The nation gives Mrs. Jagan a farewell carved in reverence

‘She was an incomparable patriot’ – President Jagdeo
“Today we say farewell to someone who reached the pinnacle of public service, who served her country without counting the cost, who touched thousands of lives by her warmth and kindness. Guyana reserves for this outstanding nationalist a revered place in our history and in our hearts” – President Jagdeo.

Pall bearers comprising family members of the Jagans and party stalwarts escorts the body of former President Mrs. Janet Jagan into the compound of Public Buildings yesterday’s. At left is son Cheddi Jagan (jr) and party stalwart and long standing colleague of Mrs. Jagan Mrs. Philomena Sahoye-Shury (right)

THE State Funeral ceremony for former President Mrs. Janet Jagan held in the compound of Parliament yesterday was embodied in an atmosphere of reverence, respect and love for the fallen Guyanese leader who became Guyana’s first female Head of State in 1997.

The traditional military slow march by the members of the Guyana Defence Force and musical renditions by the Guyana Police Force band including some of the classics and the patriotic song “My Guyana El Dorado’ enriched the reverence and stateliness of the ceremony.

From early in the morning invitees including members of the diplomatic corps, state and party officials began gathering in the compound, while a large number of Guyanese from all walks of life who could not be part of the official proceedings lined up behind the barricades to witness the ceremony.

Party leaders and members and supporters gave the farewell victory sign to the fallen warrior on her last journey past party headquarters Freedom Hous

As expected, many areas in the city experienced traffic jams because of the increased inflow of vehicles and the special arrangements put in place for the occasion.

President Bharrat Jagdeo in his tribute described Mrs. Jagan as “an incomparable patriot” who dedicated her life to the freedom and development of this country and was a source of inspiration, and wise counselling. Her kindness was boundless and touched the lives of thousands with her warmth.

“Today we say farewell to someone who reached the pinnacle of public service, who served her country without counting the cost, who touched thousands of lives by her warmth and kindness. Guyana reserves for this outstanding nationalist a revered place in our history and in our hearts,” President Jagdeo declared.

He added: “Janet Jagan was an outstanding citizen of Guyana whose contributions have shaped this nation. She was one of the pioneers that fought for our freedom, a crusader for the restoration of democracy and an advocate for human rights and human dignity. But I believe that her most lasting legacy remains the Peoples Progressive Party. The PPP which she cultivated remains, as it was in 1950, a party wedded to national unity and working class solidarity.”

Throngs of people from all walks gathered behind the barriers to view the ceremony at Public Buildings

Her life was one of an “enlightened humanist” from which she never departed or waivered and was always concerned about the effect of public policies on the people, the President offered.

Touching on her political militancy, Mr. Jagdeo declared: “She was a non-conformist, militant and radical,” adding that she was always approachable and listened to the problems of the ordinary people.

The President recalled that Dr. Cheddi Jagan and Mrs. Jagan on their arrival to Guyana in 1943 could have easily fit themselves into the privileged class which controlled politics and the economy at that time, but they chose to champion the cause of poor and downtrodden and in that process they began to work inseparably towards the building of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) to advance the struggle of the working class and improve the lives of the ordinary people.

“Life in the colony, except for a small privileged group, was below acceptable conditions of human decency. Social and political freedoms were limited, political agitation ineffectual and the existing political movements impotent and servile. Leadership and direction was needed, the President recounted.

Touching on her exceptional organisational skills, the Head of State asserted that this helped the party to become strong and impregnable.

“As a founder leader of the party Janet Jagan was the consummate organizer and this helped the party to become strong and impregnable. Both within the PPP and as a minister in the PPP governments of 1957 and 1961, her amazing organizational skills led to immediate gains,” he noted.

He lauded also Mrs. Jagan’s inexhaustible political stamina.

“Possessing inexhaustible political stamina, she never wilted in our party’s epic political struggles while in opposition. She was always ready and willing to fight on any and every front to secure the return to democracy and to reverse the decline in living conditions and stem the abuse of the rights of citizens. She was an extremely durable politician with an unmatched capacity for hard work. Her political career spreading over more than six decades is testimony to her political longevity and relevance,” President Jagdeo said.

Members of the Jagan family at the ceremony at Public Buildings

Dealing with her strength of character, the President recalled the many indignities which she had to endure but which she took in stride, never allowing those indignities to detract her from her commitment.

“Janet Jagan has endured it all. She has been the object of campaigns of misinformation, distortions, public vilification and physical attacks. She has suffered as a human being for her convictions. She has been jailed for her role in the fight for Guyana’s Independence. Her personal sacrifices were also many,” the President stressed.

He added: “Janet Jagan took it all in stride. She never allowed the vile and vicious attacks, or her imprisonment or the sacrifices she bore, to detract her from her total commitment to Guyana. She loved Guyana and she loved its people passionately. And it was this love for which I will remember her the most.”

General Secretary of the PPP, Donald Ramotar recalled that the Chicago meeting between Dr. Cheddi Jagan and Mrs. Jagan saw two people sharing common views on the world of injustice, oppression and the poor which they felt must be ended.

Reminiscing on the early period of Mrs. Jagan political life, Ramotar said she never shied away from her responsibilities and along with Winifred Gaskin and Francis Stafford founded the Women’s Political and Economic Organisation (WPEO – now the Women’s Progressive Organisation) which began the struggle for the rights of women.

In 1951, Dr. Cheddi Jagan, Mrs. Jagan and Forbes Burnham contested the Georgetown Municipal elections with Mrs. Jagan vying for the Wortmanville seat and of the three only she won her constituency even though the elections were held under a limited franchise, Ramotar noted, adding that this was an indication of her hard work among the ordinary people and her popularity.

He observed too that the British colonialists sought to demonise her because of her groundings with the grassroots and perhaps being white as well dispelled their notion of superiority of race.

As Minister of Labour, Health and Housing, following the 1957 elections, Ramotar said her work was very impressive as greater access to health care and housing became a reality through the establishment of Cottage Hospitals and Health Posts across the country, the establishment of the low cost housing schemes in Ruimveldt and achievements in labour reform were second to none.

He said in 1961, she decided not to contest the elections as she wanted to dedicate greater energy towards the building and strengthening of the party.

Touching on her work as a dedicated journalist for more than five decades, the General Secretary noted that as Editor of the party’s official organ, Thunder, she brought out every issue on time which many of her younger colleagues failed to do. In fact, Ramotar said the last issue came out on the day before she died.