— WPO General-Secretary, Sheila Veerasammy

FORMER President Janet Jagan was not only a trailblazer in local politics but was also one of the prominent champions for women’s empowerment.

This is according to Women’s Progressive Organisation (WPO) General-Secretary, Sheila Veerasammy, who was at the time speaking at a recent symposium in Region Two to commemorate the death anniversary of the late President.

Janet Jagan, the wife of founding member of the People’s Progressive Party and late President, Dr Cheddi Jagan, was one of the founding members of the WPO.

Veerasammy said that the late leader implemented many programmes to benefit women in Guyana, including pushing for women to receive tertiary education.

“Because of her life and her teachings, we are all educated; we are proud of her work and legacy. She was the mother of the nation, [Janet] Jagan did not hesitate to educate females,” said Veerasammy.

She said too that the late President was very instrumental in ensuring women occupy seats in Guyana’s National Assembly and supported women taking up leadership roles in organisations.

In the past, she said women were only seen but not heard, but today things have changed and women are more recognised in society under the current government.

“Janet was responsible for women working from 1957-1964. She changed the law and was instrumental in ensuring that the law [was] changed so that public servants can be married and work,” Veerasammy related.

And aside from these, Jagan was instrumental in the building of many health centres and the promotion of maternal health, the WPO General-Secretary told the gathering at the party’s Freedom House branch at Anna Regina, Essequibo Coast.

A wreath-laying ceremony was held at the Cheddi Jagan play park before commencement of the symposium.

During the symposium, other stalwarts of the WPO remembered the late leader who left her hometown in the USA for Guyana after marrying Cheddi Jagan.

Local Government Minister Nigel Dharamlall and PPP Executive member Dharamkumar Seeraj also addressed the occasion. Dharamlall said the late leader was an inspiration to many, pointing out that she worked tirelessly to improve the lives of all Guyanese.

The occasion featured speeches and poems delivered by representatives from the Progressive Youth Organisation (PYO), the Women’s Progressive Organisation (WPO) and members of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP).

Janet Jagan came to British Guiana in December 1943 and worked for 10 years as a Dental Nurse at her husband’s clinic. She almost immediately became involved in the labour struggle and was a member of the colony’s first-ever union, the British Guiana Labour Union.

She worked alongside great heroes like Hubert Nathaniel Critchlow and many others who fought for a democratic Guyana.