…  ‘He held fast to his singular agenda of advancing the interest of the working people of Guyana and the world’, says Attorney General, Anil Nandlall AS we observe, this month, the birth and death anniversaries of the late President Cheddi Jagan, Guyana Chronicle asked Members of Parliament of the ruling People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) to share their thoughts on the late Dr. Jagan, who was fondly known as the ‘Father of the Nation’.
This iconic leader and co-founder of Guyana’s first national party, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has influenced and touched the lives of many people, and has, indeed, inspired many young people through his ideas and vision which are very much alive today.
Here’s what the MPs had to say about the PPP Founder Leader

Anil Nandlall, Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs and PPP/C MP –
It is still perhaps too early to properly assess the true impact of Dr. Jagan’s contribution to the political and economic development and the social advancement of Guyana and its people. Since his entry into public life and politics in the early 1940s, until his demise in March 1996, every single political development, social event and economic policy, has embedded in them the contribution of Cheddi Jagan.
They range from the formation of the first representative farmers’ organisation; a trade union to represent sugar workers; the formation of the first mass based political party; the winning of adult suffrage; the first internal self-government of British Guiana; first agricultural schemes and industrial sites; first University and Agriculture school; first technical institute; the struggle for Independence of British Guiana; the struggle against the dictatorial and authoritarian PNC regime; the struggle for democratic elections; the struggle for a national front government/inclusive government; the struggle for press freedom; the struggle for racial unity; and the struggle to improve the lives of the working people of this country.
Internationally, he was never intimidated by the might of super powers and waged an unrelenting war against imperialism and the exploitation of poor nations by the rich and powerful.
His was a vision to change the world order to create a more equitable environment for the poorer countries to compete, hence his campaign for debt write-off and for a New Global Human Order, a concept which received the recognition of the United Nations General Assembly. He recognised very early the importance of a balance between ecology and economic development. In short, Dr. Jagan was, indeed, a man for all seasons. He was able to use scientific methods to interpret the problems of society and fashion policies and adopt postures which were appropriate to suit the occasion, while at the same time, holding steadfast to his singular agenda of advancing the interest of the working people of Guyana and the world.

Faizal Jafferally, PPP/C MP –
“I think Cheddi Jagan was a unique individual who understood exactly what he was struggling for, and from his work you would recognise that he was concerned about the working people of this country. Over the years, all the things that he did were in the interest of the working people in this country. When he came back from overseas and he found his political movement, he stood for a number of things. He had a principled position on a number of things, including exploitation; he was totally for racial unity among the people of this country.
Cheddi Jagan’s greatest contribution to the Guyanese people has been in the social sector – health, education, housing, water, agriculture – because he recoginsed that these are the things that mattered most to the ordinary Guyanese people. I think his vision is very much alive today, because some of the things that he spoke about many, many years ago, are here with us. These, for example, include the new economic international order you see today, that is a reality at United Nations; and debt relief for Third World countries or poor countries.

Ali Baksh, Minister within the Ministry of Agriculture and PPP/C MP –
“I am one of the fortunate ones who had been very close to Comrade Cheddi from the early 1960s, as a member of the Central Committee of the PYO (Progressive Youth Organisation). At that time, he was operating a dental surgery on Charlotte Street that we used as our meeting place. Many times he visited Essequibo, and sometimes he and Mrs. Jagan stayed at my home.
He travelled in many, many areas in the hinterland and I can tell you, I don’t believe there is one community in Regions 1 and 2, where I traditionally worked with him, that he did not visit. It was very interesting to see how this man was simple and humble.
He was a man who really and truly believed in peace; he believed very strongly that Guyana should unite, that the different races here can live as one; and our motive was to ensure that Guyana is a free country and he was a really outspoken person in terms of ensuring what he believed in, that is the transformation of our society and the building of a democratic system”.

Reverend Kwame Gilbert, PPP/C MP –
My first experience with Dr. Jagan goes back to 1991, just prior to the preparation for the 1992 elections, and the thing that stuck with me is the resilience that he demonstrated  – his resilience to remain focused and faithful to his passion to see Guyana become a truly united nation, and also to see us come into the fullness of our potential as a people. I think, we, as a nation, have lost in him someone who exemplifies the spirit of fatherhood and I think in that regard, Guyana has benefitted from a lot of the work that he has done, not just as an individual, but through his party as well, to lay the foundation for a lot of what we enjoy today. So I think Guyana owes a debt of gratitude to him”.

Dr. Vindhya Persaud, PPP/C MP –
“I have to say that I knew Dr. Cheddi Jagan as a child. When I was a child, maybe three to five years old, my father (Pandit Reepu Daman Persaud, would take me to Freedom House and lots of my days would be spent in the office just next door to Dr. Jagan’s, and in his office. What I liked about him, and I think this was exemplified not only on a personal nature, but also in his tenure as president, is that he was a very approachable person, a very simple and humble person, and he listened to everyone’s opinions and point of views, no matter how young they were and how simple those views might have been. And right through growing up, I could have spoken to him just about anything. He never changed his persona when he became President – he was the same simple, approachable person. I think, when we won elections for the first time in a democratic way in 1992, it began a whole new chapter for the country, under his baton but unfortunately he did not live long enough to do all that he wanted to do, but I am sure that those who remain in the PPP and the Government would continue to see his vision and dream move on – because he had great vision and great dreams.
He was always a man that was rooted with the people; he was a grass roots person and he liked to know what was happening on the ground, so he always took the time to go out and meet everyone no matter how humble their background, he wanted to know what was happening and much of what he did in terms of his policies and his programmes during his Presidency was based on that fact – that he came from the grass roots.
He understood the problems and he wanted to tackle those problems and help people to develop.
So I think Guyana has lost someone who is an icon. I would like to think that he has touched a lot of lives and I believe that, in whatever way we could, we should see his vision throught.

Irfaan Ali, Minister of Housing and Water and PPP/C MP –
Dr. Jagan was an embodiment of integrity, transparency, and he was an internationalist at heart. He believed in fighting for freedom, for equality and for justice, not only for Guyanese, but for persons who are denied freedom and justice all over the world.
Sometimes, we remember him in the narrow context of Guyanese politics but he played a much larger role and this goes back from the days of colonization, when he spoke out and he represented many countries at various international bodies, seeking justice, fairness, and equality for people all over the world.
For me, he will always be remembered as someone who believed in humanity, who served humanity, and who lived his life in such a way as to better the conditions of the poor, the vulnerable and working class”.

Dr. Vishwa Mahadeo, PPP/C MP –
I grew up in a family that Dr. Cheddi Jagan used to visit when he came to the Corentyne. So I remember him from since I was a child.
He was always a person that you looked up to as an idol, where honesty, hard work and dedication are concerned. He always encouraged me and asked me what I wanted to become. He was always concerned about the poor people and he talked about how Guyana needed young people to develop and become leaders.
Over the years, he has been a hero and an idol, not only to me, but to several young people. His principles and his books and his programmes are still there to guide us. He always emphasised his vision, and for him, the working people, the poor people always came right at the top of his agenda.
For him, Guyana came first. I don’t ever recall him talking about himself or talking about anything personal – he was always about other people’s welfare.”

Dharamkumar Seeraj, General Secretary of the Guyana Rice Producers’ Association and PPP/C MP –
The Guyana Rice Producers Association (GRPA) always recognised the contribution of Dr. Jagan, not only to agriculture, but more importantly, to farmers and their families. As a matter of fact, Dr. Jagan was at one time the President of the GRPA, from which position he was able to adequately advance his interest and protect the interest of the farmers in a then hostile environment.
As the President of the Rice Producers Association, he served in many capacities, representing the diverse interests of the farmers themselves, and his representation went way beyond that of agriculture. He looked at social issues as it relates to the farmers, and their families.
And there was another side to Dr. Jagan.
Growing up in a rural agriculture community, he recognised the value and contribution that ordinary people play in terms of not only providing food, but also enriching our economy itself. I think he started his political career representing not rice farmers, but sugar workers, and then he extended his area of representation to cover all farmers and workers.

So the RPA has very fond memories of the contribution that Dr. Cheddi made towards the development of the sector  his representation enhanced the livelihood of farmers and their families, and that is what we will remember him mostly for”.

Neil Kumar, Director of Sport and PPP/C MP- Dr. Jagan was an exceptional person. I was extremely close to him in the sense that I am now 45 years in the PPP party and over the years I always admired Comrade Cheddi.
You know, everything about Comrade Dr. Jagan was so meticulous. Apart from his being a brilliant person, he was a man you had to admire, he always gave you good words, he always encouraged you to read, he always encouraged you to be very disciplined, and I think in my life, as I have developed into a man, I could never forget Dr. Jagan.