Janet Jagan – A Woman for all Seasons
Saturday, October 24 2015, Citizen’s Report, Source
OCTOBER 20, 2015, was the 95th birth anniversary of Mrs Janet Jagan, one of the greatest women of our time.
Such was Mrs Jagan’s fame as a human rights and political activist that Time Magazine rated her number sixteen on the list of All Time Rebellious Women. This is a great honour for a woman whose fame and reputation developed in the struggles of the Guyanese people.
Mrs Jagan was indeed a remarkable woman. Those of us who had the great fortune of knowing her can testify to her greatness.
She followed her husband, Dr Cheddi Jagan, to the then British Guiana at the end of 1942. At that time, our country was more characterized by great poverty and the dominance of sugar in the economy.
Mrs Jagan was instrumental in assisting her husband to establish his dental practice in Georgetown when she settled in the then British Guiana. Together, they launched themselves into the socio-economic and political life of the people of Guyana.
Without hesitation, they took the side of the working people of our country, which earned them the wrath of the colonial authorities and the beginning of a struggle that put Guyana on the international scene.
Janet Jagan broke down many barriers during the course of her life. The then British Guiana was divided by race, class and gender. She and Cheddi involved themselves fully in those struggles with the view of raising the consciousness of the people to get involved in the struggle for their liberation.
Janet won the love and respect of our people in a very short time. She familiarized herself with life in the country by travelling around and meeting people in their own homes and was truly loved by all.
This interaction by a white woman with ordinary people really upset the colonial authorities.
One of the ideological bases of the subjugation was racism. The white race was seen as superior. The managers of the sugar estates and the colonial government’s top officials held themselves aloof from the people and created the myth of white supremacy.
Janet Jagan’s efforts to break down certain racial, political, social and other barriers destroyed that pillar of colonial and imperial oppression.
She also worked with the young, fledgling trade union movement and was among the founders of many, including the Guyana Agricultural & General Workers Union (GAWU) and the Clerical & Commercial Workers Union (CCWU). She also helped the British Guiana Labour Union greatly.
She was indeed one of the founders of our national movement, which grew to be very powerful and led the struggle for independence.
Mrs Jagan also played a huge role in the struggle for women’s rights/equality.
She, more than anyone else, lifted the awareness of women in our society. She organized them to be part of the national, political and social struggles, placing special emphasis on the fact that the liberation of woman must be part of the struggle for freedom.
She forcefully encouraged parents to educate their girl children and not keep them at home.
Today, Guyanese women are enjoying great freedoms, playing active, leading roles in every aspect of Guyanese life.
It is also true to say that of all our national leaders, Mrs Jagan was the most slandered, abused, attacked and made a target of persons who were opposed to her ideals and beliefs.
After the split of our movement, a part of it, the People’s National Congress (PNC), collaborated with the colonial and imperial powers to fight against gaining independence for our country.
The same characteristic which helped to destroy the myth of white supremacy was now used against Mrs Jagan by the colonial powers in collaboration with the PNC.
Janet Jagan once related that when she was demonstrating in front of State House, the then residence of the Governor, she and other PPP supporters and members were attacked by collaborators of the PNC (who were against winning independence for the then British Guiana).
The PNC led a long, brutal attack on her, using her race as a stigma. No other person, be it man or woman, was more vilified than Mrs Jagan. This was due to her uncompromising struggle for independence and in support of the welfare of our people, especially the working class.
Throughout her political life, Mrs Jagan was forced to make great personal sacrifices. As a young woman struggling for independence for her adopted country, she was sent to prison for six months, almost immediately after her husband’s release. She was the first female political prisoner in Guyana.
Mrs Jagan also served as a journalist and writer. Her contributions to the ‘Mirror’ and other media stand as an example of clean, militant journalism.Her motto was ‘truth and facts.’ Under her editorship, the Mirror was the most sought after newspaper in the country.
It was no doubt because of this that the PNC government did everything to stifle the operations of the newspaper. Janet stood firm on the issue of freedom of expression and organized many fora and public demonstrations on the issue.
Despite the many political and other attacks on her, Mrs Jagan was loved by the masses. This was clearly evidenced on many occasions in history.
In 1951, the PPP contested the Town Council elections. The party put up three candidates – Cheddi Jagan, Forbes Burnham and Janet Jagan. Of the three, Janet was successful elected, becoming the first woman to serve on the Georgetown Town Council.
She also represented the Essequibo Coast/Pomeroon constituency and really loved and respected for her work.
As the Minister of Labour, Health & Housing, her work was outstanding. Some of the housing areas in many parts of Georgetown and the country stand as monuments to her dedicated service to the Guyanese people.
Under her administration, the health sector became the best in the Caribbean and she became an outstanding friend of the working class.
In 1997, when she became the party’s presidential candidate, our victory was the largest in history.
Nevertheless, the opposition unleashed another campaign against her, this one being the nastiest and most brutal ever.
However, by that time, her health was failing. Knowing that she could not give of her best in the circumstances, she once more demonstrated great unselfishness and demitted office.
Few individuals placed in this position would have made such an honorary decision.
But despite her ill health, Mrs Jagan continued to work for the party and the country until the last day of her life.
This remarkable Guyanese patriot is an example of a true revolutionary. Her life’s work, like Cheddi Jagan and other past leaders of the PPP, laid the foundation on which we are still building.
Legends like Mrs Jagan never die. Wherever workers and people struggle for peace, justice and against oppression, Janet’s example will continue to serve as an all time inspiration.
Lone live Janet Jagan, our beloved comrade!
DONALD RAMOTAR
