Guyanese in New York celebrate Dr Jagan's legacy

From Vishnu Bisram
Guyana Chronicle
April 16, 1999


SEVERAL New York-based support groups of the governing PPP joined to pay tribute to the late President Cheddi Jagan last Sunday in Hollis, Queens, where tens of thousands of Guyanese are settled.

Information Minister, Mr Moses Nagamootoo was to deliver the feature address but was unable to get a seat with BWIA to fly to New York.

The theme of the event was: "Celebrating the Life and Works of Dr Jagan: Father of the Guyanese Nation".

The tribute to Jagan was grounded in a celebration and understanding of how his ideals shaped his actions and life in struggling for a better world. The event was chaired by prominent activist Rajendra Singh of the Association of Concerned Guyanese and was held in front of a brown-coloured bust of Jagan and one of Kowsilla, the former West Coast independence activist who was martyred by the British colonialist, that were on display at the event.

There were speeches and live band music. Speaker after

speaker praised the late President for his over fifty years of commitment and dedication to the Guyanese nation and to public service.

Mr Singh noted that Jagan was an advocate for social equality and for the prosperity and development of Guyana.

"Dr Jagan created political and social consciousness among Guyanese. He promoted national unity and working class unity through his anti-colonial and anti-imperialist struggle."

He also noted that Dr Jagan fought against poverty. It was

Jagan's fervent belief that "in order for democracy to prevail, we cannot have the kinds of inequalities that we have today in this world with the rich exploiting the poor". But he cautioned that Jagan's comment was not an assault on the rich.

"Dr Jagan believed that we must embrace the rich but not to the exclusion of the poor," said Mr Singh. He also made note of the fact that the late great leader also made immense contributions to the world through his "New Global Human Order" arguments which should be publicly acknowledged as part of his permanent legacy to the world.

Attorney Kawal Totaram, formerly of Number 64 Village, Upper Corentyne, and an executive of the Queens Bar Association, praised Dr Jagan's courage and bravery in standing up to the colonial authorities for Guyana's freedom and for struggling against the PNC dictatorship for free and fair elections. He said that among things Dr Jagan would be remembered as someone who had contributed to social progress in Guyana and who had respect for the law unlike leaders of the current opposition. On this note, Mr Totaram called on the PPP government to enforce the law and prosecute those who violate the law and he condemned those who exploit racial cleavage in the society.

Mr Totaram also criticised BWIA for not providing a seat to Minister Nagamootoo to attend the function. He claimed the Minister had a confirmed seat, paid for by organisers of the event in New York.

A peeved Totaram queried: "How was BWIA able to fly back to Guyana to pick up Desmond Hoyte whom they left behind two years ago and they could not offer a simple seat to the Minister?"

Attorney Totaram urged Guyanese to become involved in the American political process. "While it is good that we are concerned about Guyana, we are also Americans and we must be concerned about our welfare here also. So let us get involved in the politics of where we live to make the community stronger so that it can have a stronger voice in Guyana".

Guyana's Consul General to New York, Brentnold Evans also showered praises on the late leader. He said that Jagan believed that progress of a nation can only occur if social and economic development occur together. Jagan believed that if people are sick, hungry and uneducated, then they cannot become producers and this will inevitably affect growth and prosperity.

It was also Jagan's belief that if economic growth is impaired, then social development will be stagnated and an impaired economy and stagnated social development would be troublesome for any nation.

Jagan took a pledge to fight for social, political and economic upliftment of Guyanese and to preserve the democratic rights of the Guyanese people and all the trade unions.

He also said that the PPP/Civic did not come into government through favours, but with the help of the working people and other democratic forces at home and abroad. And he further stated that the government has committed itself to building a new democratic culture and to make a new nation, not on the expectancy of those who live off others and who seek to divide people, but on the experiences of humanity and high moral standard.

Businessman Tony Yassin, formerly of Wismar, described Jagan as the conscience of the poor and as an institution and an elder statesman.

Mr Yassin who was instrumental in raising funds for the busts said that plans are in motion to have two more busts of the late President with the goal of having one each placed at the OAS headquarters in Washington, in New York and Guyana at a place of government's choice.

Aleem Ally, producer of the weekend Guyana Television programme in New York described the late President as a warm, humane person who cared for the common man.

"His activism and commitment to his political beliefs never wavered throughout his long history of struggle," said Ally.

Several other speakers also paid tribute to the late President's life and highlighted the many other contributions he made to society.

All of the speakers urged Guyanese to keep the dreams of Jagan alive.