50 years of PPP struggle, and the vision of Dr Cheddi Jagan
By Philomena Sahoye-Shury
THE month of March is very significant and historical for Guyana in that many important things usually take place. Allow me to mention a few - International Women's Day - World Consumer Day - International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination - Birth and Death Anniversary of President Cheddi Jagan. Also this year the PPP/Civic is celebrating its 50th anniversary - a political movement under the leadership of that dynamic leader Dr Cheddi Jagan, witnessed his outstanding contribution to Guyana, socially and economically. No one could deny that this son of the soil was responsible for the political enlightenment of all Guyanese and left no stone unturned to bring together all races and forge the welding of the masses together on sound basic principles, equity, justice and equality and human rights. His skills in using the power of persuasion and his untiring determination for the liberation of Guyana have placed him as a man among men. He stood out for reason, honesty and sincerity of purpose. He has left a legacy, the PPP/Civic which all of us cherish, and are proud to maintain and retain. On International Women's Day he not only raised and voiced his concerns, but was directly involved in the implementation of programmes to assist in the alleviation of poverty in certain sections of our population. He championed the women's call for equality, equal pay for equal work and for reason to prevail in women taking their rightful place in society and be partners in controlling the commanding heights of our economy. On the elimination of racial discrimination, he stood firm on the theory that all men are created equal and unto his dying day maintained that the PPP/Civic is a people's party, a party for all. His roots were grounded in the working-class, for he treated and regarded all Guyanese as one irrespective of race, colour, religious or economic standing. This year 2000 therefore is a remarkable year for Guyana and its people, for on the brink of the 21st century we will all have to let reason prevail and ask ourselves, are we not one people with one common destiny? The answers lie in our hands and the ultimate results on our shoulders. On the PPP/Civic 50th anniversary I desire to recite this poem. Fifty Years F - Fighting oppression and humiliation I - Inside British Guiana, we slaved and toiled F - Forgetting race, class, religion and colour T - Together we moulded a nation of honour Y - Yes! for Fifty years the PPP struggled.
Y - Yielding not an inch in our determination for independence E - Every man, woman and child had this feeling, it was really intense A - At last independence came through a strange alliance R - Resulting in a rather queer type of allegiance S - Sending several messages to our nation
P - People en masse cried out for fair elections P - Prejudicial dictatorship ruled through corrupt decisions P - Peacefully in 1992, there was a resounding change
C - Cheddi Jagan was elected President, and he did arrange To have a real democracy He had truly rewritten history Yes! No one could his history misconstrue His dream of democracy had definitely come true
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