Mrs. Nadira Jagan-Brancier (at right) receives the donation from organiser of the Cheddi Jagan Memorial Cricket Competition, Ms. Patsy Downey in the presence of (from left) Morris and Sumintra Persaud of the UK PPP Group and Administrator of the centre, Mr. Mohamed Sattaur. Photo by Adrian Narine

Daughter of the late former Presidents, Dr Cheddi Jagan and Mrs. Jagan, Mrs. Nadira Jagan-Brancier received the donation on behalf of the Centre, in the presence of members of the UK People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Group), Mr. Morris Persaud and his mom, Mrs. Sumintra Persaud and Administrator of the centre, Mr. Mohamed Sattaur.

One of the organisers of the event, Ms. Patsy Downey who handed over the donation said the competition is an annual event held every year on the last Sunday in July since the passing away of Dr Jagan in March 1997 in honour of his memories with the support of the UK PPP Group and seeks to bring the Diaspora and to keep the legacy of Dr Jagan alive.

I have always presented it to Mrs. Jagan…but I am very proud and very privileged that Nadira has come to accept it in her mom’s memory and on behalf of the Cheddi Jagan Research Centre,” an emotional Downey stated.

&#We have a very good cricket day. It is something we wanted to do to bring Guyanese together and every year since then we have presented a donation to the centre,” she reiterated.

We hope to continue to do so and from now on also in Mrs. Jagan’s memory because she has done so much for the country in her own right and she has also done so much to support her husband and the work he did for Guyana,” she alluded.

She said the other coordinators of the event are Kamal Persaud and Faiyaz Ally and six teams usually participate in the event while funds are also raised through the selling of food and drinks and books by Dr Jagan among others.

She said the group would collect a lot of charity items which they would send to Guyana and donate to places such as St. Cuthbert’s Mission and Santa Mission.

The money we raise we always give something towards this building for its upkeep and maintenance,” the member of the UK PPP Group said.

&#So it is continuing and we are hoping this year, we will also be able to recognise Janet’s name because of what she has done and all the great work she has done all around particular for women,” she reiterated.

Jagan-Brancier thanking the group on behalf of the Centre and her mom said, “…we really appreciate all the help that your money has helped with the centre to keep my father memories alive.”

She disclosed, “Now the centre will also be a place where we will have a memorial for my mom also because my mother as you all know…wrote many articles and pamphlets so all of this will also be here at centre along with her photographs and other videos and stuff.”

So the centre basically will be dedicated to both my parents in their memory,’ she exhorted.

Sattaur acknowledging the contribution of the group stated, “This is the kind of commitment that causes us to renew our effort to keep the Centre going and that encourages us to keep moving the monument of the Jagan name forward every year.”