Articles by Janet Jagan
Sash Sawh - A Hero of Our Times
by Janet Jagan
I have known Sash Sawh most of his adult life - from his years in Canada to his last ten years in Guyana. I have always thought of him as a rock of stability and devotion to the ideals he held so close to his heart.
If there was ever a patriot, a man who truly loved his country that was Sash! I use the only name I know him by, not his birth name of Satyadeow, but the name we all used so fondly for this remarkable, unique man whose life was taken so cruelly Saturday night last.
Sash’s life was no bed of roses. He grew up in low-income circumstances; his parents had a large family to feed and clothe. He lived under the difficult circumstances of the PNC regime, which eventually led to the misfortunes many encountered at that time, the loss of home and the eventual migration to survive.
It was not easy for Sash and his family in Canada, but the Sash we knew on his return home from Canada in 1996 was a resourceful survivor, not bitter but always cheerful, and who managed through great difficulties, to get a sound university education in Canada.
I noted that he was always cheerful; I would go further to say this word, joyous. There was something in his character that was ‘joyous.’ He always saw the pleasant side of life and was never a negative or complaining person. It was a pleasure to be in his presence! He did not burden one with complaints or criticisms of others. His positiveness is what made him a people’s leader, and that is what he was in the Canadian days when he led the PPP support group - the Association of Concerned Guyanese (ACG). Along with his associates Geoffrey da Silva and Danny Doobay, the ACG became a strong support group in the Guyanese diaspora. Cheddi Jagan relied heavily on this group whose activities were fundamental in the struggle for the restoration of democracy.
It would be impossible to evaluate all the work done by Sash while he lived in Canada, but it was enormous. His self-sacrifice and devotion to duty were exceptional.
I can remember when Sash was named as the Guyana Ambassador to Venezuela. The PNC began a bitter and malicious campaign to discredit Sash, claiming that he gave false evidence in a minor court case. The pressure on President Cheddi Jagan to withdraw the appointment was intense, and, of course, the media jumped into the matter.
Cheddi Jagan stood firm and his faith in Sash Sawh was undiminished. The vilification of Sash was at its highest point, but both figures - Sash and Cheddi - carried on and with time, the vicious chorus of PNC and media slander failed. Sash proved to be a first- class ambassador, even earning a special award in Venezuela. He worked steadfastly among the Guyanese community in Venezuela, most being refugees from the Burnham regime.
I was with Dr Jagan on a visit to Venezuela in the 90s and we met with a large contingent of Guyanese. One could not fail to see the love and respect Sash enjoyed among them.
Dr Jagan brought Sash back to Guyana in 1996, only five months before his death (Dr Jagan), to become Minister of Fisheries and Crops. I think it was this appointment, which brought out the full potential of Sash’s qualities. He became one of the leading members of the Cabinet and the most outgoing of the ministers. He was a man who got things done. We worked closely together when I was President in the years 1997-99 and I found him to be totally devoted to the important task of making agriculture a really strong and viable sector of the economy.
It is my estimation that he literally loved his work and gave his all to making different aspects of agriculture successful. He had a way with people - he connected - he understood their problems and aspirations. He was happy in his work and those with whom he worked were happy because of his interest which was so genuine.
Every year for many years, Sash headed the committee which commemorated Cheddi Jagan in the month of March. These were always successful occasions.
Sash was a family man - from a big family. His devotion, as a good son, to his ailing mother impressed me greatly. I suppose he could have done what many have done, put his mother in a good, safe nursing home in Canada when she became incapacitated, but not Sash! He brought his mother into his home in Guyana for many years, cared for her until her death last year. He was a good and caring son - part of his overall character as a good and caring person.
In this terrible tragedy, the assassination of a good man, a serving minister of government, we can be thankful that his children and wife survived. That’s about all we can be thankful for, except that here, passing through life, was a man, a joyous, hardworking, caring, patriotic man - devoted to his country and his people. We can be thankful to have known such a man - a hero of our times!
April 29, 2006
© 2006 Janet Jagan
eminiscences - Che and Robeson
by Janet Jagan
I visited Cuba in 1960, the second year of the overthrow of the dictator General Batista. I was then Minister of Labour, Health and Housing and was invited in that capacity, along with other persons of the hemisphere to celebrate May Day.
I remember meeting one of Mexico’s major artists, Mr Siqueros, a leading writer from Chile, a prominent South American trade unionists including Vincente Toledano, and many others. It was a heady atmosphere, celebrating the triumph of the Cuban people led by Fidel Castro and Che Gueverra over the brutal dictatorship of Batista.
I met many Cubans, including my counterpart, the woman Minister of Housing. I was taken to the mountains where the Revolution began and where the tenacity of the Cuban leadership and its militant adherents held out so bravely and successfully.
There was a massive May Day rally held in Havana with some million people present. However, the most outstanding event of that period remains indelibly in my memory - my visit to Che Gueverra. He was, then, if I remember correctly, the head of the nation’s finance. He was dressed in western attire, not the military fatigues in which we are so accustomed to seeing him portrayed. My impression was that he was a bit uncomfortable in his job, and dress, but that was a subtle feeling of mine. He was obviously intent on doing his job in the best manner to advance his adopted country.
While his face is firmly planted in my memory, I cannot recall a word of our conversation. Be that as it may, it was a friendly meeting and on parting he presented me with a beautiful carving, which I later gave to my son.
The other part of my visit to Cuba has its own light humour. I am an avid fan of the Chilean writer Isabelle Allende, niece of the assassinated President of Chile, Salvador Allende. One day last year, after reading one of her most excellent books, I decided to write to her and share a little joke about her uncle. I took the chance of addressing the letter to her publisher. She replied nicely, even sending me her latest book on Chile.
What I told her was an incident that took place during my visit to Cuba. The President of Cuba, Mr Dorticas (not then Fidel Castro) invited all "political and intellectuals of America" (I still have the invitation), to a luncheon at Rio Cristal restaurant. Protocol was very much in vogue and we all were seated in accordance with our status. I found myself at the bottom of the table next to a most affable man. We chatted a lot throughout the lunch. His name was Salvador Allende.
I remarked to his niece, that of all those distinguished persons present, only Allende and I became presidents of our countries!
While Che Gueverra remains embedded in my memory, and I can recall how dreadful I felt when the news reached us of his terrible death, there is another great man who stands out in my memory as someone whose tragic life was so outstanding. He is Paul Robeson. Only two weeks ago I was talking to an Indiana University student and his name came up as a great American hero.
I met Paul Robeson sometime in the 40’s if I remember correctly. My husband had been in correspondence with him and asked me to look him up when I went to the USA to visit my parents. I had a telephone number and called. I spoke to Robeson, introduced myself and he said to me: "Now, you just get into a taxi, give them my address and come out right away," which I did. I was greeted at the door by this giant of a man and introduced to his wife Eslanda. He was going through a most difficult time in his life. This great singer and actor was restricted by the US government from leaving the US on any tour. He was banned from singing in public, Hollywood wouldn’t touch him with a 10ft. pole in fear of government reprisals and the only place they could not prevent his presence was in the nation’s churches. His career as a singer was virtually destroyed by the malicious acts of the US government. All this was the price he was paying for his radical politics. Robeson will go down in history as not only the greatest of American singers, but the leader who took all the blows and persecution in the struggle for Black equality and rights in the USA in that period.
I might note that when I visited his home in New York, I saw the splendid bust of Robeson done by the renowned sculptor Jacob Epstein.
My friendship, which lasted decades, then began with his wife Eslanda, who helped keep the family financially alive by working as a journalist at the United Nations. We began a correspondence that only ended at the end of her life. She was a lovely woman and a staunch supporter of her husband.
I remember visiting her, I think in the 60’s, in London where she was living, following the final lifting of the ban on Robeson’s travel. He had a powerful reception from the British working class at a rally. However, Paul Robeson suffered his greatest sorrow when he finally went on tour. His voice was no longer that of the great Robeson. The years had taken their toll. He suffered a severe case of depression and was in a small hospital. Eslanda took me there and asked me to try to cheer him up, to remind him how beloved be was, etc.
When I saw Paul Robeson after all those years, I was shocked. He had lost considerable weight and was fragile - not the robust, handsome, vigorous man of yester years. Eslanda cared for him and saw him through many crises.
After his death - oh yes! He had to die first! - then the media et al remembered him, praised him and made him an American icon. He has now taken his place among American heroes - but what a hard, sad life he had! But he bore it courageously, never recanted on his ideals. Recordings of his magnificent voice are heard from time to time. There has never been any singer to match that magnificent voice!
© 2004 Janet Jagan
The Worsening situation in Iraq
by Janet JaganThe escalation of conflict in Iraq also brings to closer examination quite a number of matters, all relating in one way or another to the policies of the Bush administration in the USA. There is the hearing in Washington about the 9/11 attacks on the New York Twin Towers and the Pentagon. Evidence being heard by the bipartisan panel is raising new perceptions about the ability of the Bush Cabinet and its advisers to deal with the vital information that reached the White House before the catastrophic events of 9/11/2001.
Evidence is piling up that had Bush and his advisers paid attention to the intelligence reports, something might have been done to forestall the terrorists or at least to warn the public of an impending horrific assault. Some countries are distancing themselves from the Iraq occupation.
Known as a friend of the USA, King Abdullah of Jordan said recently that the invasion and occupation of Iraq has created widespread animosity against the USA among ordinary citizens across the Middle East. He has now postponed a visit to President Bush.
Spain’s newly sworn in Prime Minister Jose Rodriguez Zapateu branded the Iraq occupation a fiasco and will be removing Spanish troops in the near future. Honduras is also withdrawing its troops.
The whole Arab world is in anger over the Bush endorsement of the Ariel Sharon plan to leave Gaza, but not the West Bank - both areas belonging to the Palestinian people. The Plan by Israeli Prime Minister Sharon gives nothing to the Palestinian people and Bush’s support eliminates the USA as a "broker" in the matter.
Arab anger has also risen over the assassination of Hamas leader Abdel-Aziz al-Rantisi and the US reaction - that Israel has the right to defend itself against terrorist acts. The Hamas leader was killed in Gaza when an Israeli military helicopter shot a missile at the car Abdel-Aziz was in.
Even the UK, which has been labeled Bush’s puppy, came out with a very strong condemnation of this act as "unlawful, unjustified and counter-productive." The European Union deemed the act "unlawful". A recent Reuters report states that Arab leaders who had predicted that a US invasion of Iraq would unleash chaos in multi-ethnic Iraq and the region now feel that their "ominous prophecy" is coming true.
The recent escalation of fighting by Shi’ite Muslims in the South and Sunni Muslims mainly in Fallujah can be termed "uprisings." However, listening to the American generals in Baghdad over TV, one would get the impression that the fighting is being carried out by terrorists and criminals. The US military have said unambiguously that they are out to kill Shi’ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, who, they claim, leads a few malcontents and criminals. Despite the downplaying of the threat to stability, Reuters news reports that "tens of thousands of Shi’ites" supported Sadr in his "main power base, the Baghdad slum district of Sadr City." Sadr’s guerillas are in control of Najaf. No doubt there would be a greater upsurge of resistance to the US occupation if Sadr were captured or killed.
American military top brass, speaking to the media in Baghdad, profess that their attacks are only on the fighters, but evidence shows that the number of dead is high - some 600, of which many are civilians, children, the elderly and women. CNN showed a small child who lost a hand and a leg in Fallujah, while his grandfather who was carrying him, was killed. No matter how the generals try to downplay the upsurge in fighting, the fact remains that the USA is in serious trouble in Iraq. It has already lost more soldiers in two weeks of fighting than it did during the war on Iraq. The irony of it all - and remarked upon by the world media - is that UK Prime Minister Tony Blair and US President George Bush, who went against the advice and rulings of the United Nations in order to rush into Iraq, now are calling on the UN to come in and save the sticky situation. This was made clear last week when the two key leaders of the "Coalition" that invaded Iraq met at the White House and called on the UN for help. Their faces should have been a bright red!
© 2004 Janet Jagan
