral cortege that left Freedom House to pay homage to this remarkable woman as her last rites were conducted at the Babu John crematorium in Port Mourant.

The young man that they had nurtured and empowered, as they have done so many others, His Excellency Bharrat Jagdeo, said that many persons who attended official functions did so because of protocol, but that those who came to honour the Jagans at Babu John did so because of overwhelming love for these two unique people.

The navel string of this freedom-fighter extraordinaire may not have been buried here, but her heartstrings certainly were.

Fate destined Guyana’s first couple to be united in the hereafter during the month of March, and while it may seem fanciful, it was as if the timing of their passing was pre-planned to create the least logistical and other associated problems in the commemoration of their death anniversaries down the years, as both could be done simultaneously.

Anyone who knew them knows that their preference would have been to have no fuss at all, but this would never be acceded to by the myriad of persons who love and honour them. Although she had requested a simple funeral and not a State affair, President Jagdeo, as well as senior functionaries within the PPP/C, and the Guyanese people who accord her the highest respect and love were adamant that she be appropriately honoured and given due respect by the nation she served so devotedly and well, even up to the last hours of her life.

As son Joey and his son, and daughter Nadira and her son lit the funeral pyre even the Heavens smiled with beneficence by clouding over the burning heat of the sun so that those attending her funeral could pay their last respects to this remarkable woman in comfort.

She may not have believed in the mystical, but God was certainly extending his blessings, enabling the cremation of her mortal remains, which was done before the formal proceedings, to proceed smoothly and incident-free; and as the misty smoke wafted up to the Heavens one could almost imagine her serene, sometimes mischievous smile, and her soft voice saying: “This is not goodbye, my beloved people, I am still with you.”

According to President Jagdeo, both the Jagans will be forever with this nation, because they were not personalities, but principles, ideas and ideals.

Referring to the prognostications of hopeful doomsayers that the PPP/C will implode without a Jagan at the helm, the President said that the legacy and memory of the Jagans will remain evergreen and will guide the Party into the future, and that the Party remains strong despite doomsday prognosis.

He encouraged parents to teach their children about the history of their country and of the inimitable part this extraordinary couple had played in the shaping of that history so that they can also aspire to such exemplary lives.

The President said that, while Dr. and Mrs. Jagan’s Party is not perfect, it will continue to grow from strength to strength in accordance with, and true to their legacy of principles, ideas, and ideals of nation-building with inclusivity and mutual cooperation.

“The PPP has never been parochial,” said the President, “it has and will always be open to all Guyanese.”

Alluding to a statement by Mr. Robert Corbin to the effect that the leaders of the country should now aspire to national unity, the President said that the implication was based on an erroneous premise, because the Jagans and the other founder-members of the PPP started the Party with national unity, and that while the PPP/C continuously pursue this ideal, it cannot be achieved by threats and bullyism, but through working together to reach common goals.

Referring to the commemorative ceremonials approximately one month ago to pay tribute to Dr. Jagan, President Jagdeo said that Babu Jaan had become almost a holy shrine for members of the PPP because it is the place where the mortal remains of the founders of the Party last laid at rest.

He said that the Jagans will always be on a pedestal because they are irreplaceable, and that their contributions will be unmatched when we write the history of this nation.

General-Secretary of the PPP, Mr. Donald Ramotar, bade this nation’s mother farewell and said that she came to make her home in a third-world country from what was then one of the richest countries in the world, when the reverse reality applied to many Guyanese, who use every opportunity to flee their homeland for greener pastures, instead of staying to build this nation of ours.

But according to Mr. Ramotar, she stood alongside her husband and struggled in equal measure with him to carve a better destiny for this nation, where she found deplorable conditions, with people living in logies with no hygienic sanitation and no healthcare, nor any amenity or facility for comfort or safety, nor opportunities for upward mobility, in the communities of the working-class people.

He said that she entered into a lifelong struggle in partnership with her husband for political, social, and economic liberation for the Guyanese people, and for people to liberate their minds to reach their optimum potentials.

Mr. Ramotar spoke of Mrs. Jagan’s many achievements in the health sector when she was Health Minister in the first PPP Government, and he related that in all the years of PPP and PPP/C victories, she won the highest number of votes in the elections of 1997, which made her the 4th Executive President of the Republic of Guyana, because she always stood on the side of the poor, oppressed, and vulnerable, and always championed, in equal partnership with her husband, the working-class people of this country.

He said that, just a few hours before her death, they had engaged in a conversation during which they discussed the social, political, and financial constructs in both the national and international contexts. She expressed no regrets about her choices and said that she never looked back. He said that although she was injured and in pain she eloquently expressed her views on any topical issue, and that she was profoundly convinced that, despite the prevailing global recession that was negatively impacting third-world economies, the PPP/C Government would strategize to overcome these difficulties. Mr. Ramotar went on to list her many achievements, in and out of Government, during a lifetime of service to the people of this nation and said that her profuse writings endure forever and will provide guidance to move the nation forward.

Granddaughter Natasha said Mrs. Jagan was first and foremost her grandmother who, although their relationship was mainly a long-distance one, always encouraged her in her endeavours with a smile. She said that she treasured the birthday gifts of stories in which her name came alive, and the memories of the times when her grandmother showed her the beauty of Guyana. Her grandmother always provided unconditional support for all the activities of her grandchildren, even when she viewed those activities with trepidation regarding the safety of any one of her cherished grandchildren.

Natasha related that her grandma seemed to find serenity in looking at fishes in the pond for hours until she dropped asleep in the sun, and that both their grandparents found joy in simple pleasures.

Avisa also reiterated that, although their grandmother was a very influential woman to the Guyanese people, she was essentially a beloved grandmother to her five grandchildren. Expressing her immense admiration for a grandmother who was humble yet strong, and who was an inspiration to her, mainly because she was a woman who had achieved so much despite many adversities, Avisa said her most cherished memories were of the joy in receiving gifts ,of growing-up stories, and of times shared with her grandmother playing with her dog, who was left in Mrs. Jagan’s care when she went abroad. She said that she and her grandmother shared a common love for animals, and that they bonded when she stayed at State House during her formative years.

Son Cheddi Jnr (Joey) also gave an address during which he thanked the administration for the funeral arrangements and extolled the virtues and achievements.

Chairperson Zulfikar Mustapha, RDC Chairman of Region Six, said that when the news of Mrs. Jagan’s death reached Berbice, hundreds of volunteers worked on the crematorium site to prepare it for the funeral, as they had done when Dr. Jagan had died.

Farewell, dear mother of Guyana, and rest gently

Your hands have carved this nation’s destiny

Your heart embraced this people with love

Now rest in the arms of the Father above.