Articles by Janet Jagan
We Will Carry the Torch He Lit
by Janet Jagan(Text of Janet Jagan's tribute at the State Funeral for President Jagan held at the Public Buildings on March 10, 1997)
We have all been deeply moved by the demonstrations of love, respect and genuine grief which we have seen demonstrated by so many Guyanese of all strata of our society, of all races and religious groups, and from the young and old. That in itself tells the tale of the man who today we mourn. I have known him longer than any, other than his brothers and sisters.
I can testify to the very special qualities that have made him what he has become in the hearts of all Guyanese. He was, above all a fighter, a man dedicated to win advances, not only for the people of his native land but for all humanity.
He was a man who never gave up. When the odds were high against him, in the face of almost hopeless situations, he never lost strength, never lost the will to achieve his goals.
I can testify to his goodness, to his honesty and integrity, to his lack of concern for the material things of life; to his remarkable intellect, always seeking answers, always examining all aspects of a mater, always seeking the truth.
He was constantly analysing, looking at two, three or four sides of a problem in order to arrive at the correct answer.
My greatest regret at his death, aside from the loss of my companion of over half a century, the father of my two children and the grandfather of five, is that he was not given the time to complete his plans, fulfill his dreams.
He had many dreams for Guyana, to eradicate poverty, to build a strong and independent nation, to consolidate the democracy he had struggled to restore, and above all, to unite the nation. He fervently sought unity and never succumbed to pessimism. He always knew that the battle for unity would be achieved. Today we are seeing his hopes come true.
Those who carry on despite this great loss, have worked under his leadership and know his direction. They have been his students. Those who have stood by him faithfully all these trying years struggling for the people's rights, know his wishes, his dreams his plans. All of us will carry the torch he lit so many years ago.
We say farewell to our dear comrade, our friend, our hero. Cheddi, rest in peace. Your name will live on."
© Nadira Jagan-Brancier 2009
Walking Alone?
by Janet Jagan - March 1998
I have been asked to write an article for a special edition commemorating the first death anniversary of the late President, Cheddi Jagan, to be entitled "Walking Alone". I'm really not sure that I can write such an article, because the reality is that I am not walking alone. Next to me are good comrades, first class ministers of the government I lead and many, many friends all over Guyana and the world who are backing me and all those associated with my Party, there is my family - my children and grandchildren. This moral support, which is so important, particularly in view of all the happening's of December and January, help make my tasks easier and the responsibilities I carry, not such a heavy load.
I am no believer in the mythical, the mystical or the occult, but by association for over 50 years, Cheddi is by my side and the knowledge that I am, hopefully, carrying out his policies and works, helps. When I open a dictionary to assist in writing this bit, there is his name on the inside cover of the book he used at university. His photographs are everywhere. The very house I live in was designed and built by him, and he was proud of it. The mangoes and tamarind trees in my yard were planted by him. When I see an orchid blossoming on a tree, I remember when he brought the plant from the interior on one of his many trips.
When we meet weekly in Cabinet, there is yet to be a meeting where his name is not mentioned; constant references are made to his ideas and his plans. In the Party of which we were both founder-members, it is the same. His advice, his views on a particular matter come up as frequently as a light is turned off or on.
One year after his death, I still receive letters from Guyanese here and abroad, as well as many others, recounting their talks with him, sending me photographs of him and expressing his views in documents, treaties, studies and just friendly letters.
When he died a year ago, he left behind a legacy that enriches our lives, that remind us that on this earth there walked a man of unusual moral and intellectual stature who blended his ideas with a vibrant activism, not often seen in this special combination. As in life and so in death, he has become part of our lives.
© Nadira Jagan-Brancier 2009
Hindsight and a Truth Commission
by Janet JaganSometimes hindsight seems to provide better answers or decisions than those made at the time a matter arose. This is always a difficult matter to resolve. Was the decision at the time of making, correct, or has knowledge afterwards proved that the decision was wrong?
This came to mind when looking back at all the damage and hurt to the nation which has taken place by the wrong-doings, perversity, violence and sheer unadulterated hate perpetuated through the last eleven years by the People’s National Congress.
The question I ask is: Would Guyana have been better off if, instead of being kind and forgiving, the PPP/Civic led by Cheddi Jagan in 1992 had taken a different decision?
It could have gone the way of South Africa with the setting up a truth commission and bringing before the commission all those who had killed, raped, stolen, lied and swindled, taken massive bribes and wrecked the country. The commission would have had the right to cause charges to be laid against those guilty of crimes against the State and who would have to face the courts for their crimes.
Instead, and guided by our late President Cheddi Jagan, forgiveness was the decision, forgiveness in the hopes that those guilty of dastardly crimes would never repeat them and mainly as an effort to heal the nation. I stand by Dr Jagan’s hopes of healing and reconciliation as a means of bringing unity to Guyana.
However, when one considers the behaviour of the PNC in all these years, one can only wonder if the forgiveness was merely converted into a feeling that children as well as criminals sometimes get - that it is licence to behave even worse.
That is our experience so far. The lackey media - sections of the print media and TV, have conveniently forgotten everything, even what the PPP/Civic has done to rectify the evils perpetrated by the PNC, and do their damndest to vilify the PPP and provide comfort and solidarity to the wickedness of the PNC.
Is it possible to forget the violence of the 1997 and 2001 post election period, the specifics of violence against a racial group and the projection by Mr Hoyte that he would make it impossible to govern and, as well, the glorification of Mr Hoyte by the media?
Is there anyone in Guyana or the diaspora who can forget the politics of the wave of terrible crimes following the infamous jail break? Find me one person who can say, without tongue in cheek, that the PNC was not responsible for this wave of criminal violence which also had its racial context.
And now, boldly, like the thief, who is being chased by the police, points a finger and says "He’s gone that way." The thief becomes the accuser and the lackey press becomes his defender.
In my article last week about the world furor on the issue of weapons of mass destruction being a myth for ill-usage by the US and UK, I mentioned that just as President Bush and Prime Minister Tony Blair are now accusing faulty information as the reason for going to war in Iraq, it’s quite possible that the same will happen and the faulty or false information about phantom gangs in Guyana will turn out the same. At least the CIA and M15 made reports but in Guyana, no such reports are made, only hearsay and flimsy excuses by criminals and others within and without the PNC that they won’t make reports to the police. Only a fool could accept such a stupid excuse, and yet one sees the Stabroek News holding on to its story, telling the public that now there’s someone else who knows about the so-called phantom gang but won’t go to the police.
Makes you wonder, doesn’t it?
© Nadira Jagan-Brancier 2009
Notes from Canada
by Janet JaganI am writing from the home of my daughter Nadira. Looking at her library the other day, I came across a beautifully illustrated book "India – a Wealth of Diversity" edited by Arif Ali, published in 1997. In the selection on the Indian Diaspora (Indians living in other parts of the world), attention is given to what Indians have done in various parts of the world. It focused on South Africa where Indian immigrants including Mahatma Gandhi and many others led the struggle against apartheid. The text reads - "This is equally the story of Indians everywhere in the diaspora, invariably identifying themselves with the struggles of their nations for freedom and justice."
What follows is a statement that all Guyanese should cherish and feel pride in – "However, history and circumstances singled out Guyana to produce the diaspora’s greatest son. Dr. Cheddi Jagan, the President of Guyana, who died in 1997, was a statesman of world stature, a socialist, anti-racist and anti-colonial warrior of the noblest kind."
These few words place in perspective, in the global view, the relevance of Cheddi Jagan’s life. There are those who for whatever reason, would not want to accept this evaluation. However it is foolish to reject the hero stature of Cheddi Jagan and not feel the pride of having had in our midst a person of international recognition, a man who selflessly served his country and its people.
Most truly great leaders have had to live through endless persecution, vile attacks and hatred. Witness the travails of Nehru, Gandhi, Mandela, Bolivar, Allende, Nyerere and others, who were finally revered and respected by history and their people.
I have been following the media closely while in Canada and find that there are many similarities as well as differences, to that which exists in Guyana. Some of the newspapers are carrying out what I would term strident attacks on the Prime Minister Jean Chretian, demanding his resignation. Some of the comments and attacks are downright petty and unreasonable. The differences to what we experience in Guyana in the anti-PPP/Civic campaign are a matter of quality or decency. While the Canadian anti-government attacks are frequently vicious, they are not vile, degrading and vulgar as are those we hear and read in Guyana.
So the PPP/Civic is not alone in being the pivot of media attacks. It exists in many countries and is part of what is tolerated in democracies. What many seem to forget is that it was only in 1992 when the PNC lost office in free and fair elections that the right to speak out and voice opinions without fear of reprisals began to exist again. I wonder if those who accuse the PPP/Civic of denying human rights have lost their memories.
August 2002
© Nadira Jagan-Brancier 2009