Remembering Cheddi Jagan
Ready to carry the torch passed by Cheddi
by Donald Ramotar(An edited version of an address by the General Secretary of the People's Progressive Party Donald Ramotar at Babu John on March 3, 2002)
It is five years since Guyana's greatest son Cde Cheddi went to sleep forever. I had said shortly after his untimely passing that during his lifetime he had made such a great impact on every aspect of life in our country that his significance will become even greater the further we move away from that date.I believe what I said then has been borne out in life. There is not a day that passes in which we do not consult Cde Cheddi. Whenever we engage in serious discussions, which is very often, we turn time and time again to Dr Jagan's works for guidance.
At a very important juncture in the long struggles he led against colonialism, building our country while in office in the 1950s and 60s, our Herculean struggle for democracy from 1964 to 1992 and in the four years in which he led the reconstruction of our country, Cde Cheddi and the PPP were able to come up with scientific analyses and propose solutions, which the masses could grasp and follow.
Undoubtedly, he had a great amount of charisma. He was correctly described as a charismatic leader. However in my view the strength and successes he had as a leader had much deeper roots.
In the first place was his scientific analyses, which more often than not proved to be correct.
Secondly, he was not just a thinker and an academic, but was also an activist. Indeed, he lived by the thesis that it was not enough to interpret the world, but he interpreted it in order to change it.
Thirdly, he took a stand on issues. His positions were patriotic, internationalist and firmly on the side of the working people.
Indeed, on the eve of the1961 elections he elaborated his position on the side of the broad masses of working people; on the side of the nation as he called for independence. He then ended his speech by saying "... here I stand and here will I stand until I die ..." He remained loyal to the working people and true to his pledge to the very end of his life.
Dr Jagan as a human being knew that a time would have come when he would have to depart. He therefore spent almost all of his time strengthening the positions of the working people. No doubt, too, he anticipated that even after he would have gone that that struggle would have to continue.
To that end he devoted great energies in building the People's Progressive Party (PPP). Our Party is and will forever be the living monument of Cde Cheddi Jagan. It is the PPP that will continue to carry out the work, which he took such a far way.
Throughout the history of the PPP and during his entire life, Dr Jagan worked tirelessly and often patiently to build national and racial unity in our country. That is a principle which guided us and will continue to guide us, as we endeavour to build a peaceful, progressive and prosperous Guyana.
There are those unscrupulous politicians whose drive for personal power is so burning that they do not care what harm they do to race relations.
They openly advocate racial politics and often do their damnedest to incite problems. We have to guard against this. We must never allow them to succeed!
Almost at the end of his life he kept working on theories and proposing solutions to many of the global problems. Dr Jagan was moved by the fact that some 1.3 billion people in the world existed on less that US$1 per day. He was concerned with the fact that the gap between the developed and underdeveloped countries kept widening. The concentration of wealth in a few hands up to the point where the wealth of the number one person in the Fortune 500 was greater than the GDP of all the Caribbean countries combined.
For him poverty was not just the lack of money but also the loss of opportunities and hope.
All the fighting spirit in him was aroused by the knowledge that more than 100 million children throughout the world were not attending school.
While extremely busy with affairs of state, he found time to elaborate and propose practical measures for a New Global Human Order.
Comrades, in conclusion, let me say that in the five years since Dr Jagan passed on, we in the PPP/Civic have been seriously put to the test.
Those who crave power for their own selfish gains thought that without him the Party and government would fall. They unleashed a deluge of lies, slanders and the worst of racial incitement. They also resorted to violence, using misguided elements in pursuit of their goals.We have withstood that onslaught. Our people have emerged more steeled, a new group of cadres have been forged for the struggle. We are Jaganites ready to carry the torch that Cde Cheddi has passed. We will do our best to eradicate poverty, further improve education, health, housing and other social services. We will continue to find mechanisms to involve the masses in this work and deepen and broaden democracy which we regained in 1992 after a long but glorious struggle.
Cde. Cheddi Jagan lived! He lives! And will go on living! His name and work will endure throughout the ages
Cheddi Lives on in all of us
by Prime Minister Samuel Hinds(Speech by Prime Minister Samuel Hinds at Babu John on March 3, 2002)
Today we begin a month of events to mark the 5th anniversary of the passing away of dear Comrade Cheddi. Many of us naturally still feel some bit of grief at his passing, but more important is that as we recall his life, we seek to discern some precepts to guide us onwards so that we can make good our rallying cry, that Cheddi is gone but in us he lives on.Cheddi was a family man, a Guyanese nationalist, an internationalist all in one; and for him there was no contradiction. Indeed each position informed and strengthened the others. Cheddi was a thinking man, reading widely, writing widely, but also a man of action, persistent action, courageous and willing when necessary to take a lonely stance against conventional wisdom.
As President Jagdeo was leaving last Wednesday morning I enquired of him, of what he might have spoken about were he to be here today. He pointed to a number of areas where Cheddi's long-held positions are relevant to the world today and are gaining acceptance - even if slowly.
Today, Guyana and a number of similarly heavily-indebted poor countries are enjoying HIPC relief which can be traced to Cheddi's lone call beginning since 1978. Conventional wisdom for many years maintained that was not possible. Thanks to Cheddi multilateral debt relief is being granted today to needy countries.
Today we are all aware of globalization and there is no way we could avoid recognizing the problems of the current system. Cheddi led the search for alternatives and improvement, not being limited by tainted ideological labels. Similarly his support of a Tobin tax that seeks to reduce the wild destabilizing money flows.
Cheddi's New Global Human Order (NGHO) has entered the discussion stage at the United Nations and we expect to hear more of it, and other variants and refinements being advocated. Cheddi's NGHO is based on a sense of the world being one, the human race being one, and the explicit recognition that the prevailing sense and approach to problems must be one of interdependence between all countries and peoples.
At this ceremony to mark the 5th anniversary of the passing of Comrade Cheddi let us refresh our resolve to continue the journey he started: to become one nation, one people born out of our common experiences, striving to make a better living in this land.
Cheddi in his lifetime led the way for national independence, the restoration of democracy, rights for the average Guyanese. These victories have brought us to a new situation, where many of the justifiable reasons for feelings of alienation have been removed. Cheddi has set the stage for the development of national unity and the material building of our country.
If we are to be true to the memory of Cheddi, if we are to continue the journey he started then all Guyanese must get down to working our way together from poverty to prosperity. We must be partners. And we could see examples in Cheddi's life: his welcoming and acceptance of Arthur Schelsinger's apology for detrimental things done by the US administrations during the 1960s. I think too that we must keep before us the symbolism in the Queen's visit of 1994 - sitting together at dinner symbolized a new relationship and putting behind such things as the suspension of the PPP government of 1953 and acquiescence in many things thereafter.
My fellow cabinet members, friends, supporters of the PPP and the PPP/C and indeed all Guyanese, the challenge for us is to build - with give and take - a sense of family.
Cheddi was a revolutionary, not for the sake of being a revolutionary, but one who made revolution to build a better Guyana, a better world.
This is his legacy to which we must be forever true.
Cheddi Jagan Symposium
by Eddi Rodney
A full capacity auditorium last Wednesday (March 6, 2002) afternoon was the expected response to a public symposium sponsored by the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) that is part of the month-long series of commemorative activities to mark the 5th anniversary of Cheddi Jagan's death as well as to celebrate the historical contribution that he has made to the Guyanese people.The panel discussion was chaired by Dr Nandakishore Gopaul and was held at the Cheddi Jagan Research Centre, Kingston, Georgetown under the theme Cheddi Jagan - Patriot and Trade Unionist.
The three panelists were Dr CY Thomas of the University of Guyana - a prominent figure in the University Workers Union and the University of Guyana Staff Association; Mr Grantley Culbard, executive member of the Clerical and Commercial Workers Union (CCWU) and Mr Komal Chand, President of GAWU.
Cheddi Jagan's consistent pursuit of knowledge
In his discourse Dr Thomas described Dr Jagan as a "patriot in the development of Guyana." Referring to the nature of his association with Cde Cheddi (who in addition to being General Secretary of the People's Progressive Party was also for many years the Honorary President of GAWU) the Guyanese academic said this could be divided into three periods of time.The first of which commenced whilst Dr Thomas was still working at the University of the West Indies and resident in Jamaica.
Cheddi always set out to establish a bond between himself and the intellectual community and during the 1960s these would have been connected in some way to the New World grouping that itself emerged from campus foment and research programmes. Illustrating how difficult this time had been for left-wing political activism, Dr Thomas cited the incidence of state repression.
The political repression that characterized the banning of some academics from entering certain territories in the region, the monitoring and searching of residences and the general harassment were more or less a shared experience that affected the left-wing activists as well as Cde Cheddi and those closely associated with his political ideas.
Whilst staying as a guest of Dr Thomas in Jamaica, Dr Jagan had forgotten his umbrella. "It took some considerable effort to get someone who would return the item to Cheddi" Dr Thomas stated.
Alternatives: class solidarity and meaningful development
Throughout the years of his political and trade union struggles there was always the principled determined position which Dr Jagan maintained, especially with regards to the labour movement, the rights of the working people and the critical importance of (what was central to these objectives) the legislative process.The second period relative to the association the speaker had with Cde Cheddi was that of the struggle for alternatives. According to Dr Thomas there was a high level of discussions ranging from the perspective of orthodox socialism to that of theoretical assumptions and concepts that arose from the development (rice, sugar, bauxite, tourism and social improvement) process itself.
It was at some time during this transition that the slogan of "Bread and Justice" was adapted by Dr Thomas (in a publication of that title). This was an innovative way to broaden the appeal of a meaningful system of eco-social and political development during the years of PNC dictatorship.
Building a viable and progressive movement
Dr Jagan always outlined those "orthodox socialist" ideas he held and was always willing to engage in dialogue. He often quoted as references the publications of Drs Brewster and Thomas on regional integration to demonstrate how exploitative the structures were. In his several articles, pamphlets and papers he gave prominence to essays of notable merit dealing with the sugar industry and its structure as well as other sectoral analyses.His most recent (prior to 1996) work "A New Global Human Order" however drew extensively from World Bank, Inter-American Development Bank and anti-globalization economists as well as academics such as Professor Tobin, and in fact culminated his argument for a replacement of the President George W Bush World Order.
His efforts directed towards building a progressive movement commenced with his involvement in the Man-Power Citizens Association (MPCA). Having failed to bring about any genuine movement from within that union that would favour the working people, he then launched a union to defend the rights of sawmill workers. He was subsequently involved with agricultural workers mainly but not exclusively from the sugar industry.
This was brought out in the contributions of Mr Culbard, the introduction of (former trade unionist) Dr Gopaul and GAWU's Komal Chand.
Amongst the points made by the above-mentioned as a focus on the trade union strategy Dr Jagan adhered to were that he "had the priviledge of working alongside Hubert Nathaniel Critchlow, that every time he visited a community where Guyanese resided he made time to discuss issues of concern with them and that he believed if the people were to have effective representation then those representations had to be based on an adequate knowledge of comparative governance as well as labour and industrial legislation."
He firmly believed that political work should establish the principle of electoral democracy. He called for the establishment of the 8-hour working day. He called for equal pay for equal work. He called for the right of workers to have trade union rights and for a minimum living wage. He never failed the labour movement and for that his example is all the more exemplary.
Carry on the torch and legacy of Cheddi
by RONALD HARSAWACK (JR)
Five years ago, on March 6, Guyana and the world lost a great visionary and statesman, Dr Cheddi Jagan. Dr Jagan made significant contributions to the development to this dear land of ours, the massive improvements in the lives of all Guyanese, whether they voted for him or not.If not enough he was also instrumental in the return of democracy on October 5, 1992. As a result we continue to progress and flourish.
Dr Jagan was many things to many people; Dr Jagan was seen as a man of the people, a worker’s champion and a man of world vision and very fitting, "the father of the nation".
Thus, I would like to present our late President Dr Cheddi Jagan in a sphere that the world is now recognising. That is, Cheddi Jagan the internationalist.
The Cheddi Jagan we know is a leader who fought vigorously to break the system of our colonial masters and represent the proletariat - all in an effort to create a better life for every Guyanese. We know that as a distinguished national leader, Cheddi Jagan was a dynamic individual and represented his country well.
As a political leader, teacher and organiser of the working class Dr Jagan’s goal was to bring freedom, equality and prosperity to Guyanese people; as an internationalist his struggle included the fight against injustice and poverty around the world. Economic growth, human development and national unity were central in achieving his goad.
Dr Jagan was by far one of the most significant individual and equally by far one of the most amazing political figures, not just in the history of the Caribbean, but in the world. As a result Dr Jagan is recognised globally as a politician and visionary of world stature.
He was deeply concerned with the problems of development particularly since these impacted on small developing countries. In his book, A New Global Human Order, is stated that: "our times called for clear thinking: to diagnose the ills of our globe, to ascertain the cause of society’s growing problems and to formulate what must be done- a set of guiding principles and a programme of action…the economic base is inter-related and must interact with the political, ideological, institutional and cultural superstructure.
Economic growth is necessary for the satisfaction of basic needs and human development, as much as human development is necessary for economic growth. There is a disease population explosion, environmental degradation, migration, narcotics production usage and trafficking and crime".
As you can see these social and economic problems were not only internationalised but was, simultaneously, the forefront problems faced by developed countries around the world; especially the North. This saw the emergence of the renowned "New Global Human Order". In letters sent to the world leaders on May 1, 1994 Dr Jagan in his book a New Global Human Order wrote: "in response to a memorandum issued in October 1993 by the commonwealth Heads of Government in a meeting in Cyprus…I introduced in March 1994 at the Inter-Sessional Meeting of the conference of the Heads of Governments of the Caribbean Community in St Vincent and the Grenadines, an item: "The emergence of a Global Humnitarian Order". Caricom heads discussed the item and agreed to work together at the Regional level and in concert with the Commonwealth high level group to advocate the concept Globally".
This call for a New Global Human Order was further presented on October 24, 1995 to the United Nations. Dr Jagan stressed that in order to obtain this, it is necessary to establish a sound and just system of Global governance based on genuine partnership between countries and democratic cultures of representative, participatory and consultative democracy and a lean and clean administration.
Cheddi Jagan was an advocate on distinguished foreign policies, coupled with his New Global Human Order.
The foreign policies were for the better standard of living of his people. He advocated extensively for debt relief for third world countries, better neighbourly, regional and international relationship with countries. According to him better relationships procreated more economic activities, which will stimulate economic growth, economic development and raise the standard of living for the working class.
The New Global Human Order is the newest widespread ideology of the late President. Under this idea he traversed continents advocating the reduction of poverty and general amelioration of the standards of living of the third world countries.
Cheddi Jagan the internationalist outlined a global strategy, which would benefit both the North and South and which would lead to sustainable development, democracy, peace, freedom and social progress. Cheddi, the internationalist, spoke at the Commonwealth conference in Auckland in 1996, at a summit of the Americas in Miami. As an internationalist he achieved much for the Caribbean and his country. To illustrate: in 1996 the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) agreed to grant debt relief for a number of poor countries including Guyana. Prior to this many from the international bodies doubted the late President had advocated that the multi national financial institutions should explore the idea of debt relief.
Our late President Dr Cheddi Jagan was indeed a dynamic internationalist with a flair for diplomacy. Guyana is now in the spotlight of the international arena for Cheddi’s ideology. He said in his book: "The PPP/ civic looks forward to fruitful dialogue; through which we hope one can attain our common objective of sustainable economic growth and the eradication of poverty. We have a rich experience in and out of Government. In the 1957 to 1964 period the PPP government has made great strides in socio-economic development".
In his famous book" The West On Trial "Cheddi said, "I regarded my victory at the 1947 general elections as the people’s victory". In a brief post ballot count speech I said, "we the people have won now the struggle will begin". In response to the Enmore Martyrs tragedy he wrote "there was to be no turning back there and then I made a silent pledge - I would dedicate my entire life to the cause of the struggle of the Guyanese people against bondage and exploitation".
This is the Cheddi who fought throughout his life to promote Guyana and Guyanese. He did so efficiently as President in 1992, but it didn’t stop there, he draped himself with the garment of the internationalist where he continuously advocated the cause of the Guyanese people.
Today, as a young individual I am proud to say that Dr Jagan’s international policies are being realised. His vision for a new Global Human order is turning into a reality for national and Global Governance. As young people we should carry on the torch and legacy left by Dr Jagan in a bid to ensure that internationalism continues to put Guyana into a spotlight that will bring multiple benefits for Guyana and the future generations.
Guyanese can stand tall anywhere in the world because of Dr Jagan’s victories
by Mohamed Sattaur
Dear Editor,
I refer to Dr Joey Jagan’s letter of July 14, 2008 in SN captioned, ‘Where is Dr Jagan’s legacy?’ In the words of Dr James Rose, Dr Jagan’s “life was a compelling struggle, first as a child; then as a student; as a nationalist and finally as the esteemed elder statesman.”
As a result of his struggles he made us the most politically conscious nation in the Caribbean and he won such a preponderance of victories that, today, Guyanese can stand tall anywhere in the world. That is Dr Jagan’s legacy.
Cheddi Jagan was a brilliant young professional married to a beautiful American woman. He could easily have stayed in Chicago but he decided to return to Guyana with his wife. He would encourage a number of us to return to serve our country throughout his life. So you see Joey, remigration is also a Jagan legacy.
Even then he could have lived a life of luxury in Georgetown but he dedicated, “his entire life to the cause of the struggle of the Guyanese people against bondage and exploitation.” He lived a life of near poverty, paid for the education of others and raised the standard of living of almost all of the workers of Guyana. The ability to work for positive changes is a Jagan legacy.
In the course of his work, he touched the lives of many people and made their lives easier. He gave them hope, inspiration and the courage to struggle.
Those who know can explain to Joey where the legacy is, if only he would take time to talk to the people, a practice which in itself is a Jagan legacy.
I can try to give him the benefit of my personal experience. When I was very small my mother took me to a Catholic school which required her to agree to change my religion and my name to ensure admittance for my primary education. No child in Guyana is faced with that situation today. That is Jagan’s legacy.
Once again when I was barely able to understand what was happening I sat in the mud and watched my parents participate in a self-help housing scheme which became our home way into my teenage years. That housing scheme was started by Janet Jagan as Minister of Housing in Jagan’s government. My father was able to survive in the darkest of times knowing that his family would have a roof over their heads. That is Jagan’s legacy.
My father would ride his Honda motorcycle from Essequibo to Crabwood Creek as a field worker for the RPA. He was involved in the establishment of the MMA water management scheme which brought thousands of acres of farmland under cultivation for poor farmers. These workers were able to feed their families and send them to school to qualify as professionals. The agricultural sector is still the largest poverty alleviation project conceived and implemented by a leader in this country. That is Jagan’s legacy.
I recall being invited by the Guyana Bridge Assoc-iation to a dinner where Dr Jagan was the guest of honour.
I was seated to his left and a woman was seated facing me on his right. To my utter astonishment the lady proceeded to say,“Cheddi, look how you old. Just now you going to dead and gone and you have not even named a successor.” Dr Jagan made a visible effort to compose himself and when he spoke it was in a quiet but firm tone which reflected his unique ability to think through the issue rapidly and fashion an honest response. What he said will remain imprinted on my mind.
He said with a trace of sadness in his voice, “I do not believe in dynasties and I do not have to name a successor. What I will leave behind is a party structure which is strong. Out of the ranks of the party a leader will emerge and life will go on.” Those who emerged and will continue to emerge are Jagan’s legacies.
When a student graduates from the University of Guyana, whenever a child is treated by a doctor who could not have become a doctor had it not been for a Jagan scholarship, that is Jagan’s legacy. When the New Global Human Order is discussed at the UN, that is Jagan’s legacy. When a Guyanese woman votes that is a Jagan legacy.
When men who are not proprietors or landlords or people between the ages of 18-21 years vote that is a Jagan legacy. When a party group is formed, when the group meets and gets involved in community activities and when the PPP/C wins an election that is a Jagan legacy.
I could go on, but the legacy of Jagan is out there for all of us to see. It resides in our ability to stand tall and be counted as Guyanese, equal to all and fully liberated in the land of our birth. We have never been freer, as a people.
We must, however, remember not to become complacent and give in to the negative elements as according to Dr Jagan the struggle goes on each and every day.
I close with a quotation by Dr Jagan. He said, “I first wanted to be a doctor. Didn’t want to be merely a specialist and craftsman and cure individual aches and ills. I wanted to cure the ills of society. I want to know that I have served humanity as a human being.
All of us want recognition – I am not interested in recognition conferred on the basis of my bankroll. When I would have passed away, I would like it recorded that Jagan did his bit in the service of humanity.” We can all say that he did more than a bit and as long as the Cheddi Jagan Research Centre exists, we will continue to say loudly, clearly and for all who are willing to listen, Dr Jagan’s legacy is alive and well.
Yours faithfully,
Mohamed Sattaur
