PRESIDENT, Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali has vowed to protect the ‘soul’ of Guyana. This statement was made when he addressed thousands of Guyanese from all walks of life at the 27th death anniversary of the late former President, Dr. Cheddi Jagan at Babu Jaan, Corentyne,Berbice.

This national ‘soul,’ according to the President, is embedded and found expression in our collective embrace of the foundational principles of justice, democracy and our shared commitment to national unity and social cohesion.

According to President Ali, anyone who deviates from such principles and anyone who seeks to spread racial division is an enemy of this country and an enemy to themselves.

Significantly, these remarks were made at a time when the entire society is paying homage to someone who dedicated his entire life to the cause of a peaceful, progressive and prosperous Guyana. No wonder President Ali, in reflecting on the essence of the nation, underscored the importance of understanding the concept of the Guyanese ‘soul,’ which he said encompasses its fundamental values and aspirations.

He attributed the crafting of the Guyanese ‘soul’ to Dr Jagan and emphasised the need to nurture and protect it for the nation’s advancement.
These are profound words emanating from a President whose vision for Guyana is firmly grounded on the concept of One Guyana, in which there is peace, unity and shared prosperity for all regardless of race, ethnicity, religion or political affiliation.

President Ali, while highlighting the strong commitment to upholding the value system of the country, noted however that the ‘soul’ must not be tested by ‘forces’ that attempt to destroy our democracy. He reminded the audience of ‘the evil and dark forces that tested the soul of our country once again when they attempted to steal the elections from the PPP/C in the March, 2020 General and Regional elections.

“The ‘soul’ withstood that test because Dr. Jagan and the party he co-founded have in its citizens who are committed to the fundamental values of the soul of our country and will never allow the evil and dark forces to tamper with the ‘soul’ of our nation,” President Ali said.

Only recently, Vice-President, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo had cause to call out certain elements from the political opposition who seem bent on keeping the society divided by playing the race card and toying with the emotions of the Guyanese people. He alluded to several basic truths: firstly, that this country can never develop to its full potential unless all the people benefit from the progress the country is making, something which the PPP/C administration fully understands and is slavishly pursuing.

Secondly, the PPP/C administration desires to provide the opportunity and space for every Guyanese to progress and live comfortably.
What the administration is doing, in effect, is to give life to the philosophy of Dr Jagan.

“We are very fortunate that Dr Jagan laid out a philosophy for our party and that successive leaders have embraced that philosophy and have acted consistent with its implementation, giving it life…we remain true to Dr Cheddi Jagan’s vision,” Dr Jagdeo told the thousands who gathered at Babu John.

In a deeply fundamental way, the life and work of Dr Jagan is worthy of celebration. His vision of a society in which there is social and economic justice, as observed by both President Ali and Vice-President Jagdeo continues to influence the thinking and policy orientation of the PPP/C administration which is pro-people and pro-working class.
Guyana and the Guyanese people owe a debt of gratitude to former President, Dr Cheddi Jagan for the role he played in the creation of an independent, prosperous and democratic Guyana.