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President Irfaan Ali on Tuesday unveiled a commemorative centenary stamp honouring former President Janet Jagan, OE, at State House.
The President described the former President as a “torch bearer for freedom and democracy” noting that she had imbued her party, the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C), with her “fighting spirit”.
“It was her example of resilience and resistance that her party turned to during the period from March to August of this year when there was a criminal conspiracy to steal our elections. Inspired by her tenacious spirit, her party resisted the attempts to deny the democratic will of the people,” the President said.
The Head of State, who was joined by several Government officials and representatives of the PPP/C, said Jagan dedicated her life to ensuring that the rights of all were respected and protected.
“Janet Jagan’s entire life was one devoted to the rights of others…Janet Jagan fought for a fairer and more equal society. She used the political offices held at various times to work particularly for the improvements of workers,” Ali said as he urged attendees to remember Jagan as a “trailblazer” on the path to Guyana’s liberty, first from the stronghold of colonial rule.
“We remember her at this time for her strong will, her indisputable political organisational skills and for her dedication to the ordinary man and woman…We remember her at this time because she would have been proud that democracy was protected and preserved.”
The President described Janet Jagan as “warm and motherly” noting that he was fortunate to benefit from her mentorship.
“The time has come for us in this country to reflect with honourable intentions, to reflect with a passion, and a commitment to achieve what those who struggled selflessly, wanted to achieve. And that is the unification of our people. It is the most pressing issue for us as a people. We talk a lot these days about economic bonanza that will come about, the great wealth that will come, about lifting our people from poverty. But today I say to you, the greatest of tasks and challenge for all of us, is unification of our people,” he said.
President Ali said that it is the country’s leaders who will have to take up the responsibility and lead the charge towards achieving unification. He said this task rests on the shoulders of the country’s leaders.
“We cannot lead in a way that is disrespectful to the laws of our country. I assure you, every single day of this government’s life will be spent dedicated to this task, it will be achieved. It must be achieved. We have to break down those invisible walls and bring our people together, we owe this to the legacy of those who worked tirelessly, and selflessly, we owe this to our future generation, and we have to fix it now and fix it in this generation, and to not leave this burden upon those who will come after us. So today, as you reflect, I ask us to reignite in ourselves that spirit which saw us victorious so many times in our country. We are at our best when we’re united”, the President said.
Among the attendees were Prime Minister, Mark Phillips, great-nephew to Janet Jagan Ian Jagan and Hydar Ally, Director of the Cheddi Jagan Research Centre (CJRC).
Former President Janet Jagan was Guyana’s first female President.
