Hundreds honour memory of Dr Cheddi Jagan at Babu John
From Calvin Marshall
HUNDREDS of Guyanese gathered at the Babu John Cemetery in Port Mourant, Corentyne, on Sunday in observance of the third death anniversary of Guyana’s late President, Dr Cheddi Jagan. <P>The large gathering of people, some of whom travelled from as far as Linden, braved the afternoon sun to converge on the site where Dr Jagan’s ashes are entombed. Several persons were in their places as early as 13:00 hours (1.30 p.m.) for the 15:30 (3:30 p.m.) ceremony. By the time Mr Rohit Persaud, Chairman of Region Six, (East Berbice/Corentyne) took to the lectern to commence the programme, a large colourful crowd was already on hand to hear glowing tributes paid to the memory of the fallen Guyanese leader by President Bharrat Jagdeo, Prime Minister Sam Hinds and Mrs Janet Jagan, widow of Dr Jagan, and herself former President. Other senior Government officials and important functionaries of the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/CIVIC) also paid homage to the life and work of the late Guyanese leader. The memorial site was decorated with party colours and portraits of Dr Jagan, and the programme consisted of musical renditions and excerpts of speeches by Dr Jagan. President Bharrat Jagdeo, in an address punctuated by bouts of applause, described his former boss as a man with an active mind, and a leader with a human touch far beyond what many people have seen. Mr Jagdeo decalred that Dr Jagan was ahead of many world leaders in his aggressive campaigns against exploitation, the negative consequences of globalisation, and the importance of poor countries being granted debt relief. Today, the President said, Dr Jagan’s views have been vindicated by the evidence of many world leaders adopting them as policies. The President recalled his childhood days listening to Dr Jagan addressing large crowds in his home village. These presentations were to have a tremendous impact on Mr Jagdeo’s life. He later became a member of the PPP and then a Minister of the Government. "The most important thing in my life was when Dr Jagan made me his junior Finance Minister, that was the highest honour for me," the President said. "His passing has left us a strong legacy, the PPP is stronger than ever before his passing," Mr Jagdeo observed, and he pledged his Party’s commitment to pursuing the ideals of the fallen hero in being working-class, simple, patriotic and grassroots-oriented. Prime Minster Sam Hinds, in his tribute, invited those present including Guyana’s Ambassador to the United Nations Dr Odeen Ishmael, other Cabinet colleagues and party stalwarts, to commit themselves "to drink" from Dr Jagan’s memory and to follow in his tradition. Calling him a true patriot, Mr Hinds said the late President led the struggle for respect and betterment for all Guyanese despite efforts to banish him. Foreign Minister Clement Rohee described Dr Jagan as a staunch internationalist who defended the interests of people against all forms of exploitation. "We are living in an extremely difficult world with lots of social and economic problems. But as a result of Dr Jagan’s stewardship we have a clear vision of the nation’s future," Mr Rohee declared. Former President Mr Janet Jagan noted the significance of the observance at Port Mourant, the birthplace of Dr Jagan, and hailed her late spouse as a liberator. She said that he had liberated Guyana twice - first from colonial rule and then from the PNC dictatorship. "I remember those years in the wilderness. Some asked him to go back to his dental practice as he was fighting a losing battle," Mrs Jagan recalled. The former President described her late husband as a man of great courage and intellectual ability. Ranking him with the likes of Jomo Kenyatta, Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela and Salvador Allende, Mrs Jagan called her late husband as a champion of freedom and encouraged her listeners not to forget his sacrifice. General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party, Donald Ramotar, spoke of Dr Jagan’s efforts in bringing about working-class unity which struggle he began in the 1940s. He said Dr Jagan’s victory in the 1992 elections gave the Guyanese people hope, and that the attempts by some opposition elements to create confusion will not deter the present leaders from creating a united Guyana. The afternoon’s proceedings were also marked by prayers, cultural presentations, including poems from several students, and a bajan. All the items highlighted the life and works of the late President Jagan. At the conclusion of the programme, President Jagdeo, Mrs Jagan, Prime Minister Hinds and other party officials laid floral tributes at the shrine of the deceased leader. Dr Jagan died in the Walter Reed Army Hospital in the United States of America on March 6, 1997, after an heroic struggle with a heart condition. He was 79.
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