MINISTER of Home Affairs Clement Rohee and executive member of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic ) PPP/C) said the fight against the pernicious and hostile propaganda being peddled by certain anti-PPP elements, politicians, social activists and columnists who continue to push the myth that Afro-Guyanese are being ‘marginalised’ and ‘discriminated’ against.

Winners of the Cheddi Jagan Essay Competition with Minister of Home Affairs Clement Rohee at the Eighth Annual Cheddi Jagan Lecture last Thursday evening. From left - Raymond Yusuf, Mohamed Yassin and Anastacia Ally.

He made this appeal during his address on the work and life of Dr Cheddi Jagan in the 1947 Legislative Council at the Eighth Annual Cheddi Jagan Lecture which was held at the Cheddi Jagan Research Centre, Kingston, Georgetown last Thursday evening.

It is nothing but a blatant lie that is being repeated over and over again and this is why we never stop exposing it for what it is worth–a mere fallacy”, he condemned.

He noted this year marks the 60th anniversary of Dr. Jagan’s entry into the National Assembly in this country.

He said he believes this is one of the best tributes that can be paid to the memory and legacy of this great leader and in addition “we must keep working to advance national cohesion, racial and working peoples’ unity.”

Rohee said Dr Jagan entered the Legislative Council at a time when it was an institution dominated by the representatives of the colonial power and the local elite and was an institution of a class power combination with the sole purpose to perpetuate colonial rule and make it more sophisticated and acceptable to the working class, the poor and the powerless in the colony.

However, long before Dr Jagan entered the hallowed Chambers of the foreign and local elite he knew very well what the institution was at that time in those Chambers”, he pointed out.

I am convinced more than ever that were it not for men like Dr Jagan supported by ordinary working men and women, as well as farmers, the history of Guyana’s struggle for independence would have been quite different, he said.

He said it is important that we speak about the life and work of outstanding leaders such as Dr Jagan because if we who are better acquainted with facts, do not do so, the modern day revisionists of history together with others will seek to create doubts in the minds of the new generation about these worthy men contributions to the independence and post independence struggles.

Even in his time, Dr Jagan had cause to wage battle against such reactionary, philosophical and political thinking though of different hues and shades,” Rohee pointed out.

He said one such reactionary belief and practice at that time was that women should know their place and not seek to ‘step out of line’.

He said that Dr Jagan’s contribution to the Legislative Council in those days impacted significantly on awakening the political consciousness of the Guyanese working people across the country.

It was the first time ever that the poor and oppressed had a voice in the hallowed chambers of the Legislative Council to represent them in such an articulate and authoritative manner,” he pointed out also.

He said Dr Jagan also insisted in medical and educational matters being priority and also opposed the use of public funds to certain upper class institutions which he felt made no contribution to National Development.

Among other issues debated in the Legislative Council at that time were developing hydro-electric power in British Guiana, land settlement and land settlement allowance for converting cane lands into rice lands as well as the Cooperative Societies Bill.

In all his debates, he made lucid and sterling contributions but an exciting and exhaustive debate was on the question of Adult Suffrage,” he insisted.

Also it was the first time ever that the poor and oppressed had a voice in the hallowed chambers of the Legislative Council to represent them in such an articulate and authoritative manner, he noted.

He was a fierce defender and champion of the working people, extremely biased in this respect so much that he attracted equally biased criticisms and hostility from those who defended the status quo and their colonial masters, he asserted.

He urged young people to always be consistent in their beliefs and to ensure they are well grounded in the people whom they look to support.

The Central Committee member of the PPP further said it is important that we consider where we are today in light of the ideological philosophical and political foundations laid down by Dr Jagan during the halcyon days of the struggle against colonial domination.

He pointed out that nowadays it is not unusual to hear comments about how the Party has moved away from what Dr Jagan stood for and PPP watchers and ‘Freedom Houseologist’ have pinned various labels on the party and its leaders to make them appear to be what they would like us to be.

It is interesting to note that they are divided in their opinion. Some think that we are no longer what we used to be while Dr Jagan was alive and others claim we haven’t change at all,” he lamented.

Some time after assuming office Dr Jagan pointed out that the government and ruling PPP must walk carefully and skilfully between compromise and transformation that is to say to conform with the conditionalities of the donor community but at the same time to transform the country taking into consideration what we inherited form the People’s National Congress (PNC) when we took over.

Alluding to if the party has changed, he said that majority of Guyanese agree with their policies and this was reflective in the number of votes received at general and regional elections hence these results show that contrary to what detractors say the PPP is truly a national party and not an Indian party.

He reminded that some years ago, Dr Jagan pointed out that Indians in Guyana did not support him because he was Indian rather because he fought for those who were oppressed and exploited.

Rohee assured that the party continues to ensure that our ideology is translated into actionable projects to bring immense benefits to our people particularly in the social sector such as health, education, housing and water sectors.

These are the very objectives that Dr Jagan fought for in his time but it is only now with his Party in power for the longest period ever in history that his dreams are close to reality the tremendous odds notwithstanding,” he declared.

Side by side with the successful realisation of these programmes the PPP true to the beliefs of Dr Jagan, continues to exert every effort to consolidate democracy in Guyana and ensure that major tenets of good governance are upheld as part and parcel of the democratic process,” Rohee stated.

Rohee said one of the overriding factors that must be taken into account when we assess where we are now is the fact that the Party still maintain a mass style of work and mass support.

He said today a new generation of critics and cynics has emerged and in the circumstances, our task is to continue the struggle on all fronts and the voice of the PPP must be heard loud and clear as Dr Jagan’s during his time in the 1947 Legislative Council.

The political, ideological and philosophical convictions on which Dr Jagan started out in 1947 are still valid in today’s context… we can do him no greater service but to cherish his convictions and beliefs and work hard to make them more and more relevant to our day to day activities,” he appealed.

Additionally, prizes were presented to winners of the Cheddi Jagan essay competition.

First prize of $100,000 was copped by Mohamed Yasin, 2nd place Nadia Ganesh who got $50,000, 3rd Raymond Yusuf who received a trip to Kaieteur Falls and Anastacia Ally copped fourth place and received a collection of books written by Dr Jagan.

Secretary of Education for PPP/C, Mr. Hydar Ally informed that the competition attracted 38 entries from almost all the regions and sought to develop writing skills and stimulate research.

He noted that Dr Jagan was a prolific writer who wrote several books and countless articles and an even better researcher which was one of his strengths.

Ally said certificates of appreciation will be given to all the participants.

Among those present were Ministers of Government, Party members and members of the Diplomatic Corp.