Former President Janet Jagan made this announcement yesterday during a ceremony at the Babu John Cemetery on the Corentyne, where hundreds congregated to pay tribute to the memory of her husband, the late President Cheddi Jagan on the occasion of his fifth death anniversary.

The crowd began assembling long before the scheduled start of one of the most enterprising cultural events witnessed on the Corentyne in recent time. The programme included songs, poems, African drumming, and readings of excerpts from Dr Jagan’s book, &#x2018The West on Trial.’

The ceremony began with the traditional laying of wreaths at the shrine where Dr Jagan’s remains are interred. Mrs. Jagan led this phase of the programme. She was followed by Prime Minister Sam Hinds, who is acting as President in the absence of President Bharrat Jagdeo. Then came Ministers of the Government and members of the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C).

Addressing the gathering at the beautifully decorated Babu John site, Mr Hinds described the late founder and leader of the PPP as an internationalist and a man who was action-oriented.

“Dr Jagan took a lonely stance against conventional wisdom. His long-held tradition is as relevant today and has paved the way for social justice in the world,” Mr Hinds said.

It was Dr Jagan, he said, who, in the late 70s, launched the campaign for debt relief from which many countries are now benefiting. Key to Dr Jagan’s struggle, he said, were issues pertaining to the establishment of a regional development fund and non-reciprocal trade agreement so that the less-developed nations can develop their economies and reduce the tendency of their peoples to migrate.

“He led the way for tax for investment and his call for a New Human Global Order has dominated discussions at the United Nations,” Mr Hinds said.

Mrs. Jagan, who addressed the gathering as “Friends of Cheddi Jagan,” said that though fraught with difficulties, her husband’s life was a successful one.

She went on to describe him as a loving brother, a caring family man, and a humane person whose interest in the poor conflicted with that of others in his profession, who sought to profit from the poor.

“He was an idealist; a man of peace; an academic; a great writer and teacher; and a visionary, whose political interests laid the foundation for an independent Guyana,” she said.

Mrs. Jagan also saw him as a genuine hero who not only liberated Guyana from colonialism and PNC (People’s National Congress) dictatorship, but also reduced “the horrific debt burden” left by that regime.

Such was the humility and versatility of the man, she said, he could meet with the most prominent of world leaders yet interact with the rank and file of his countrymen.

Party General Secretary, Mr Donald Ramotar, noted that Dr Jagan had during his lifetime, made an impact on all aspects of life in this country. He lived by the theory that it was not enough to interpret the world, but to interpret the world to change it, Ramotar said.

“He remained loyal to the working people and the pledge of his life,” he said, adding: “Dr Jagan was a reservoir of new ideas; a man who never allowed emotions to cloud his judgement.”

The afternoon’s proceedings were chaired by Region Six Chairman, Mr Rohit Persaud, who also hailed the qualities of Dr Jagan as something lacking in many of today’s leaders.