| Janet Jagan remembered…PPP’s General Secretary Donald RamotarIt was a somber atmosphere on Saturday at the People Progressive Party’s headquarters Freedom House,Martin Demichelis Manchester City Jersey UK, as members and leaders milled around still seemingly yet to consume the shock at the passing away of one of the founder members, Janet Jagan.Politicians who are normally vociferous were at a loss for words in reacting to the death of Mrs. Jagan.General Secretary of the women’s arm (Women’s Progressive Organisation) of the party, for which Mrs. Jagan was the President, Indra Chanderpaul said that she was a woman that had many sides attributed to her life.“She was a humane person,Brendan Langley Jersey, a loving person,wholesale jerseys, a good comrade, a confidante, journalist,Pascal Dupuis Adidas Jersey, a revolutionary, a disciplinarian,Mats Naslund Canadiens Jersey, a woman activist,Blank Arsenal Jersey UK, an internationalist and a consummate politician.”Chanderpaul pointed out that they shared a close working relationship from the time when she started working with the party in 1972.Former President Janet Jagan“She took me under her wings and nurtured me.”The WPO General Secretary in reflecting on Mrs. Jagan, said that as a political woman she (Jagan) has motivated women right across the country and has made several valuable contributions in various ways to the country.Chanderpaul described her as a torch bearer, being the first woman in the legislative council in 1947, first female in the world to be Deputy Speaker in the National Assembly and on the local front, she was the first female Prime Minister and subsequently President.“She was the consummate politician.”She posited that under the leadership of Mrs. Jagan, the party developed in many ways when she was General Secretary“Janet was not only a working class leader but also an internationalist.”Chanderpaul recalled that as early as 1953, Mrs. Jagan was speaking on behalf of Guyana in terms of getting independence for then British Guiana.She pointed that this act was made more important as it relates to Mrs. Jagan’s contribution to the country, given that at the time she was fighting for independence, she had only just come to the country some 10 years earlier.“She believed in this country in terms of her having faith in Guyana.”Mrs. Jagan was described as having given almost all of her adult life to Guyana and sacrificed a lot in empowering women.PPP's General Secretary Donald RamotarChanderpaul recalled also that despite being a consummate politician, Mrs. Jagan was a humane individual, since she would remember each of her comrades’ birthdays as well as anniversaries when others forgot.She added that if a poor person visited Freedom House seeking assistance, she would go into her own purse to help that person.“She lived a purposeful life. She had many challenges in her political life and they made her out to be a devil,http://www.airmaxfantasy.us.com/Puma-Heart-Patent-Puma/, whereas she was a great humanist.”The WPO General Secretary added also that when Mrs. Jagan paid visits to rural areas she connected with the ordinary men and women and she was never snobbish or scornful towards them.“They would give her water to drink or something to eat and she would take it knowing that she would get sick later but she did not want to shun the people.”What Chanderpaul believes was one of her most important contributions to the country was the fact that she encouraged so many parents to send their children, particularly the girls to school because there was a time when women were uneducated.“She felt that with an education,Tyler Naquin Indians Jersey, women can become liberated…I would say that she is irreplaceable but we feel confident in the fact that she has moulded so many people,Evgeni Malkin Adidas Jersey, specifically women…People will definitely follow in her footsteps and carry the torch.”It was pointed out too that it must not be forgotten that Mrs. Jagan was also a staunch journalist and used her pen effectively to expose many of the wrong things that were happening.“In the 1973 elections she was a member of GECOM and went on the radio station calling for the missing ballot boxes and subsequently documented the fiasco…. We will always remember what she stood for.”Party stalwart and Presidential advisor Gail Teixeira was overcome with emotion and even brought to tears when she recalled Mrs. Jagan.Teixeira, speaking to media operatives said that Guyanese women should have tremendous respect for her in that she was not a Guyanese, who came here in 1943 as a young woman and adopted this country as her own.“Guyanese from all walks of life should give this woman the respect she deserves…We need more people like her and we as women should strive to be like her…Thank you Janet for everything.”Party General Secretary Donald Ramotar recalled a kind and generous Mrs. Jagan, who was also a politician with a difference in that she did not thrive on the spotlight.He posited that she had lived a full life, which should be celebrated.According to Ramotar she gave the oppressed people hope that a better world was possible.He added that she gave women the confidence that they were not unequal and inspired the women’s movements more than anyone else to struggle for equal rights and justice.“She was a real beacon for working people…She played an important role at every juncture of Guyanese history from 1943 to now…Her greatest achievement is the PPP which stands as a living monument to her life and work.” |
