Articles by Janet Jagan
Saki the monkey, wanted to get to the other side of the river. He climbed up one of the trees which was closest to the river, hoping that its branches would meet trees on the other side of the river, but they were too far apart.
Saki went to the edge of the river and looked longingly at the other side. While he was sitting there, he saw Boris the alligator floating by.
Boris said; “Hop on my back and I'll give you a ride across the river, if that is where you want to go.”
Saki, staying carefully some distance from Boris, said, “Look Boris, let's be frank. I want to get to the other side of the river. You are willing to take me.
But how can I be sure that I'll reach the other side? Maybe you'll eat me before we get there.”
“I see your point, Saki I don't mind making a satisfactory arrangement with you. Why don't you give me something nice to eat in return for the trip and then you don't have to worry about my eating you.”
Saki went out and caught two big rats and brought them to Boris, who ate them up and called out; “You can hop on my back now,” which Saki did. And soon he was being ferried across the river.
In the jungle, everyone knows what everyone else is doing. Soon many of the small animals had heard about Boris taking Saki safely across the river and went to Boris, asking how much he would charge for the trip. Lily Labba asked the price of a return trip. The most popular price was two fish, three for a round trip.
Very soon, Boris had a brisk business going. He was earning as much as twelve fish a day, which made life easy. He didn't have to dive and search for fish anymore, just swim across the river when a passenger came along.
Very soon, other alligators saw what was going on and offered their
services. Boris was not very happy about the competition, but he soon learned to be smarter than the other alligators. He was there earlier than the others and offered reduced prices for the trip.That is how the animal ferry service began across the river. It not only offered a much-needed service, but it kept the alligators so busy, they no longer troubled the little animals of the jungle.
© Nadira Jagan-Brancier 2009
PPP/Civic kept it's promise to the Guyana's Children
by Janet Jagan"'Children First' is the motto of the PPP/Civic government. In all our decisions and actions, the PPP/Civic takes the position that the welfare and future of Guyana's children is foremost in all considerations. That is so because of the realisation that without healthy, well-educated and happy children, the nation cannot enter the 21st century with hope that we will progress and have real development."
When we examine the meaning of "children first" and the PPP/Civic's strong and real commitment to this motto, we can understand better why it is that the PPP/Civic stands high in its determination to wipe out all racial and religious divisions in our society. When we concentrate on the betterment of the nation's children, it is clear and certain that there is no favouritism or discrimination, because children are children of all races, religion, of both genders and from all walks of life. There may be two sets of children who require special attention; these are special children with particular difficulties, with disabilities, both physical and mental, and those children whose parents are suffering from poverty.
Thus the very concept of "children first" eliminates any prejudices, any form of discrimination, any form of favouritism or any religious or racial bias.
The PPP/Civic government can be proud of what it is doing to better the lives of Guyana's children. The greatest emphasis has been placed on education and health.
A special and very successful programme of vaccination has been carried our throughout the length and breadth of Guyana to ensure that children are protected from some very dangerous childhood diseases. Guyana has one of the best records of vaccination in this hemisphere and stands high in the international bodies that monitor this vaccination programme.
Guyana has been able to reduce by half the infant mortality rate (the number of infants per 100 births who die) since coming into office. It has reduced the death rate of pregnant women at the time of birth. It has reduced the rate of malnutrition and has provided health care for children in the urban and coastal areas of Guyana and riverain and interior areas, which were formerly grossly neglected by the previous regime.
In the sphere of education, the PPP/Civic government has tackled with vigour the serious task of restoring our educational system that once stood solid. It has rebuilt the dilapidated school buildings, so shockingly ignored by the Burnham-Hoyte regime which helped wreck our educational system during its disastrous 28 years in office.
The opponents of this government say that the state of school buildings is not of much significance in establishing a high educational level, but this is not true. Children have greater difficulties learning under poor physical conditions. Soon to reach the 200 mark, schools have been renewed and new schools built.
The other aspects of upgrading our education system, which, before the PNC took over rated the highest in the Caribbean, are the stepping-up training of teachers, so necessary for good education, the equipping of schools to enhance studies, particularly in sciences, the introduction of new school books, specially designed for Guyana, the introduction of a school feeding programme for those who are in need, and as well, the provision of free school uniforms to those whose parents cannot afford. The school curriculum, distance education (broadcast to schools) and other aspects of improving education have not been ignored.
Greater attention has been given to our children living in the interior, mainly Amerindians. President's College has enrolled a substantial number of Amerindian children who are housed at its dormitories while similar dormitory provision is made available at some interior locations.
The results of all these changes and improvements are now being seen with higher attendance at school (95%), better results at examinations and other qualitative results which indicate that the emphasis on good education is now paying off.
It is also rewarding to know that the Ministry of Education is seeking to meet expectations brought about by the rapid growth of technology. In schools, there is a gradual introduction of computers so that our children can keep up with the growing technology of this period.
Yes, our children come first and will always receive the highest consideration and attention from the PPP/Civic.
© Nadira Jagan-Brancier 2009© Nadira Jagan-Brancier 2009
The Legend of The Enmore Martyrs
(Taken from "Children's Stories of Guyana's Freedom Struggles" by Janet Jagan)
Once, many years ago, in the sugar estate of Enmore on the East Coast of Demerara all the workers were on strike. They wanted more money so they could give their children better food, send them to school and buy them clothing. Also, they wanted their children to live in better conditions, and not in the old, broken-down logies. They wanted good water for their children to drink and decent places for them to play. The mothers and fathers who were on strike worked very hard in the sun and they wanted to be paid enough so that their children could lead a better life. All their thoughts were on their children and their future.
They had been on strike for many months, and in each sugar estate on the East Coast, they cooked their food together and served everyone equally. The children collected wood on the foreshore for the big cooking pots and helped their fathers or big brothers catch shrimps and fish for the "soup kitchen", as they called it.
On the historical day, June 16, 1948, the men of Enmore began to picket the factory, calling for the estate bosses to listen to their demands for more pay. Then the police with guns came to the factory compound. The people of Enmore heard the shots being fired. When they ran to the factory compound, they saw their brothers and fathers on the ground beeeding. Many had been shot. Four were dead and another was dying. All the workers came out to help care the victims of the horrible shooting. Many were taken to hospital, where one later died of the gunshot wound.
The five sugar workers, later known as the Five Enmore Martyrs, were buried with the honours they deserved. Thousands of Guyanese carried their poor shot-up bodies from Enmore to Georgetown in the largest funeral procession in the country's history. The whole country protested the shooting.
And every year since then, without exception, sugar workers have gone to their tombs with flowers, remembering the sacrifice they made for all working people.
Remember their names well - Rambarran, Surujballi, Harry Jug, Pooran and Lala Bagee. They are our heroes, who died to help others.
It was at their graveside that the Father of Guyana's Independence, Cheddi Jagan, made a pledge that has guided him during his entire life. He said he would dedicate his life to the cause of the struggle of the Guyanese people against bondage and exploitation.
© Nadira Jagan-Brancier 2009
The Birth of the PPP 50 years ago
by Janet Jagan
January 1, 1950 was the birth of the People's Progressive Party. Thus, on January 1, 2000, the PPP celebrates its 50th anniversary.This was the day of the transfer from the Political Affairs Committee, (PAC) born in 1946 with the aim of forming a political party, to the PPP. The PAC Bulletin, published monthly from 1946 then became Thunder, official organ of the new party.
During 1949, talks began within the PAC and friends/members of the PAC to achieve its goal of forming a political party whose objectives would be the attainment of independence for the Colony of British Guiana and establishment of socialist ideals as the path of liberation from imperialism and colonial rule.
There gathered, during the months of 1949, a number of persons who formulated the policy, structure and forms for the new party. These included Cheddi Jagan, Janet Jagan, Sydney King (now Eusi Kwayana), Ram Karran, Martin Carter, Ashton Chase, Rudy Luck, Ivo Cendrecourt, F. O. Van Sertima, Fred Bowman, Pandit S. Misir, and later, Forbes Burnham.
Dr. Cheddi Jagan, speaking on the Party’s 25th anniversary stated the principles and aims of the PPP - " The PPP was born in struggle and rooted in the working class. The bullets which snuffed out the lives of the Enmore Martyrs acted as a catalyst agent. And the betrayal of the workers by the opportunists and band waggoners of the Labour Party set the seal for the birth of the PPP in 1950.. We fought for freedom, democracy, human rights and socialism. We strove untiringly of national independence. At the very beginning we declared that our people would never be able to exercise their humanity unless our country was free from colonial rule and foreign domination.. But ours was not just a struggle in abstraction. We combined the long term with the immediate. If we were to realise our goals of independence and socialism, we must have democracy," he declared.
He also said, 25 years ago, and so true today – "It is time to say that in Guyana today there is no important facet of life which the PPP did not pioneer : education, health, banking, etc."
When the PPP was being organised and formulated in 1949, the Party’s name was chosen, the name of the official organ of the Party, Thunder, was selected from a famous poem by the English poet William Morris – "Hark, the rolling of the Thunder." The colour of the Party flag were agreed upon - black, red and gold – black for the difficult period of hardships and pain; red for struggle against tyranny and injustice and gold for the new day following the struggles. The Party’s song, written by Sydney King was chosen and the Party’s symbol, two hands breaking the chains of colonialism and imperialism was agreed to.
After Mr. Burnham’s return to Guiana from studies in England, he joined the group formulating a new party in the latter part of 1949. Due to the existing ethnic division and tension, it was agreed that the Party would have two leaders, from each of the two major ethnic groups. Thus it was that Forbes Burnham was chosen to be the Chairman of the PPP and Cheddi Jagan the Leader. This decision was given the official stamp when the first Congress was held in 1951.
Shortly after the formation of the PPP on January 1, 1950 the Party printed its aims and programme in the April 1950 edition of the Thunder. In essence it stated:
"After scores of years of British rule and misrule, of trials and errors, of Constitutional experimentation British Guiana is in great peril. Our people continue to exist on the borderline of starvation. …there has been no organised group speaking with the voice of Guianese of all races and classes championing the cause of the oppressed and exploited and presenting a constructive policy and programme as a hope to guide us out of our present abyss of poverty, despair and frustration…The Party pledges itself to the task of winning a free and independent Guiana.
The statement also declared:
"The Party will strive for the unity of workers, farmers, progressive businessmen, professionals, civil servants and the cooperation of all social groups."© Nadira Jagan-Brancier 2009
