No personality dominated national life...
dogmatic. In 1992, his manifesto promised to build “a national democratic state”, which would be governed by the rule of law, where the constitutional rights of the citizenry would be respected, where the private sector was to be the ‘engine of growth’ and where there would be social justice for all.
The term ‘a man ahead of his time’ has been used to describe many. However, it fits Dr Jagan more than most. Since the 1950s, Dr Jagan saw agriculture as the base of our economy. Under limited governmental authority, his government begun to unleash Guyana’s agriculture potential. This period saw the establishment of agriculture schemes at Black Bush Polder, Canals No 1 and 2 and Tapacuma. These mega agricultural schemes were the first of their kind in the Caribbean. It was during this period also, that Guyana was identified as the bread basket of the Caribbean. Since then, Dr Jagan realized the need for cheap and renewable energy. During the 1957 government, he secured a US$22M loan to construct a hydro power plant at Malali Falls.
The visionary Dr Cheddi Jagan recognised very early that education was one of the surest avenues through which a society can exit the cyclical sin of poverty. Thus, he saw scientific methods as integral to our agricultural and industrial advancement. In achieving this objective, he established an agricultural research station and an agricultural school at Mon Repos and established the country’s first technical institute. He proceeded to establish the University of Guyana, which commenced holding classes at Queen’s College. Such was the vision of the man. I had the privilege of reading certain items of correspondence between Dr Jagan and Dr Harold Drayton, who was assisting with the establishment of the university. Dr Jagan was so involved in the process that he even identified areas of study, which he wanted the university to focus on in its syllabi.
My grandfather, now deceased, was literate but not educated. He once told me, that at the public road at Mon Repos, he joined the PPP 1961 motorcade, which originated from Crabwood Creek and was travelling to Georgetown. He was armed with a banner which he made with white cloth and on which he painted, in bold red the words “Dr. Cheddi Jagan: Son Of The Soil, Father Of The Nation”. My grandfather was so correct, so many years ago!
Yours faithfully, Mohabir Anil Nandlall, MP