I would like to think that was so because everyone accepted that this truth was an established fact in everyone’s mind, because both Jagans were absolutely incorruptible. Their needs were basic and their lifestyles always simple and unpretentious.

If only Forbes Burnham and the Jagans had retained that glorious relationship they once shared. If only this nation’s leaders could learn to put the nation first as the Jagans always did, and as those who are true to their ideals are aspiring to do. How sad, but how utterly useless are those two words “If only…..”

They lived within severe budgetary constraints and were always sharing whatever little they had of their own resources with others in need. Their children were brought up as ordinary children, albeit with overwhelming love and emotional security from their parents and their extended family, and only son Joey had to work his way through university, with his dad sternly refusing to sanction his peccadilloes. It was left to Joey’s godfather, former President Burnham, to rescue him from the many scrapes he got himself into.

‘This is merely one instance that records the rapport and wonderful relationship that once existed between the Jagan family and Burnham…and few can remember how utterly charming former President Burnham was; but then even his own sister Jesse, who was absolutely loyal to the cause espoused by the Jagans, warned the latter to beware her brother Forbes.

How sad! So much promise laid waste on the altar of ego; and not much has changed. Guyanese are still pawns on the chessboard of nationhood for those who aspire to power and self-aggrandizement at the cost of national unity and all the good things that can fructify if this is achieved.’

Shared experiences in adverse circumstances create bonds that intricately interlink personalities, and from the time that the Jagans held hands and began a crusade to wrest freedom for the disparate peoples of this country, they have done so by forging relations across all the divides because their goal was an independent nation of a united people striving toward common objectives of peace and prosperity in a land that was free and offered all things to all who endeavoured with honesty and sincerity, because these traits hallmarked their personas and their lifestyles.

Forbes Burnham

But they persevered, always with their primary focus of attaining alleviation from poverty and political, social, and economic liberation of the Guyanese people.

The corridors of time was not kind to them, because they were absolutely incorruptible and refused to submerge their psyche and their behaviour in the filth of political manoeuvrings and grandiose posturing of lesser beings, who saw Guyana as a prize – the attainment of which could achieve for them power and aggrandizement for themselves and those who won their favour by pandering to their ego, even if this meant sacrificing peace and unity of the newly-emerging, fledgling nation of Guyana.

Janet Jagan

If Guyanese learn to think for themselves instead of applauding everyone who comes to them with promises of quick-fixes to problems and creating mayhem and confusion in the country, instead of making representation to the appropriate bodies appointed to address the different areas of individual and national need, they would realize that young men and single parents need not live in poverty nor steal to develop themselves because there are many skills-training programmes, many support organizations, and institutions like IPED and the Gafsons Small Business Development Fund (SBDF), LEAP, among others that offer opportunities for self-development and empowerment.

Cheddi Jagan

On Saturday 4th April 2009 the President and other executives within the Party saw the necessity to debunk allegations by Party members and others who are attempting to erase a lifetime of effort by the Jagans to unite this nation. Whatever the motive of those whom are guilty of this injustice it has to be a self-serving one, because there is no-one who knew these people who does not know how colour-blind they were – to the extent that young Michael Forde deflected a bomb, which cost him his own life, but which saved the life of the two leaders he adored, along with other Party members.

The primary loyalty of the Jagans was to this nation, and they knew that for peace and prosperity to eventuate there needs to be national unity – and this could only be achievable if all the leaders see this as a common goal, and work selflessly toward its attainment.

Janet Jagan loved her children passionately, but she refused her son leadership status within the hierarchy of the PPP, because this Party was the spearhead of her husband’s vision – which was to create a Government that would impel Guyana toward social, political, and financial liberation, and, inasmuch as she paid dearly in a personal sense for her decision, she did as she and her beloved husband have always done and put the nation first.

Justice Prem Persaud, paying tribute to Mrs. Janet Jagan, wrote: “I was clerk to magistrate Mr. Harold Brodie Smith Bollers at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court when Mrs J appeared under police escort, charged with being in the unlawful possession of a Police Manual. It was the allegation of the Crown (we were a British colony then), that such a manual was restricted to the possession and use of certain police officers, and it was illegal for such a document to be in the possession of private citizens.

Her defence, led by Mr. Forbes Burnham, was that the Manual was planted in her home by the Police when they invaded her residence, ostensibly looking for banned literature. The magistrate did not believe the defence and convicted her as charged. The prosecution was led by Sgt Carl Austin (later Commissioner of Police).

“The trial was for me a learning experience and the wit of defence counsel Burnham enlivened the proceedings. At one stage Mr. Burnham was making submission after submission and the magistrate was getting ruffled. At one point he responded to Burnham, saying, “Mr. Burnham, I disagree and I submit…”. Counsel got quickly to his feet and with a wry smile and a bow retorted, “With respect, Your Worship, you cannot submit but only rule.” The court was immediately adjourned by the magistrate, and Mrs. J had been enjoying the exchanges. During the trial she remained completely relaxed and took the verdict with a smile.”

This is merely one instance that records the rapport and wonderful relationship that once existed between the Jagan family and Burnham, because both counsel and defendant knew that the trial was a farce and the outcome preordained, but they were together in this battle against supremacy and injustice, and few can remember how utterly charming former President Burnham was; but then even his own sister Jesse, who was absolutely loyal to the cause espoused by the Jagans, warned the latter to beware her brother Forbes.

How sad! So much promise laid waste on the altar of ego; and not much has changed. Guyanese are still pawns on the chessboard of nationhood for those who aspire to power and self-aggrandizement at the cost of national unity and all the good things that can fructify if this is achieved.

If only Forbes Burnham and the Jagans had retained that glorious relationship they once shared. If only this nation’s leaders could learn to put the nation first as the Jagans always did, and as those who are true to their ideals are aspiring to do. How sad, but how utterly useless are those two words “If only…..”