Dear Editor,
Can someone please tell me, what exactly is former President Cheddi Jagan’s legacy? OK, I agree that he was a simple man – at least he came over that way in the numerous interviews I have conducted with him.
However, those individuals who are attempting to create the impression that “Jagan’s legacy” is far more important than that of President Burnham, Dr Walter Rodney, Mrs Winifred Gaskin, Sir Shridat Ramphal, Dr Rudy Insanally, Mrs Viola Burnham, Mr Hubert Nathaniel Critchlow, Governor Cuffy and numerous others, are only attempting to manipulate the minds of the young.
Dr Jagan has made a positive contribution to his dear land, but in my opinion he was no legend. Legends are never afraid to surrender leadership, as the great President Nelson Mandela did in South Africa.
Yours faithfully,
Mark Benschop
Indeed what is Cheddie Jagan’s legacy? In terms of the politics of Guyana, it would be a blatant falsehood to depict Cheddie Jagan as a national Leader. He was, in fact, for most of his political career, a sectoral leader, championing the cause of the political disenfranchisement of members of his etnicity. Yes, Mandela can also be styled thus during the period of his struggles for the political rights of the majority in South Africa. But the difference between Jagan and Mandela, subsequent to both attaining the highest political position in their respective nations is starkly obvious. Mandela was able to make the transistion from a sectoral leader to a national leader. That is why he is loved and honoured all over the world today. Cheddie Jagan, in contrast, remained stuck in the position of an ethnic leader, surrounding himself with those who shared his ethnicity, and and letting that ethnicity, as opposed to ability and qualification, be the guiding principle of his governance.
Forbes Burnham gave Guyana MMA, a boon to the agricultural industry dominated by constituents of the PPP. Forbes Burnham bridged the Demerara River, providing a direct link to markets in the city to constituents of the PPP in far away places like Parika and other portions of the West Coast and West Bank. Under Forbes Burnham religious and cultural occasions overwhelmingly linked to constituents of the PPP became public holidays. In contrast since Jagan’s party came into power the only holiday they created was one that benefitted their constituents.
Now I am not saying that the latter was wrong. In fact I wholly support holidays to commemorate the arrival of all who came to these lands from far away, including those who were already here when everyone else got here, and those who made the voyage in chains in the bowels of ships. I am merely pointing out the reality of history. I am pointing out facts, as opposed to the revisionism that has become the consequence of convenient amnesia today. Walter Rodney, Eusi Kwayana, Hubert Nathaniel Critchlow, Desmond Hoyte, and yes Forbes Burnham, among many others, made more sterling contributions to Guyana as a nation rather than to a particular segment of nations population, than Cheddie Jagan or any current member of the party in Government today.
They cannot seem to get past a dysfunctional psyche that require absolute supplication from those who traditionally are imaged as supporters of the PNC.
Almost every nation has its hero, that one person who symbolizes the positive values that guide and sustain a nation as it makes its way in the world. South Africa has Nelson Mandela. America has George Washington; Germany has Bismarck; Venezuela has Simon Bolivar; Argentina has Juan Peron; Nicaragua has Sandino; and Cuba has Jose Marti. In Guyana, some are desperately trying to foist Dr. Jagan on us.
Yes, naming our lone international airport after him will never be seen as enough recognition for a man whose legacy is on stark and destructive display every time Guyanese step into a polling booth or every time the PPP government sits to decide who gets a government contract or scholarship.
I believe that we of this generation should just call a moratorium on according any more recognition to either Dr. Jagan or Forbes Burnham. Let future Guyanese with less emotional baggage decide what should be done about Cheddie and Forbes. In the meantime, we should focus on promoting people like Walter Rodney, Cuffy, the Enmore Martyrs, Hubert Nathaniel Critchlow, and our sportsmen and others who bring glory to our nation.
Dr Jagan’s legacy?…. he was a Dentist, who hardly practiced Dentistry and I’m trying to be nice here.
Other than that, he was an ideologue to a fault, who belived in Communism and Marxism and should never have governed any country in the west. He is the one, and yes along with his founding buddy, who set Guyana on this wasted journey into the world of ideologism, a place where failed states reside just talk to Fidel Castro in Cuba.
However, as brutal as this sounds my countrymen…..that’s his legacy so be proud of it.
Dr. Jagan was no legend? While he was still alive, the renowned Guyanese poetess Parvati Persaud-Edwards wrote a poem for him with the following words: “with guyana’s living legend
his people are now free
and children are once more children
mothers now smile again
and fathers once again are men
in recovered dignity.”
Indeed, Dr. Jagan’s legacy to his comrades in the PPP is ceaseless struggle for the betterment of the working class, tenacity and patience, loyalty to principles. And, long before Barak Obama wrote about the audacity of hope, during the bleakest and most despairing days of the PNC regime Cheddi Jagan had instilled in his comrades’ minds unshakeable hope and optimism. “Win we will,” he assured them. The rest is history.
Well said Mark! I couldn’t agree with you more. Jagan’s legacy is nothing more than a lot of hot ashes that the PPP keeps alive to make us honour a ‘hero’ that was never. My comments may not be published but this is how I honestly feel.