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THE life and selfless contributions the late Dr. Cheddi Jagan and his life partner, Mrs. Janet Jagan, were recognised last Sunday, when glowing tributes were paid them at the annual wreath-laying ceremony and memorial at Babu John, Port Mourant, Corentyne, Berbice.
“Cheddi and Janet were truly father and mother of our independent nation and it is fit and proper that we should, regularly remember them, remember their work, their selfless work, their lives of sacrifice and contribution,” he stated.
Mr. Hinds continued: “As we remember them, as we recall their lives, we must challenge ourselves and challenge each other to live as they lived, to pick up the torch they carried and carry on the work from where they left off.”
He said the duo fought to change things, engaging in various struggles and protests but their primary aim is expressed in the party’s song ‘Oh fighting men’, to bring about new conditions “for us to work together in harmony and build a better life for all in Guyana and to contribute to a better world.”
The Prime Minister said: “When Cheddi and Janet began their work, they had to fight against the continuing inequity, the discrimination and exclusion in a system which has been founded on slavery and indentureship.”
He alluded to their fight for workers rights to form unions of their choice, all being part of the fight to end the colonial system, that won political independence for a new Guyanese nation.
Hinds reminded that, when independence was won, there was the long and sensitive fight to end the dictatorship of the first decades of independence, resisting wild calls for partition and keeping the nation whole.
He said their main role towards building and contributing can be seen looking back to the 1957-64 period of PPP in Government, with Dr. Jagan taking steps towards creating the new economy for Guyana, through increasing the opportunities for agriculture, improving marketing arrangements for agricultural produce and initiating local manufacturing.
Hinds said Mrs. Jagan also served as Minister of Labour, Health and Housing, initiating a period of improved housing, which, unfortunately, was kept away after 1964 but was taken up again by the PPP Administration immediately on returning to government in 1992.
TRUE REVOLUTIONARIES
“Our Cheddi and Janet were true revolutionaries,” the Prime Minister declared, calling them national political leaders.
He said, Dr. Jagan, in his early life as a dentist, provided very good services at low fees, with sacrifices involved and having foregone many of the leisure, pleasure and lifestyle expected of a young professional couple, even in those days.
“…Cheddi and Janet lived their lives asking not what your country could do for you but what you could do for your country and your people,” Hinds asserted.
He called on professionals to reflect on that aspect of the lives of Cheddi and Janet Jagan and to serve people diligently and openly.
About the legacy the Jagans left for this generation, Hinds said: “Our task now, standing on the shoulders of Cheddi and Janet, is to build the Guyana that they worked for, longed for and only saw in their imaginations but did not see with their own eyes.”
PPP General Secretary, Mr. Donald Ramotar said this anniversary of the passing of Dr. Jagan coincides with the 60th anniversary of the party, of which Cheddi was one of the founders and led for 47 years.
He said, indeed, Dr. Jagan’s influence has and is still very strong on the party. “And that is why we rightly say that it is the party of Cheddi Jagan.”
Touching on the fight against colonialism and the various struggles for independence, Ramotar emphasised that the idea was to build an economy that was strong, diversified and able to withstand the pressures from the international economy and the world as a whole.
He said, without this, the leaders felt that independence could be compromised and that if why a lot of attention was paid to establishing a strong and vibrant society.
Ramotar said the party had to undertake several struggles, simultaneously, fighting uncompromisingly for democracy and freedom and, even during the time of colonialism, fight to expand the democratic rights of the people.
He said one of the greatest achievements was the fact that out of the PPP struggles came universal adult suffrage or one man, one vote.
Ramotar said in the fight against colonialism, the party played a leading role and, even though it was not in
office when independence, eventually, came, it is recognised that it was due, principally, to the struggle of the PPP and its leader Dr. Jagan.
GAINS ACHIEVED
Ramotar said the gains achieved in very difficult circumstances were demonstrated by the commitment of the party and Dr. Jagan to the people, generally.
He acknowledged the great sacrifices made by many supporters and saluted those brave and ordinary comrades who stood by the PPP in the period when they were fighting against the dictatorship that existed in the country.
Ramotar observed that, today, some are trying to rewrite history and play down the role of the party and the splendid leadership of Dr. Jagan but he dismissed it as a futile exercise.
He said, from 1964 to 1973, the PPP fought alone against the creeping dictatorship that was coming into the society and, all times, the party played a leading role in the struggle for the return of democracy to Guyana and can be proud of the many achievements.
Ramotar also posited that the country is being transformed today, with investments in infrastructure.
“That is why Guyana is moving ahead faster than any country in the Caribbean,” he offered, adding that, notwithstanding that, there is still very much to be done.
“We must take inspiration from our history and draw strength from it and advance to the many challenges facing us today,” Ramotar exhorted the gathering.
He said, in this rapidly changing world, there is a need to adopt new strategies and tactics and the PPP is best placed to do so, because of its experiences accumulated over the 60 years of existence.
Ramotar said, although poverty in the country has been reduced tremendously, the nation must not be satisfied as long as there is one single person in this country living in poverty.
He said the country must modernise and not lose sight of the fact that the world is inter-dependent and action in one part tends to have effect in various other parts.
“Therefore, what we do must have not only an impact in Guyana but also a positive impact on the world,” said Ramotar.
He underscored the importance of the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) in making a contribution to a better world and reiterated that the PPP, throughout its history, has always been a party for the people and that must never ever change.
Recognising International Women’s Day on Monday and their role, Ramotar said the PPP was also part of the struggle for equality for women and reminded of Mrs. Jagan and the formation of the Women’s Progressive Organisation (WPO), encouraging persons to continue opening doors for women.
He conceded that, whilst there has been a lot of achievements, there is still some level of women inequality in Guyana and the world which must be removed.
