Tributes to Cheddi Jagan
Cheddi Jagan’s Legacy by Peter Jailall
If Cheddi Jagan were alive today
He would phone Bush and Blair
Telling them to stop their bombing flairHe would push for Human Global Order
In the midst of Human Global TerrorHe would confront the local terrorist
To drop their weapons and desistHe would walk fearlessly into Buxton
Urging them to stop the rucktionHe would smother any slo-mo flare
Before it raged into a roaring scareHe would run the drug dealers out
The cleanest leader with lots of cloutCheddi’s teachings reside in all of us
His example, his peaceful legacy
Will live on forever in posterity(Written for, in memory of Cheddi Jagan. Read March 23, 2003)
© Peter Jailall 2003
- CHEDDI LIVES IN YOU AND ME by Navin Chanderpal
March twenty two ... A Special date
That one and all must celebrate
For in the year One Nine One Eight
Cheddi entered our earthly gate.His total life HE bravely spent
For HIS people's betterment
We all are rich for what HE's done
Guyana's proud of its greatest Son.HE lit the torch of liberty
HE led the fight to set us free
The little child from Plantation
Emerged Father of great Nation.HE taught us how to persevere
To fight bravely and not to fear
To stay on course and not to bend
To stick right out until the end.HE taught us also not to sway
Maintain the cause... come what may
Stand up for what is fair and just
To grind oppression into dust.In HIS last years as President
HE led a mighty government
Rebuilding the economy
For better life for you and me.Now cruel fate has moved the Boss
It is for us a monstrous loss
With HIS unique and special touch
HE would have done much more for us.But while we grieve we must take heart
HE's given us a splendid start
"Don't worry" in parting HE did write
"Everything will be alright".We all must strive to make it so
As gratitude to HIM we show
HE's shown the way so let's go on
Working like our Leader Jagan.HE touched our lives in a special way
So as a gift on HIS birthday
Let's raise our voice and shout loudly
OUR CHEDDI LIVES IN YOU AND ME.© Navin Chanderpal 2002
He has revealed himself to us,
as our mediator between poverty and success.
He has walked and he has talked with us,
as our heroic and nationalistic comforter.
He is magnificent and he is efficient,
He speaks with inspired words from his heart,
and not of his lips, which his tongue cannot express.
With humility and simplicity, he embraces us,
he consolidates us, in his loving and tender arms.
Around our shoulders, he hugs us very close to his heart,
as if from Holland, he does not want for us to part.
He has displayed such gesture, with human’s moral love,
for us to heed, as flocks of sheep, with unity and dignity.
His name is meaningful, before I was born,
Before I was born,
he was interceding for my freedom
In a country of despair, he was chosen to be there.
The world has looked on him, with transparent sight,
but oh!, he did not gaved up his fight.
He was disowned and he was forsaken,
when he was thrown away into prison.
Was that had any reason ?.
From the society, he was locked away alone.
In a country of confusion and corruption,
with not so much of a population,
with manipulation and exploitation,
he had to displayed his positive motion.
To free us from the colonialists,
and to terminates all imperialists.As his voices echoes in the atmosphere,
he cried to his people, "be not deceive or despair".
"There is hope, for this garbage city,
as you will see, will again become your garden city."
"Guyana, is your land of origin and dream,
I assure you, will not sail down the stream.
Your capital city, which is Georgetown,
will not be like Jones-town,
It is and will remains your hope-town".
Since he had created his People Progressive Party,
he fought bitterly, for a free colony,
Then after, for democracy in our poor country.
From a regime of illiteracy and stupidity,
he had to re-constitute efficiency.
On this very day, I am so happy to say,
of his revelation, with streams of freedom,
towards progress and prosperity.
He has already regained democracy in our country,
where he has entailed us of our sovereignty.
He will continue to be our Excellency,
In one destiny of solitude to harmony.
With unity, we have to rebuild our economy,
to eliminate and to alleviate poverty.Dr. Cheddi Berret Jagan "Ge",
© Rev. Surujlall Motilall 2002
was our one great leader,
he was not only our redeemer,
But he was our MAHATMA, for ever and for ever
Amen.
Where is the pen
his hand guided
to assert confidently:
"History and time
are on our side"?
Where is the microphone
his voice flowed through
strong and clear
to appeal passionately:
"Unite and struggle"?
He trained his pen to talk straight
in newspapers pamphlets journals books.
His microphone a mighty tool
to organize against oppression
define democracy.
Nearing the last heartbeat
his faithful pen assured us:
"Don't worry
everything will be alright."
Now, every day
his voice still resonates
in our ears. His writings a compass
from which we take
our bearings.)
© Hemraj Muniram 2002