MINISTER of Home Affairs, Clement Rohee on Monday afternoon launched his book “Those Days” at the Cheddi Jagan Research Centre, High Street, Kingston, Georgetown where he was lauded for his efforts in narrating some of his experiences during the 1980s and 1990s in which fighting for free and fair elections was the main objective of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP).
The book, “Those Days” is a compilation of extracts of newspaper articles in which the minister’s experiences were documented.
In opening remarks, Member of the Central Committee of the PPP, Mr. Hydar Ally told the gathering that various topics were discussed by Mr. Rohee, who started out being active in youth development in the Progressive Youth Organisation (PYO) during which his writing career blossomed.
Giving a word about the book and the author, Member of the Central Committee of the PPP, Mr. Kellawan Lall said that the book is very clear on certain topics which were penned by Rohee as regards to international politics.
He stated that the book portrays profound news of the PPP, foreign politics and solidarity among other issues reflected in the publication.
Mr. Lall added that Rohee wrote of what took place during that dynamic time and also spoke of his writing career and his struggles for free and fair elections in those days.
The minister during reflections told the gathering that his book came as a result of the guidance and encouragement of the late Mrs. Janet Jagan, who was his inspiration in the then days of the Mirror newspaper.
Rohee explained that back then he had a penname, Burrettu, his Amerindian friend’s name he adopted and penned several articles including movie reviews and covering a press conference.
The Minister of Home Affairs also talked about his early days of writing which he attributed to the late Mrs. Jagan, who schooled him.
Rohee said: “I believe that writing is an art, just like sculpting one has to construct a picture so that people could enjoy reading that artistic piece and the more one writes the better he/she gets.”
The book includes the chapters  of La Brigada Internacional’ – The Brigade’s Origin; Touring the Land of Liberty; The Agony of Cyprus; Remember Palestine; and Quo Vadis Teng among others.
Rohee’s other publications authored are Guyana: A bed of Thorns (co-authored by the late Cheddi Jagan), Facing the Challenges, Reform of the European Union – Sugar Regime and Guyana’s Foreign Policy – Towards the 21st Century.
After the launching last night the minister also autographed copies which were freely distributed to the invitees.