Cheddi Jagan helped strengthen ties between India and Guyana
Kaieteur News
December 8, 2006
The visiting Vice-President of India has described former Guyanese President Dr. Cheddi Jagan as a leader of towering stature, who contributed immensely to strengthening close ties between the two countries.
The visiting dignitary made these remarks while touring the Cheddi Jagan Research Centre yesterday.
Vice-President Shekhawat said the former President is greatly admired in India for the sacrifices he made for the independence of Guyana , and his tremendous contribution towards the socio-economic development of the Guyanese people.
“I feel honoured to visit this research centre established to perpetuate the memory of Dr Cheddi Jagan, a great son of Guyana and a leader of towering stature who was loved and respected by the people, not only of the Caribbean islands but also by the people of other countries,” the Vice-President said.
He added that he fondly remembers Dr Jagan's two visits to India , in 1953 and 1993, which contributed immensely to strengthening close ties between the two countries.
Vice-President Shekhawat viewed the works of the late President, which are housed at the Research Centre.
These included poems, his speeches from Parliament, and his many books.
Administrator of the Centre, Dudley Kissore, in explaining the contents of the Centre to the visiting dignitary, said that all the papers written by Dr Jagan are now being cataloged, after which they will be made available for research purposes.
He also explained that all the Parliamentary speeches Dr Jagan made during his political career as a Member of Parliament from 1947 to 1997 are being digitalised for internet access.
The widow of Cheddi Jagan and former President of Guyana, Janet Jagan, presented a number of tokens to the visiting dignitary, including a portrait of Dr Jagan, and two of his novels.
Shekhawat took the opportunity to sign the visitor's book before leaving the research centre.