March 6 marked the fifth anniversary of the death of the late President, Dr Cheddi Jagan. This week the man/woman-in-the-street comments on the late President's vision for Guyana, and what has happened since his death.

Jaclyn Sanmoogan - housewife: "Dr Jagan's ideals could bear fruit if only the current political situation in the country improves. The political situation has affected every productive sector and even morals seem to have declined since the late President passed away. Racist politics since Dr Jagan died have been the divisive factor in this country. His death halted some of the progress that could have been made. Year after year, since he died I am looking to see if the political situation will get better but to no avail. Right now we have to look at the rebuilding process. I believe President Jagdeo would like to take the stance Dr Jagan took on some issues but he cannot because he is not the leader of the PPP/Civic. In spite of this race problem there has been some improvement in infrastructure."

Nazrudeen - cane cutter: "We're more far away from Dr Jagan's vision today than we were five years ago. Dr Jagan's vision was for poor people to get up in life but that is not so today. Today more poor people suffering. Schooling is very expensive. Teachers are always asking for contributions for this and that. To get things done in the public service you have to give something to get things done quickly. That is corruption. Because of the economic crisis business is slow. You're working for $20,000 a month and your water bills, light bills, telephone bills, food bills and beggar bills among other bills are more than your salary. Then it's sheer taxation. Income tax alone is killing. People feel that cane cutters work for big money. That is not so. Cane cutters work from wee hours in the morning to late at nights and we sweat from we head to toe. The problem is not politics or race. The problem is poor economics, financial mismanagement and sheer incompetence. Long time [ago], even though the money was smaller, things were better."

Robert Batterfield - self-employed: "Probably if Dr Jagan was alive today, things would have been better or they could have been worse. However, because of the respect Guyanese from all walks of life had for him and knowing the struggles he had gone through it was more likely that people would have listened to him than they do for some others. Since he died nothing has been going on. I think that was because there was no one of his stature in the party to continue where he had left off. President Jagdeo is trying but he does not have the experience nor the wisdom required of the highest office in the land. Dr Jagan's passing five years ago caused a setback to developments that were taking place. Much of the country's population never felt at ease with any of the leaders the PPP/Civic leaders had since Dr Jagan's death but we have had to live with them. There is need for someone firm to take his dream for a better Guyana with all the races living comfortably with each other and setting things right."

Otis Van Lewin - private sector employee: "There is nothing whatever to show what Dr Cheddi Jagan had in mind for Guyana today. His ideals still remain ideals. We have retrogressed since his demise. I figure if he was alive he would have continued the programme of development his predecessor [former President] Mr Hoyte had started. Both of them had basically the same ideas but Dr Jagan's ministers and followers weren't focused on Dr Jagan's vision for Guyana. Maybe they did not expect to remain in government for more than one term and so they bled the country. There doesn't appear to be any hope for Guyana right now. Must be only the parliamentarians on the government benches who will benefit. There is not enough parliamentarians in the opposition benches to make a difference. Because the party in government has the majority they do whatever they want to. It is not the democracy the late president would have liked. It would appear too that since Dr Jagan died none of his successors have spoken with the authority of his office. The one problem that remains is that President Jagdeo does not have the authority to lead his party and it would appear that we have more than one president."

Yasser December - non-governmental organsation employee: "I was 15 years old when President Cheddi Jagan died and I remember him but only a few days ago I asked my nine-year old sister who was Dr Jagan and who was Forbes Burnham. She knows they were presidents but she does not know anything more about them and the part they played in our country's history. Instead of learning about Columbus I think that at nine she should be learning about our leaders in Guyana and the Caribbean in Social Studies. Our children should know where we came from and where we are going. They should know about Eric Williams, Errol Barrow and Michael Manley. There are others I don't know about but it would be good to know about them as well. Let us learn about these men and what they had in mind for Guyana and the Caribbean."

Jai Persaud - public sector employee: "Dr Jagan's vision is bearing fruit. The party in government is trying to carry out his ideals. You can see development in the construction industry and improvement in services. His ideal for every man to own his own home is being seen in the housing schemes being developed everywhere. Because of Dr Jagan's ideas the poor man could go to the bank and get a loan to build his own home easier than at any other time. You can't see the schemes in Georgetown but go where they are being developed and you'll see the difference. Industrial estates to boost development are also flourishing. We hadn't Coldingen and Eccles Industrial estates five years, ten years ago. Right now it's the opposition PNC that is still trying to create strife. Look at Mashramani, instead of one parade, they broke away and went their own way. Yet Mashramani was a success because of people's participation. What we need is for the opposition to act more maturely and embrace the government to help develop this beautiful country."

Anantajit - self-employed: "If Dr Jagan was alive things would have been so much better and Guyana might have been a more united country today. Instead things have gone from bad to worse. The cost of living has risen and the Guyana dollar to the US dollar has risen. The rich continue to get richer and the poor, poorer. Yes government has built some roads and some schools which were programmes designed by the PNC and put into reality by the PPP but there has been no difference in the earnings of the small man. It is the small man who feels the pressure. There has been no lessening of the economic gap. President Jagdeo may be trying but he needs more support from his Cabinet members. He is not firm as Dr Jagan or Burnham were and that may be because he does not want to be too authoritative as he may be branded a dictator. Looks like he's ruling but under someone else."

Moniram Baljit - sales clerk (no picture): "The torch Dr Jagan lit is still burning and the baton passed into good hands. President Jagdeo has picked up the baton and no one can doubt that he has extended the hand of friendship to all the political parties. He is willing to work with everyone, including the major opposition, but you know the saying that it takes two hands to clap. Our economy this year is one of two that showed progress in the Caribbean and contrary to what people say, we don't have a race problem. Our people are united. We live in the villages and people live together. The problem is with the people at the top. All the so-called problems we now experience will change when the PPP/Civic and the PNC Reform start working together for the common good of all Guyanese. That day is coming. Dr Jagan's vision is living."