Dear Editor,
March 6 is now passing again, and even though 16 years have elapsed since my father’s death, and the PPP leadership has again had the effrontery to bypass this part of the Jagan family by not even inviting myself, my wife or any of my children to Babu John, we will make our own way there to mourn that great man in our own moments of grief.
Editor, the grief, hurt and pain at that great loss in 1997 has been replaced over the years by great memories of President Cheddi as a dedicated and greater-than-life Dad, a caring father-in-law and a kind, loving and heroic grandfather. God bless his immortal soul and keep him safe in the bosom of his heavenly resting place because I know, beyond certainty, that his great soul is safe and sound as his spirit will be re-kindled in this land of Guyana, which he loved so much.
And the re-kindling of his great spirit is the task at hand politically, because President Cheddi always told me that words without action are meaningless, and that is why Mr Ramotar should take heed when he makes my father’s memorial his platform of political propaganda.
Mr Ramotar should note that President Cheddi made sure local elections were held on time during his presidency; he should remember that he fired Asgar Ally, the Finance Minister for allegations surrounding irregularities in his ministry; he should remember that Jagan was for coalition politics and a ‘winner-does-not-take-all’ political framework for this country, a concept which is totally alien to the current president; Mr Ramotar should remember that Jagan insisted on a lean (not 23 ministries), clean (no hints of corruption) and transparent (not hidden deals) government; Mr Ramotar should remember when he propagandizes about opposition pressures and compares his situation to that of Jagan in office, that Jagan was under external and internal pressures in this country which Mr Ramotar couldn’t even begin to cope with. I was at the Red House when thousands of rioters descended there to oust Premier Jagan; Mr Ramotar should remember that Jagan made electricity a lot better for the people in the sixties and 16 years have passed and look at Berbice and the terrible GPL service to the people.
President Cheddi’s spirit of good governance will be rekindled, with or without Mr Ramotar’s help − the people of Guyana will see to that.
Yours faithfully,
Cheddi Jagan Jr (‘Joey’)
