-politics was not just his career but rather his life

The Cheddi Jagan Research Centre on Wednesday night hosted the media and invited guests at an event marking the “66th Anniversary of Dr. Jagan’s entry into Parliament.” The guest speaker was Senior Counsel, Mr. Ashton Chase who was one of the founding members of the PAC, a precursor to the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) and one of the men who closely worked together with Dr. Cheddi Jagan. In his address, Mr. Chase painted a vivid picture of a politician for whom politics was not just a career, but rather his life.

While listening to the lecture one got the sense of a man who cared deeply about the plight of the people he represented and would do anything to change their plight, even die for it, if necessary. This reminds me of Nelson Mandela who uttered the famous quote:
“During my lifetime I have dedicated myself to this struggle of the African people. I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.” – Nelson Mandela
This was a refreshing and welcome reminder that as a politician you don’t have to betray your principles for the sake of votes, as one so often finds in politics today.

(By Jimmy Roos)