Diplomats, MPs pay tribute to Mrs. Jagan
Georgetown, GINA, March 30, 2009
Several members of the Diplomatic Community, Members of Parliament and other prominent figures in society turned out to pay tribute following the death of former president Janet Jagan, O.E.
Books of Condolence were opened at the National Cultural Centre, Freedom House, Parliament Buildings and the Cheddi Jagan Research Centre (Red House) between 9:00 and 20:00 h.
Thousands have already signed the Condolence books since they were opened on Saturday.
The Government Information Agency (GINA) caught up with some of the diplomats who shared their sentiments about the former first lady and first female President of Guyana.
Caricom Secretary General Dr. Edwin Carrington and US Ambassador to Guyana John Melvin Jones signing the Book of Condolence.
Former European Union (EU) Ambassador to Guyana John Caloghivon who served as Ambassador under the leadership of President Dr. Cheddi Jagan and later Mrs. Janet Jagan during the period 1995 to 1999 also signed the book of condolence.
He considers both past leaders fantastic people who dedicated their lives to what they believed in to develop the lives of the people and the country. He also recalled some wonderful memories of that period working under the two leaders.
Secretary General of the Caribbean Community Dr. Edwin Carrington considers the former first lady a personal friend and her death a great loss to Guyana. After signing the condolence book he said she was a great nation builder and called on all to take an example from her courage and longstanding efforts to build the nation.
Canadian High Commissioner to Guyana Charles Court signing the Book of Condolence for former President Janet Jagan O.E.
Being a native of the United States of America (USA), Ambassador of the US to Guyana John Melvin Jones said that her death is also a loss to the USA.
“We are proud that she also was an American and this is an indication of the outpouring of sympathy that our nation has for her. She’s very impressive, dedicated and certainly going about her business to better the lives of those who are less fortunate,” Ambassador Jones said.
Canadian High Commissioner Charles Court also shared some of his personal experiences with Ms. Jagan, describing her as a unique person. He used the occasion to extend condolences to her family and the country.
PNCR Member of Parliament Clarissa Reihl signing the Book of Condolence for former President Janet Jagan O.E.
The Cuban government is also saddened by her passing according to the Ambassador Pedro Arteaga Cardenas who said that it is a sad moment to bid farewell to a magnificent individual.
Also signing the book of condolence were Indian High Commissioner to Guyana, Subit Kumar Mandal, Mexican Ambassador to Guyana Fernando Sandoval, Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) Representative to Guyana Ignatius Jean, People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) Member of Parliament Clarissa Riehl, and Region Two Member of Parliament Parmanand Persaud.
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Road Safety Mascot winner presented with computer and trophy
Georgetown, GINA, March 30, 2009
Young Bradley Chandra was the recipient of a flat screen desktop computer and a trophy for winning the National Road Safety Council’s (NRSC’s) competition at a presentation ceremony at the Red Cross, Kingston.
Presenting the computer to the winner was Sarah Wheeler, Programmes Officer of the British High Commission. She described him as being an advocate for road safety and congratulated the youngster for this role.
Representing the Guyana Police Force was Assistant Superintendent Linden Isles who presented the lad with the trophy.
Assistant Superintendent Linden Isles presenting the trophy to Bradley Chandra
This mascot competition served to resuscitate efforts to make children and the public aware of issues relating to road safety and was open to persons between the ages of 6 and 19 years.
Bradley Chandra’s design named ‘Cautious Colin’ bears a top hat which says STOP. The reverse of the hat reads ‘Slow Down’. Coordinator Ramona Doorgen said that because speeding kills it was important to bring out this aspect on the Mascot.
The mascot also bears a caution sign which is a key message that the council is pushing. The usage of colour was also very important while selecting a winner for the competition, Doorgen said while describing the varying elements of the mascot.
The mascot’s hat and socks are black and white; significant to a pedestrian crossing. The mascot is suited in a school patrol jacket with traffic lights very visible on its front.
Bradley said that he was elated at winning the competition and that he completed his drawing in one evening.
Programmes Officer of the British High Commission Sarah Wheeler presenting the computer to Bradley Chandra while his mascot ‘Cautious Colin’ stands at his right.
This competition was held in conjunction with the Ministries of Education, Home Affairs and the Guyana Police Force in an effort to raise public awareness about road safety issues; improve communication, cooperation and collaboration among road safety agencies; improve national road safety data collection and quality and promote enforcement measures.
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Mc Dougal failed to make use of documents provided in compilation of report- ERC
Georgetown, GINA, March 30, 2009
The Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) in a release today said that it is in receipt of the complete report by UN Independent expert on Minority Issues, Gay Mc Dougal as well as the response from Guyana Government to the report.
The report was touted as controversial by Government as it did not present an accurate representation on the issues investigated and gave the impression that Guyanese lived in an apartheid-like situation. Government has since refuted claims made by McDougal in the report which she presented to the Human Rights Council in Geneva.
The report is currently being studied by the Commission after which it will make its pronouncement on the document. McDougal had a four-day visit to Guyana to gather data for her report.
The release said that the ERC wholeheartedly welcomed Mc Dougal. However, it acknowledged that in the run up to Mc Dougal’s visit, they were not consulted or programmed to meet with her.
It was after her arrival, that the Commission’s Chairman Bishop Juan Edghill submitted 11 reports to her, among which, were five studies conducted by independent consultants in the areas of employment practices, land distribution, tendering and procurement, economic opportunities and academic scholarships, the release stated.
The ERC noted that preliminary reading of the report revealed that the human rights expert did not make use of any of the documents that were tendered to her by the Commission, or any of the issues raised at the meeting between herself and the ERC.
The Commission is encouraging Guyanese not to be distracted by negative issues but to focus on those that can contribute to propelling the development of the country and its people.
Meanwhile, Head of the Presidential Secretariat and Cabinet Secretary Dr Roger Luncheon, on March 23 at his Cabinet press briefing advised that Government has submitted an official protest to the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council in response to the report.
Dr. Luncheon noted that the “draft report was critiqued by the Government … with little effect on her (Mc Dougall’s) final submission to the (UN) Human Rights Committee,” and answered aspects of the report that consisted of the “most unsubstantiated of claims and allegations, to the detriment and rejection of her mandate to be objective.
The Head of the Presidential Secretariat explained that Mc Dougall’s engagements were independently organized by the Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA) which he described as an “anti Government, so called independent Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO).”
He explained that during McDougal’s visit, she failed to consult with Amerindian communities and other minorities.
The ERC said that based on its mandate under article 212D of the Constitution of Guyana, it will continue to promote and encourage the acceptance and respect by all segments of the society, of the social identity and cultural inheritance of all ethnic groups.
In so doing, the Commission will identify and analyse factors inhibiting the attainment of harmonious relations between ethnic groups, particularly barriers to the participation of any ethnic group in social, economic, commercial, financial, cultural and political endeavours, the release stated.
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Late President Janet Jagan remembered
Georgetown, GINA, March 30, 2009
As preparations continue for the State funeral of Guyana’s first female President, Janet Jagan, members of Parliament turned up at the Parliament Buildings, Georgetown, to sign the book of condolence and reminisce on her life and work.
Minister of Transport and Hydraulics Robeson Benn said the memories of the late President Janet Jagan are poignant, having being born to parents who were part of the early struggles for independence with she and her husband Dr Cheddi Jagan. He said that even in the most difficult days in Guyana she never gave up on Guyana or Guyanese even when the party was cheated out of electoral victory.
He recalled her organizing ability and her engagement with ordinary Guyanese in the early struggle for independence, when the majority of Guyanese lived and worked under very poor conditions similar to that of apartheid.
Minister Benn attributed the work of Janet and Cheddi Jagan and other members of the Political Affairs Committee (PAC) who, in those days “both literally and figuratively started the rendering asunder of that society.”
He said that the sacrifice that she made for Guyana will become more apparent as a proper study and history of Guyana is recorded. He highlighted her contribution to women and children, health and housing in Guyana.
Labour Minister and Leader of The United Force, Manzoor Nadir said that Janet Jagan was a long serving member of the political landscape and Government of Guyana. His association with her, he said, was both in opposition and as a Government Minister.
Recalling her ‘generosity of spirit’ he said that after the bitterly fought 1997 election when she was called all sorts of names by opposition parties, during the campaign, including his, she still remained pleasant to everyone. He recalled that in the height of the controversy of that election she took time to call him on New Year’s Eve as an opposition party leader to wish him all the best.
In recalling her reaction to him being appointed a Minister in the PPP/C Government, he said that after congratulating him, she told him that when she was informed about him being asked to join the Government, she said, ‘Why not? It is the young people of this country that have to carry it forward; they have to build on the foundation laid in the past by us older folks’.
He recalled as a Minister receiving notes from her, encouraging him in particular aspects of the Ministry’s activities. The penultimate note to him requested that the Amended Trade Union recognition Bill be passed before her death.
He said that she should be remembered as someone who married into the country and took on the struggles and sacrifice to make it better.
Kwame Gilbert Member of Parliament described the former president as a true ‘Guyanese’ woman who has been an inspiration to many people and a champion among women.
He said that considering the fact that she was not a native Guyanese she carved a path that all Guyanese women could take strength from knowing that there is a path carved out by a great Guyanese woman.
Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh said that the history of the struggle for independence will record the important role that the former president.
He said that this marked the passing of a great Guyanese who has contributed to the development of Guyana over several decades in a very meaningful way.
Dr Singh said that as the nation mourns it would be an opportune time to learn from the principles that she stood for and recommit to the development of Guyana. He said that it is important that her contribution to the development of Guyana be recorded so that the younger generation could learn from the past.
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Large official Surinamese delegation for former President’s funeral
Georgetown, GINA, March 30, 2009
A delegation from neighbouring Suriname has arrived in Guyana to attend the State funeral of the late former President Janet Jagan to be held tomorrow at Parliament Buildings.
The delegation includes the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Justice and Police, the deputy speaker of the National Assembly, parliamentarians and the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
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Condolences continue to pour in
- as Guyana mourns
Georgetown, GINA, March 30, 2009
As the nation continues to mourn the late former President Mrs. Janet Jagan, more condolences keep on pouring in as persons both locally and internationally share the grief of Guyanese.
Mrs. Janet Jagan died on March 28, 2009 died at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation after a brief illness.
Government of Antigua and Barbuda
The Government of Antigua and Barbuda said that it was saddened at the passing of the former president who it said was a monumental figure of her time and an inspiration for the people of Guyana and the Caribbean region, within government and politics.
Her commitment to the full emancipation of women in Latin America and the Caribbean, including equal education, equal housing opportunities, equal pay for equal work and free maternity leave will long be remembered.
The message signed by Prime Minister Mr Baldwin Spencer said she will be remembered for the sterling service she gave to her country as Guyana’s President during 1997 – 1999 and her work along with her husband, former President Dr. Cheddi Jagan in the founding of the PPP which lead to Guyana attaining political independence from Britain. It added that she leaves a model of service which needs to be emulated by aspiring leaders.
Mexican Embassy
The Mexican embassy expressed deepest condolences and profound sympathy over the passing of Mrs Jagan whom it said was a relevant personality in the modern history of the country.
The embassy took the opportunity to renew to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Trade and International Cooperation of the Republic of Guyana the assurances of its highest consideration.
British High Commission
Acting British Commissioner, Simon Bond in a message to President Bharrat Jagdeo stated that, “I was very saddened to hear the news of the death of former President Mrs. Janet Jagan. I wish to take this opportunity to extend my sincerest condolences to Mrs. Jagan’s family, to you, the Government and people of Guyana.”
Mrs. Jagan’s tireless and lifelong service and commitment to the people, politics and Government of Guyana is well known, Mr. Bond said and added that, “her contribution to Guyana’s social and economic development was enormous. She will be greatly missed in Guyana, the region and beyond.”
Guyana Press Association
The association described Mrs. Jagan as an “indomitable fighter for press freedom” and one of the longest-serving journalists in the country.
GPA noted that as the Editor of the Mirror newspaper, Mrs. Jagan lived through those terrible years of state-repression of the privately-owned media, characterized by restrictions on the importation of news-print and the acquisition of a modern printing press.
Mrs. Jagan often offered critical analyses and insights on media issues some of which were met with broad agreement, but were nevertheless valuable perspectives in ongoing discourses and debates, the association said.
GPA noted that she will long be remembered for her indefatigable work in the preservation of Guyana’s oral, written, and cultural history; a significant part of which was inextricably linked to her party’s role in the fight for Guyana’s independence, adult suffrage and women’s rights.
It noted that as an overwhelming majority of media workers are women, the passing of Mrs. Jagan offers the women of the media an opportunity to pause and reflect on the role that she played in fighting across the political divide for equality of opportunity and the best available treatment of women.
Castellani House
The members of the management committee of the National Gallery, Castellani House expressed profound sadness over the passing of Mrs Jagan who was the Chairperson of their Committee.
Mrs. Jagan exercised great knowledge and love of the arts with her characteristic modesty, determination and zeal, preferring to play a limited role at public gallery events.
The Committee said she instigated Castellani’s House popular Evenings of Literature as well as its Classic Tuesday film evenings. Mrs. Jagan was also interested in art by and for children.
Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU)
GAWU described the late former President as a political icon, matriarch and patriot for her country and recalled Mrs. Jagan’s heroic struggles on behalf of the working class for their industrial and labour rights.
The Union noted that Mrs. Jagan toiled alongside father of Guyanese trade unionism, Hubert Nathaniel Critchlow and was involved in the tireless struggle for sugar workers.
GAWU stated that Mrs. Jagan saw no distinction amongst the working class representatives and under her watch as Minister of Labour saw the first of May become Labour Day.
The Union said she acted as legislator and her love for children is legendary.
Professor David Dabydeen
In his tribute to the late former president, Professor Dabydeen said he met her in November 1992, and she wanted to talk, not about politics, but literature and arts generally and she became a friend and like a mother to him.
Professor Dabydeen said she expressed her admiration for Chekhov and believed the English novel superior to American fiction.
She was engaged with writers of the ilk of Wilson Harris, V.S.Naipaul, Jan Carew, Derek Walcott, Martin Carter and others from the 1940s.
The Professor saw it as a privilege to listen to her talking about her meetings with Edna Manley, Phyllis Alfrey and other pioneers of Caribbean creativity. He said her support of the arts was fierce, hence the efforts she made for Castellani House to become the location of Guyana’s National Art Gallery.
Dabydeen said she believed that the reconstruction of Guyana was bound up not only with political reform but with a literary, artistic and intellectual renaissance.
He expressed his gratitude for the insights she gave him in the unfolding of West Indian literature in the 1940s and the inspiration she provided for his own writing.
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‘One stop shop’ outreach housing programme attracts hundreds
-similar exercise to be conducted in other regions
Georgetown, GINA, March 30, 2009
Hundreds of Region Three residents today turned out at the Uitvlugt Community Centre, West Coast Demerara as the Ministry of Housing and Water commenced its first ‘One Stop Shop’ outreach programme to the area.
The programme addressed general housing issues being addressed including allocation and identification and payment of houselots, processing and distribution of titles and transports, and water concerns.
Minister of Housing and Water Irfaan Ali during his feature address at the opening of the programme said that despite the constraints of resources government continues to deliver goods and services to the people in the region.
“In 2009 we will be spending in excess of $1.6B in Housing and Water development…We cannot be satisfied until we serve all the people and they are happy with the services,” Minister Ali said.
He told residents that the ‘One Stop Shop’ concept is not new since it emanated from the 2006 People’s Progressive Party Civic manifesto.
From left: Permanent Secretary (acting), Ministry of Housing and Water, Deborah Montouth-Hollingsworth, CEO, CH&PA, Myrna Pitt, Minister of Housing and Water Irfaan Ali and Region Three Chairman Julius Faerber at ‘One Stop Shop’ outreach programme
“If one is to go back to the manifesto of the PPP/C 2006 general elections there is a clear promise and that promise is to bring governance closer to the people, to diversify services of the Ministry to the region and to have a more responsive mechanism and government that would respond proactively to the needs of the people. That promise was based on service orientation…What we are seeing today is not by any means an innovative concept, it is something that the Ministry started years ago but what we have done we have expanded it,” Minister Ali stated
The Minister challenged the banking sector to go beyond marketing their product and to understand the needs and requirements of low-income families who require loans to build their homes.
“The banking sector needs to understand the desires of persons seeking a loan. You cannot be stringent, you have to be flexible, your package, your product must be responsive just as the government and the Ministry is responsive to the needs of the people,” he urged.
He further encouraged the banking sector to listen to feedback and responses from people so that they can modify the products they offer.
Ministry of Housing official attending to customers at the ‘One Stop Shop’ out reach programme, Uitvlugt Community Centre, West Coast Demerara
“The best thing that could ever happened to all of us…as developers is to have the people buying in and claiming ownership of the product you offer,” he added.
Region Three Chairman, Julius Faerber said that the exercise was fruitful since many residents in the region will be able to have the opportunity to own land and their homes.
He urged residents to commence construction on their land since having access to a land title is not the conclusion of the process.
“The Ministry is giving you a grace period to commence erecting your building…if you do not, then the Ministry will be forced to repossess the land,” he urged.
Meanwhile, Chief Executive Officer, Central Housing and Planning Authority CH&PA), Myrna Pitt said that the service being brought to the Region is a continuous improvement which the CH&PA embraces as it seeks to improve on the quality of its performance.
“We believe in the user-based definition of quality, and embrace the quality principle of being customer-focused, as we seek in this tangible way to become more user friendly,” Ms. Pitt said.
She said the establishment of housing schemes is a complex undertaking which requires an inter-agency and interdisciplinary approach and in this regard the CHPA has adopted the Integrated and Development Planning Approach as the medium through which all future housing schemes will be planned.
A section of the gathering
“We are also in the process of operationalising an Inter-Agency Coordinating Committee which will enable us to plan and implement sustainable housing development projects and by extension, sustainable communities,” she added.
The programme also incorporated presentations by representatives of the private sector, Operations Director, Natasha Haniff, Dura Villa Homes Guyana Incorporated, which advertised the low-income Dura Villa greenheart houses and Senior Engineer, CH&PA Fazal Wahab who explained the procedures, building standards and requirements for persons who have been allocated their lots.
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National HIV/AIDS Workplace Policy given full support
Georgetown, GINA, March 30, 2009
Stakeholders have come out in full support of the National HIV/AIDS Workplace Policy which aims to reduce HIV/AIDS risk behaviours among employees, removing employment-related discrimination and providing support to persons to fight this disease.
The Ministry of Labour, Human Services and Social Security and the National Tripartite Committee today launched this policy with the cooperation of the private sector, labour unions, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and the United States (US) government.
The Ministry recognised that this disease posed a great threat to the viability of the Labour force and took the lead and worked to implement swift action to prevent the spread of the disease and reduce the adverse impact of social and economic development.
Minister of Labour, Manzoor Nadir said that Guyana is gearing itself for this fight in the workplace which is being funded by the Government, International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the United States Department of Labour (USDOL).
He noted that some US $3M has been spent on this fight and there are approximately 47 companies which are now involved.
In the mid 1990s, statistics show that about 1000 people were dying from the disease but this drastically changed due to government efforts.
Statistics show that in 2000, seven percent of the women who went to the anti-natal were diagnosed with HIV and that number has been reduced to 1.5 percent.
President of the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) Gillian Burton said that the union welcomes this programme and looks forward to its implementation. She noted that now workers of this country will be protected and they would be able to give effective and meaningful participation at their place of work regardless whether they are affected or not.
US Ambassador to Guyana, John Jones congratulated the country for having the foresight, and noted that while they have embarked on a “very lofty set of objectives” they can achieve the target since they have the ability.
The Ministry collaborated with its social partners, the ILO and USDOL to craft this policy.
The ILO HIV/AIDS Workplace Education and Prevention Programme commenced in October 2003 with the assistance from government, and the USDOL and the Guyana HIV/AIDS Reduction and Prevention (GHARP) Project was initiated in 2005.
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PPP holds Memorial service for late former President Janet Jagan
Georgetown GINA, March 30, 2009
The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) today held a memorial ceremony for the late former President Janet Jagan at Freedom House, Robb Street that was attended by party officials, family and friends of Mrs. Jagan, many of whom offered tributes to her as they hailed her as Guyana’s freedom fighter.
Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, said working alongside her husband Cheddi, Mrs. Jagan brought a political awakening to Guyana at a time when colour and class held great sway in people’s lives. He said they both demonstrated that they held all people worthy with equal potential.
President Bharrat Jagdeo and relatives of the late Mrs Jagan.
The Prime Minister said, the late former President broke old ideas about women’s role in Guyana and established that all women should play an equal role as men. He posited that 65 years later this is a reality thanks, to Mrs. Jagan.
Head of the Presidential Secretariat Dr. Roger Luncheon said Mrs. Jagan stood for the struggle that is so much a part of Guyana today. He said she stood strong and majestically as she joined with her comrades.
He noted that she was an avid internationalist who recognised the benefits that accrued to the working people around the world.
President Bharrat Jagdeo in discussion with Joey Jagan, son of the later former President Janet Jagan.
Mrs. Jagan’s daughter Nadira said her mother Mrs. Jagan was a warm, kind and loving person and even though she was involved in the political life she was still able to spend time with her children, taking them on family trips to the Zoo and seawall.
She said, the Cheddi Jagan Research Centre will now be dedicated to both of her parents’ work.
Aston Chase, the only surviving co-founder of the PPP described Mrs. Jagan as a devoted, dedicated and determined fighter.
A section of the gathering at the Memorial service in honour of late former President Janet Jagan at Freedom House.
Remembering the times when Mrs. Jagan allowed her house to be used as a meeting place to carry on party business, Chase said he always wondered how Mrs. Jagan and her husband found time to spend with their children. He said the Jagans left an indelible record in this country, noting that the record of the late former President is one that no one will be able to discredit or blemish.
He reminisced on her being instrumental in raising finances to keep various strikes going because unionist did not have reserves to keep workers on strike but she got contributions to ensure that they could stand up for their rights.
Chase said she also helped through the Thunder paper to tell workers in various parts of the country what their counterparts’ struggles were by publicizing their grievances. This he said, helped to gather support for the workers and eventually they succeeded in breaking the racial barriers that existed there. With her husband and others she was instrumental in getting sustenance for the workers in Enmore and other sugar estates across the country.
Another section of the gathering at the Memorial held at Freedom House.
Also giving tributes were Mrs. Jagan’s son Joey Jagan, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Dr. Frank Anthony, General Sceretary of the Women’s Progressive Organisation (WPO) Indra Chandarpal, President, Guyana Agricultural Workers’ Union (GAWU) Komal Chand and General Secretary of the Rice Producers Association Dharamkumar Seeraj,
Present at the memorial ceremony were President Bharrat Jagdeo, Government Officials, PPP members, and members of the public.
Mrs. Jagan will be given a state funeral on tommorrow, where persons will be afforded the opportunity to pay a fitting tribute to her.
The former President and First Lady succumbed on March 28 after being admitted to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC). She was 88 years.
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