THE body of former Presidential Advisor on Natural Resources, Science and Technology, Minister of Agriculture and Member of the Central Executive of the People’s Progressive Party, Mr. Navindranauth Omanand Chandarpal, was yesterday cremated at the Good Hope Crematorium following a hero’s send-off on the forecourt of the International Conference Centre at Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara.

Earlier in the morning, his body lay in repose at Freedom House, Robb Street, headquarters of the ruling PPP, where President Donald Ramotar and ministers of government paid their last respects.

The body was later driven past the Cheddi Jagan Research Centre (Red House), Kingston, before making a stop at the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers’ Union (GAWU) where the casket was draped in the PPP flag.
The final stop, before being mounted at the International Conference Centre for the memorial service, was at the family home on the East Coast Demerara.
Mr. Chandarpal died last Tuesday, after a two-year battle with cancer. He was 63, and at the time of his death a member of the Central Executive of the PPP.
Meanwhile, hundreds from all walks of life, whose lives he touched in diverse ways, congregated at the International Conference Centre to join his widow, Mrs. Indranie Chandarpal; their children, Rabindranauth and Gitanjali; sisters; and other bereaved family members in celebration of his life and paying their last respects.
Among those gathered were President Donald Ramotar and First Lady, Madame Deolatchmee Ramotar; Prime Minister, Mr Samuel Hinds and Mrs. Yvonne Hinds; Cabinet Members and other parliamentarians; representatives of other political parties; members of the private sector; representatives of the Environmental Protection Agency; members of the Women’s Progressive Organisation (WPO) and the Progressive Youth Organisation (PYO) and others.
There was a deluge of tributes, eliciting emotions of grief on the occasion of the passing of a valued son of the soil, and at the same time expressions of appreciation for his having served in the capacities of a wonderful husband, father, son and brother; a patriot and true friend; a nationalist; a true Caribbean man; a consummate professional; a trail-blazer and fearless and indefatigable freedom fighter, who played a key role in the fight against imperialism and dictatorial rule.
Born to Evangaline and Alfred Chandarpal, a headmaster, at Number 71 Village, Corentyne, Berbice, Navin was academically inclined, and by 1975, had earned a BSc degree from the University of Guyana in Physics and Mathematics. And with a passion for teaching, he later became a secondary school teacher, and taught in these disciplines for a number of years. He also served as a lecturer in mathematics at the Cyril Potter College of Education and in Physics at the University of Guyana from 1972 to 1992.
STUDENT ACTIVIST
While at UG, he was a student activist and was elected President of the University of Guyana Student Society in 1974. He also established a political career during this time and was elected First Secretary of the PYO, functioning in that capacity from 1976 to 1986.

In 1978, Navin married Indranie Dhanraj, a union which gave rise to two wonderful children: Rabindranauth and Gitanjali.
As First Secretary of the PYO, he nurtured his burgeoning political career, becoming a member of the Central Committee of the PPP in 1979. Under the leadership of Dr. Cheddi Jagan, he fought for the restoration of Guyana’s democracy. He was widely known as a grassroots politician and was very instrumental in the party’s decades-long struggle for free and fair elections, which was eventually achieved in 1992.
As of 1992, Navin pioneered numerous national initiatives on sustainable development, many of which form the core of current sustainable development practices.
From 1992 to 2001, Navin served as Advisor to the President on Energy, Natural Resources, Science, Technology and Environment.
And from 2001 to 2003 he served as Minister of Agriculture and a Member of Parliament. Over the last 10 years, he re-assumed the role of Advisor to the President of Guyana, this time in the area of Sustainable Development, Science and Technology.

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

As outlined in Navin’s biography: “His contribution to Environment and Sustainable Development in Guyana remains incredibly significant. He piloted the first Environmental Protection Legislation in Guyana which established the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and was instrumental in the creation of the Iwokrama International Centre. He was also responsible for the groundwork for a land use agenda in Guyana, a science and technology policy and more recently, efforts in the area of sustainable development.
He chaired the Natural Resources and Environment Advisory Committee (NREAC) through the 1990’s and led a number of initiatives to establish a comprehensive national framework for sustainable development in Guyana.
“He chaired several other Committees and Boards, such as: The Guyana Gold Board; Board of the Guyana Forestry Commission; Board of the EPA; National Science and Technology Council; the National Water Council and served as Director of the Board of Trustees, Iwokrama International Rainforest programme, the Cheddi Jagan Research Centre Committee and the Cheddi Jagan Commemoration Committee.
More recently, he served as the Principal of the PPP’s Acabre and GAWU Labour Colleges (2010-2011).

INTERNATIONAL DUTIES

On the international front, Navin served as Chairman of the CARICOM task Force on Environment (1992-1997); Chairman of the Caribbean Council for Science and Technology (1995-2000); and Chairman of the Steering Committee for

Caribbean Water Partnership (2004-2006). He led Guyana’s delegations on many other high-powered international conferences.
Among those paying tribute to Cde. Navin Chandarpal yesterday were President Donald Ramotar, Dr. Frank Anthony, PPP General Secretary, Mr Clement Rohee, Mr. Andrew Bishop and family members.
President Ramotar extended profound sympathies on behalf of the government, himself and wife “on the passing of a dear and valued Comrade.” He recalled that Navin Chandarpal was a product of the times. “He was born at a time when our country was going through great changes and it was pregnant with hope. And, for the first time, the PPP, led by Cde. Cheddi Jagan and other important leaders of the Party, was putting on its agenda Independence and freedom as an objective. It was the beginning of the transition from colonialism to Independence. Accordingly, it would have left its imprint on those who came along at that time,” President Ramotar said.
He spoke about the split or division of the Party, which ultimately led to the division of the country by the intrigues of colonialism, which tried to stop this national movement from bringing Independence to Guyana. He recalled that Cde. Navin’s father was part of the struggle for Independence, having led district and regional committees of the party.
“And I am sure that his activities would have had an impact on his son, and helped to form some of his views at an early stage.” But in the period 1961-1964, which was a very difficult period in the life of Guyana and a period when Navin would have been maturing into his own, that Cde Cheddi, having failed to bring about unity and trying to get agreement with the opposition parties, called on the PPP to be the vehicle to bring national unity and working class unity in our country.

RACIALISM, WORST ENEMY

Cde. Cheddi Jagan at that time declared that racialism was the worst enemy of the Guyanese people, adding that those who practice racialism were not only an enemy of the people, but an enemy to themselves. “And the PPP stuck to, held on to

that very position, firmly on to,” he said.
He recalled that a lot would have been said about Navin’s work during the period of the fight to restore democracy, when he was head of the UG student society and when his maturity as a political thinker and a strategist began to emerge when he protested against government’s refusal to employ Dr. Walter Rodney, while dismissing Dr. Insanally. He cited other struggles in which Navin demonstrated his mettle as a indefatigable freedom fighter, adding that Navin was a major participant in such struggles. He alluded to democracy rides which Navin organized, in the quest for the restoration of democracy.
Based on his demonstrated potential, President Ramotar said, the PPP sent Navin on a scholarship to study in Moscow to improve his skills. “And of course, he was indeed a very brilliant student, having a strong science background, and also a strong inclination to politics that helped him very much to understand the intricacies of the day.
“It was at that time that Cde. Feroze Mohammed, who was responsible for resuscitating the PYO and making it strong, decided to demit office, and Navin Chandarpal was indentified. Interestingly, while still in Moscow, he was contacted with this news. Those were difficult times, but Navin took over and excelled, in all of the positions that he had,” President Ramotar recalled.
“We can go on to speak for a very long time about some of the things that he did, and some of the achievements that he made, but I believe his example is what is important to us today… And though he did not always agree, he stood with the Party in difficult times. Indeed, when he joined the Party, it was not easy to be a member of the PPP as it is today… but he chose that path because of conviction,” President Ramotar said.

FAMILY TRIBUTE

Meanwhile, family members in tribute to his memory remembered Navin Chandarpaul as a wonderful husband, a father, a brother, teacher, scientist, poet, politician, a carpenter, a colleague, a mentor and a friend. The family expressed

gratitude to all for the outpouring of love and support in this their hour of grief.
His widow, Mrs. Indranie Chandarpal shared her experiences with him as a wonderful husband, father, friend, mentor, hero. The experience of seeing him journey through an irreversible path, and the strength and fortitude he demonstrated in bearing it all. She alluded to the strength it brought to be able to offer love and care. She touched on the wonderful moments they shared throughout their 36 years of marriage. But the anti-climax was the day be breathed his last — huddled in her arms, and the arms of their children and in-laws, who were all at his bedside — peacefully, so quietly, it was almost unbelievable.

(By Shirley Thomas)