Dear Editor,
I applaud Stabroek News for its balanced and objective publication of the tributes and critiques of the late former President Janet Jagan. While not agreeing with Mrs. Jagan’s political views and ideology and in spite of shortcomings, one must admire her for the many contributions to the political development of Guyana.
Mrs. Jagan made selfless contributions for our nation. She faced many political adversities but overcame all. Few freedom fighters and those who fought the dictatorship can be compared with Janet Jagan – uncompromising in her principles and in her mission to remove the British from Guiana. She also opened avenues for women and freed up the educational system for all, allowing young girls to ignore marriage at a young age and continue their education. She also helped the poor and the working class through her lifelong struggle.
Mrs. Jagan also left one other quality that few in the country possess – her incorruptible honesty on money matters. No one can accuse her of enriching herself in office. She lived a simple life with the barest essentials. One has to be inspired by Mrs. Jagan’s qualities and way of life.
I did not have much contact or dealings with Mrs. Jagan, but two anecdotal experiences stand out. Once, I was looking for directions to NAACIE’s office during a visit to Georgetown from NY and Mrs. Jagan was most helpful during an impromptu visit to Freedom House. While there, I also requested her assistance for materials on research I was conducting to complete my Masters thesis in 1983. She guided me to Michael Forde’s bookstore to purchase booklets for my research. On another occasion, after her visit to open the Cheddi Jagan medical clinic in Richmond Hill in 1998, I met then President Jagan, accompanied by then Foreign Minister Rohee, on Liberty Avenue and she warmly said after I introduced myself: “As you advised in your letter in Stabroek News, I told Guyanese to become involved in the political affairs of their newly adopted land”.
I came to the conclusion Mrs. Jagan read Stabroek News meticulously. And the fact that she rebuked me for a letter published in SN in March 08, further reinforces my feeling that, while she was a critic, she had high regard for SN because she seemed to read its every content.
Yours faithfully,
Vishnu Bisram
