ON THE eve of the 94th birth anniversary of the former First Lady and First Female President of Guyana, New Yorkers were amongst those who gathered on Sunday, October 19, 2014, in Richmond Hill, Queens reflecting on the courageous fight, and indomitable spirit of Comrade Janet Jagan.

The evening’s proceedings got underway with highlights of a documentary titled, “Thunder in Guyana,” made by Suzanne Wasserman, niece of the late president, who captured the former president in her raw and organic political character, accentuated with clips, interviews and comments on her long political struggle with that of her late husband, in their fight for justice and freedom in Guyana; advocating for independence, fairness and workers’ rights.
In essence, the film is a microcosm of the Jagans’ travails, perseverance and relentless dedication over five decades in the making. Organised under the headline, ‘A Guyanese Cause, A Guyanese Struggle, A Guyanese Sacrifice,’ Chairperson of the proceedings, Faiuze Ali paralleled the uncompromising commitment of Mrs. Janet Jagan with that of renowned political personalities and world events over the course of history that coincidentally shared the month of her birth with the likes of which mirrored the former Guyanese president’s towering devotion to extinguish the flames of naked exploitation.
Citing the courageous Guyanese Damon, freed African slave, who was executed for The Essequibo Rebellion advocating for workers’ right in October 13, 1938; the unbreakable spirit of Mahatma Gandhi, born on October 2, 1869, who unshackled the chains of colonial subjection in India; the determined Nelson Mandela, who uprooted racially Apartheid South Africa, and went on trial on October 9, 1963 for sabotage; the march of women in New York City on October 23, 1915, for the rights to vote; the death of Che Guevara, the fighting symbol of the Cuban Revolution, who died on October 8, 1967; the passing on October 24, 2005, of Rosa Parks, the mother of the American Civil Rights Movement, whose defiance helped dismantle America’s segregated society.
He went on to say that “these personalities and events shared more than a month in common; they shared a common thread of a wider fabric of resistance against inequality and exploitation of their respective peoples.
In his contribution to the occasion, Mr. Methulall Mangal of GSM referred to Mrs. Jagan as a proud Guyanese and not an American-Guyanese, who is today the greatest Guyanese woman. She lived a very meaningful life: she lived for others — the poor and suffering masses. She firmly believed in the working masses, and was supremely confident of the success of the struggle for a better life.
She declared in 1964: “With the strength of the sun above us, the strength of the earth beneath us, the strength of the ocean before us, and the strength of the people behind us, our fight against injustice will be won.”
In 1992, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) ushered in the Dawn of a New Era. Janet Jagan was the heart of the People’s Progressive Party; she was always there for activists in time of need, be it in prison or in the picket lines, and never failed to assist, encourage and inspire hope. She was driven by her faith in the masses, and her message was militant and organised. Her prized possessions were the Party Groups nation-wide.
A strong believer that government has a very important role in the improvement of the lives people, as a minister of government, she got the bureaucracy to serve the interest of the masses.
Dr. Jagan, it is said, brought the people to
Parliament; Janet Jagan took the Government to the people. Janet Jagan’s commitment and contributions should be cherished by all.
ACG’s Dr. Raj Singh reminded the audience that the ideals of the Jagans live on in the Party’s core values. Ms. Indra Hardat cast light on Mrs Jagan’s fight for the barriers that subjugate women and relegate their status to second-class citizens to be lifted, and as one the towering achievements of the late president.
In an invited comment, Vishu Dutt, who worked with Mrs. Jagan at the United Nations when she served as Guyana’s ambassador, remarks about her joy and appreciation for the modest way of life, citing her gregarious attitude towards life, and a desire to function like the common folk, devoid of the whims and fancies of her office and titles.
The occasion reflecting on the contributions and sacrifice of Mrs. Janet Jagan was truly a felicitous tribute to a woman whose devotion spans more than five decades of unselfish dedication to the Guyanese nation.
Organised with the collaborative efforts of the Guyana Solidarity Movement (GSM) and the Association of Concerned Guyanese (ACG), the event was attended by known Party supporters, and ex-GAWU organisers and activists. Also gracing the occasion for the admired Guyanese president were two generations of Jagans: Attorney Vrinda S. Jagan, granddaughter; and her son, accompanied by her husband and great-uncle Chuck Mohan, activist and union organiser.

FAIUZE ALI