Tributes to Janet Jagan
Janet Jagan - Guyanese Woman of the Century
by Dr Leslie RamsammyAt the end of this year (2000), the Twentieth Century comes to an end. Already in many countries and the world at large, people have been debating the issues of the greatest man or woman or the greatest person for a particular country or for the world. Time Magazine has named Albert Einstein as the greatest person of the second millennium. Names such as Mahatma Gandhi, Mandella, Watson and Crick, William Gates etc. have been mentioned as candidates for the Person of the Twentieth Century. I do not wish to join this particular debate at this time although I have given much thought to the subject.
I am more intrigued at this particular time by the discussion of who is the Person of the Century for Guyana. For me, the task is quite simple - the Guyanese of the Century is Cheddi Jagan. I am certain that this unequivocal pronouncement will generate some thought and even a healthy (hopefully not an acrimonious) debate. While I do not for a transient second think that this is a debatable issue, the fact is that Guyana's politics, social and cultural reality, indeed, combine to make this a debatable choice. A survey ran by a Canadian Newspaper earlier in 2000 for the Caribbean Man of the Century chose Cheddi Jagan. An E-mail survey conducted by a Barbados newspaper also earlier in 2000 (which would effectively exclude most Guyanese and in a sense rigging the process of selection) chose Forbes Burnham as the Caribbean Man of the Century. The irony of the Barbados newspaper's preference for an E-mail survey that limits Guyanese participation (effectively rigging the process) is that it ended up choosing a man best known for rigged elections.
In considering the subject and in making a list of the men and women who might qualify for discussion, it became evident that the candidate for Guyanese Woman of the Twentieth Century is unequivocally Janet Jagan. No other candidate comes close to offering any challenge to Janet Jagan as the Guyanese Woman of the Twentieth Century. Anyone who dares to offer another choice can only do so because of sheer bias and grudge. This in no way denigrates the contributions of a large number of Guyanese women to Guyanese development. Women such as Andayie, Lynette Dolphin, Celeste Dolphin, Winifred Gaskin, Ms. Jarvis, Kowsilla, Philomena Sahoye Shurry, and many others have all made tremendous contributions and Guyana must find some worthwhile manner of recognizing the contributions of these women. Janet Jagan and many other women have paved the path for women of the present and future generations to play even greater roles in the development of the Guyanese nation.
Janet Jagan has made an impact on Guyanese life for over fifty years. She has had an impact for each of the more than fifty years that she has served the Guyanese cause. Her contributions span six of the ten decades of the Twentieth Century. In each of these six decades, Janet would have been a candidate and would have emerged as woman of the decade. In fact, her contributions qualify her for being one of the illustrious candidates for the Guyanese Person of the Century, although I have chosen her husband at the top of the list. Whiles she has made important contributions to the upliftment of Guyanese women, her contributions have served to uplift the entire nation. No woman has made such a sustained contribution in so many diverse areas for such a long time. Her contributions have not only been sustained and spanned a period that has accounted for more than half of the century, but her contributions have qualitatively impacted on the Guyanese society. She has made vital and pivotal contributions in politics, trade unionism, the women's movement, the rights of the child, journalism, the arts and health. In each of these areas, Janet Jagan has made important contributions and any analysis of developments in these areas will reveal that all had positive impacts.
Janet has played a pivotal role in the political development of Guyana. In naming all the persons who played a leading role in Guyana gaining independence, Janet ranks as one of the major player. She was an important member of the fraternity that was the architect of Guyana's fight against imperialism and colonialism. From the time she arrived in Guyana in 1943, she joined with her husband, Dr. Cheddi Jagan to agitate for independence from Great Britain. She was a founder member of the Political Affairs Committee (PAC, 1947) which was the forerunner of the People's Progressive Party, the first mass- supported, grass root political party in Guyana. Janet served expertly as the Editor of the PAC Bulletin. She was the first General Secretary of the PPP when it was formed in 1950 and served in this capacity until 1970. Fifty years after the formation of the People's Progressive Party, she is still a senior member of the Party's executive. In the early days of the struggle against colonialism, she was beaten and jailed, but her determination and commitment to the struggle never swayed. She remained indomitable throughout the struggle. When independence finally came in 1966, twenty three years after the struggle begun, Janet was still a major personality in the struggle to bring independence.
As part of the political development of Guyana, Janet contested general elections in 1947 in Central Georgetown. Although she lost, Janet had not only made an important statement for women, but for Guyana as a whole also. She had shown that the Guyanese people were willing to challenge the establishment and that restricted rights to vote will not deter Guyanese from entering elections. In fact, Janet was to become the first elected woman to the City Council in 1950 and followed this up by being elected to the National Assembly as the representative for the Essequibo constituency. As a member of the National Assembly, she became the first woman to serve as the Deputy Speaker of the House. Janet served as the Minister of Labor, Health and Housing in 1957 and as Minister of Home Affairs in 1963. It was during her tenure as the Minister of Health that the extensive network of health clinics that Guyana has today started.
When Guyana was mired in the clutches of dictatorial rule and sunk into the abyss of economic and social destruction, Janet was in the forefront in the struggle for restoration of democracy. Together with Cheddi, she tirelessly, relentlessly represented the cause of the Guyanese people in every nook and cranny of the country and internationally. During those difficult years, her resolute fighting spirit was severely tested as she served as an Opposition Member of Parliament (1973 - 1992). Janet was a leading contributor to the campaign when the opportunity for free and fair elections came in 1992 after President Jimmy Carter had helped to broker an agreement with Desmond Hoyte and the PNC. With victory and the restoration of democracy, she played important roles in the new Government. Among other roles, she served for a period as Guyana's representative at the UN. The remarkable thing is that during that time (1992 - 1996), she was ailing, but her commitment to Guyana and its development remained undaunted.
Following the death of Cheddi Jagan in February 1997, Janet became the first woman Prime Minister of Guyana (March 17, 1997) and when the PPP/CIVIC won the elections in 1997, Janet became the first woman President of Guyana. She became the second woman to serve as President in the Americas (President Chamora of Nicaragua being the first). In assuming the role of President, she became the first woman to serve as Commander-in-Chief of the Guyana Defense Force.
Her role in Trade Unionism and specifically the Enmore martyr's story is well documented. In fact, Janet's trade union activities began as soon as she arrived in Guyana for the first time. She collaborated with Labor Union hero, Hubert Nathaniel Critchlow to organize domestics. Later she was to become involved in the East Coast Demerara sugar strike that resulted in the famous Enmore Martyr's story. She played an active role in the formation of and in the struggle for recognition of the sugar Union, the Guyana Agriculture Workers Union. Janet Jagan has maintained abiding interests in workers rights and an active interest in the development of Guyana's most successful Union.
Her contribution to the development of the women's movement is as impressive as her role in the political movement. She founded the Women's Political and Economic Organization in 1946 and has been President of the Women's Progressive Organization (WPO) for decades. Throughout her career, Janet has played many important roles in representing and promoting women's issues and concerns. Certainly, being the first elected woman to the city council, the first elected President, the first Prime Minister etc. played vital roles in establishing women in the forefront of Guyana's development. In so doing, she gave impetus for women's development throughout the Caribbean region.
It is an amazing fact that Janet was able to do so many things. With all the political activities, she found time to work as a Journalist and writer. Her journalism career was initiated with her becoming the Editor of the PAC Bulletin. Later she became Editor of Thunder and of the Mirror (1973-1997). Janet served as President of the Union of Guyanese Journalists between 1970 and 1997. Between 1970 and 1992, she served at a time when freedom of speech and freedom of the press were severely restricted. As a writer, Janet has published many important booklets documenting the History of the PPP and rigged elections. She has also written several books of children's stories.
She is a champion of the arts. Today she serves as Chairperson of the Management Committee of the National Art Museum (Catellani's House). Her dedication to the promotion of Arts can readily be seen as one observes her presence at virtually every kind of book-launching, art exhibitions etc.
For all her accomplishments, Janet has been recognized both locally and internationally. She is the recipient of Guyana's highest award - the Order of Excellence (OE). She has also been recognized by the University of Guyana as a Woman of Achievement. Most importantly, Janet Jagan became the first person of the Americas to be awarded the UNESCO Gandhi Gold Medal for Peace, Democracy and Women’s Rights in 1997.
Whatever the political affiliation each one of us has, the facts are irrefutable. They might not be palatable for some of us, but the facts remain stubbornly in place. The facts say that Janet Jagan is indisputably the Guyanese Woman of the Century. In fact, her credentials are such that Janet Jagan qualifies as a candidate for Caribbean Woman of the Twentieth Century. Here, too, Janet Jagan is likely to be favourite candidate to be chosen as the Caribbean Woman of the Century. While this is an honour to be proud of, I am certain that Janet Jagan would perhaps take greater satisfaction from the fact that she has paved the way and provide the inspiration for young women today to believe that there is nothing that they cannot set their sights towards. The many young women who today graduate from high school and university whose ambition is to become President is testimony to the fact that Janet Jagan has not only contributed to the material well being of our country, but has had an impact on our attitudes and minds. It is a fitting tribute that Guyana’s Parliament has amended our constitution to ensure that there would be greater participation for Guyana’s women in our parliamentary democracy. Congratulations Janet Jagan.
Janet Jagan's legacy to Guyana
by Krishna PersaudWith characteristic selflessness, Mrs Janet Jagan has passed the torch. The diminished vigour she cited as the reason for her resignation has prompted few statesmen to relinquish power at the height of their popularity. The only other notable example of this magnanimous gesture, is of course Nelson Mandela, who like the Jagans, fought for decades to win democracy for his country.
It is inevitable that the end of the era of the Jagans would be tinged with sadness and nostalgia. The resignation of Mrs Jagan as President of Guyana has ended more than five decades of political struggle by Cheddi Jagan and Janet Jagan; their political careers having spanned the post-war colonial era, the Burnham and Hoyte dictatorships, and the period from the restoration of democracy in 1992 to her resignation on August 8, 1999. With the fullness and added perspective of time, historians will be able to measure the national, regional, and indeed, international impact of these rare and remarkable individuals. But even at present their legacy is beginning to emerge.
Such was their moral authority, that unsolicited apologies were proffered by the Americans (through Arthur Schlesinger), and by the British by way of the press, for destabilizing Dr Cheddi Jagan's democratically-elected governments. There could be no greater vindication than one's opponents freely admitting, by way of an apology, that they were forced to compromise themselves morally.
Although cheated of power for twenty-eight years, and having had to witness the inexorable degradation of their country during that time, the Jagans harboured no rancour or bitterness in or out of office. They simply bent their wills to the task of rebuilding Guyana and creating a society in which all Guyanese could pursue their freedoms as they saw fit. Simply put, in 1992, they started where they left off in 1964.
Perhaps most important of all, it should not be overlooked that the Jagans saved Guyana from a bloodbath. With the largest and best organized party in Guyana, and enjoying majority support, they did not exhort their supporters to violently overthrow the PNC regime, as lesser leaders would have done, but instead fought to democratise Guyana. And similarly, Mrs Jagan exercised considerable restraint when Mr Hoyte incited his more unruly supporters to riot in order to "make the country ungovernable", as he callously put it. The repressive machinery of the state, honed under Messrs Burnham and Hoyte, lay at her disposal, but she declined to use it. And her selfless dedication to the national interest was further demonstrated when she agreed to forego two years of her mandate in order to give the Herdmanston Accord a chance to bring about peace.
Mrs Jagan's entire life has been a class act. One notes that from an early age she was instrumental in shaping the political future of Guyana. She was a founding member of the Political Affairs Committee (1946) and the People's Progressive Party (1950). Her contribution to public life and service included being in cabinet as well as having a parliamentary career that spanned fifty years. Moreover, she was a source of courage and inspiration to a grief-stricken nation when her husband, Dr Cheddi Jagan, died; having stepped into the breech to fill the void created by his passing.
In office, her Presidency was defined by a sense of vision and wider purpose. While consolidating on the gains made by Dr Jagan in the fields of health, education, rural electrification, housing and the provision of potable water, Mrs Jagan boldly pursued a policy of continentalism, fostering ties with Brazil and Venezuela, making overtures towards members of the Mercusor and Andean Pacts, while maintaining Guyana's traditional links with the Caribbean Community.
Abstemious in her habits, she remains indefatigable in the pursuit of a better life for her people. Essentially, she is a true humanitarian. While Mother Teresa, (another great and noble soul), saw human suffering as bringing one closer to God, Janet Jagan saw suffering as a blight, on the human landscape, which should be eradicated.
Her successors, indeed, those on both sides of the political divide, will be measured by the exemplary standards she espoused and practised. Her integrity, altruism, and dedication to Guyana's working masses will be a source of inspiration forever. That she embodies all that is best and most enlightened in Guyanese life may be her most enduring legacy.
The nation is grateful comrade. And happy retirement.
© 1999 Cheddi Jagan Research Centre. All rights reserved.
