This country’s history cannot be accurately written without their monumental contributions being integral. Much of what this generation now benefits from, is the fruition of the tireless efforts of these stalwarts.

In the early forties, Dr. Jagan returned to his homeland a qualified dentist. He brought with him his Caucasian American wife; Janet. Their inter-racial union then was seen as undesirable in Janet’s homeland. I may want to believe that some eyebrows were raised here on that infamous return in 1943.

However, this did not prevent them from transforming the local political landscape for the betterment of the lives of all Guyanese. Their political involvement ruffled feathers internationally to the extent that Janet was banned from her homeland; the United States; the beacon of democracy.

Here were a husband and wife, a doctor and a nurse, the parents of two children, who nobly sacrificed precious family time for our benefit. Guyana was under colonial rule when Dr. Jagan returned. His venture into politics was courageous given at that time when the uncompromising pursuits by Mahatma Gandhi to gain independence for India, were either being crushed or repressed by the British Empire. Many in India were killed. Gandhi was jailed. Surely, those events would not have presented any semblance of encouragement for a native of a country as small as ours to take on the colonial establishment.

The intention here is not to revisit the numerous historical contributions made by the Jagans, but to put in perspective a few outstanding and unselfish sacrifices. First and foremost is the vast portion of their lifetime they magnanimously dedicated to Guyana; Dr. Jagan, 54 years from his 79 on earth and Janet, 65 from her 88.

That’s 68.3% and 73.8% respectively! Just about two-thirds and just over two-thirds of their adult lives for Dr. Jagan and Janet respectively. Obviously Janet’s is higher since she outlived her husband by twelve years. These figures are not mere statistics. They reflect not just dedicated lives, but are testimony to their unwavering commitment for a free and prosperous Guyana.

Only someone with vision, genuineness, immense courage, political astuteness, humility, humaneness and impeccable character could have led the efforts for an independent Guyana; someone like Dr. Jagan; a man who was only 25 years old on his return. His tireless journey was not only to free Guyana from the shackles of colonialism, but to ensure that basic human rights were upheld. His quests in this regard were numerous; the results are astonishing. In the 1940s, only a certain category of people were privileged to vote; property owners who would have attained the age of 21. This discrimination against the majority only served to further his efforts to ensure equality among his countrymen and women.

He was relentless in his push for changes in the voting requirements. This resulted in the 1953 elections, the first to be held under adult suffrage, which allowed all who attained the age of 21 regardless of being a property owner, to vote. Today anyone who attains the age of eighteen can vote. This was one of the many significant achievements of Dr. Jagan. From the birth of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) in 1950 to 1964, his life was a political roller coaster. He was harassed, jailed, victorious at the 1953 elections, sabotaged, removed from office following a conspiracy between western powers and local opportunists, winning the 1957 and 1961 elections, gaining the majority in 1964 only to be kept out of office following the alliance of the United Force (UF) and the People’s National Congress (PNC).

He spent the next 28 years in the opposition. This period of almost three decades did not deter him fighting for a democratic Guyana. During those 28 years he and his Party were intimidated. He was muzzled in Parliament for some time. The PPP was prevented from importing newsprint for its publications. Elections between 1964 and 1992 were massively rigged. People including Father Darke, Walter Rodney, Jagan Ramessar and Bolonath Parmanand were killed. Guyana became bankrupt as the PNC imposed itself upon Guyanese as basic food supplies were banned. The dream Dr. Jagan had for Guyana was being crushed by the PNC. However, he never lost hope. Many did; many would have. He didn’t.

In 1992, Dr. Jagan became Executive President following the return to democracy under free and fair elections held under the scrutiny of former US President, Jimmy Carter. A tremendous weight was lifted. Guyana blossomed. The developments since are too numerous to list. The freedom which now prevails is priceless. Guyana will forever owe a debt of gratitude to the fact that Dr. Jagan never lost hope. His optimism has led not only to independence, but to the prosperity currently enjoyed. I noted these points to capture, in some way, the dedication of Dr. Jagan to Guyana and that of his wife, Janet, who never wavered in her support for him and the cause during the entire period of their lives together in Guyana.

Mrs. Jagan was also jailed during those turbulent years. She had to divide her time to her husband, her children and to Guyana. The sacrifices of the Jagans are immeasurable. The free and prosperous Guyana now would not have been possible without them. It is therefore not only unfortunate, but wicked for some who now enjoy democracy and freedom of expression as a result of the Jagans’ contributions, to try to alter our history through their pen. These so-called analysts and commentators are trying to distort the contributions made by the Jagans’ towards the development of Guyana. They will never succeed in their insidious quest. History through the irrefutable facts will prevail. Maybe, its time for Guyanese history to be taught in local learning institutions.

Those who venture to corrupt the minds of the younger generation by deliberately distorting our history as it relates to the contributions of the Jagans’, should be honest and grateful that through the efforts of the Jagans’, they have a voice in a free society. But that’s a long shot since they are not honest in their writings and commentaries. They are guilty by their pens. How say you Freddie? You and your cohorts do owe a debt of gratitude to the Jagans’.