Sunday marked the 25th death anniversary of the founder of the People’s Progressive Party Dr. Cheddi Jagan. Dr. Jagan who became Guyana’s 4th Executive President following the 1992 elections. Dr. Jagan died on March 6th 1997. In observance of his death, on Sunday, a wreath-laying ceremony was held at the monument site at Babu Jaan, Corentyne, Berbice Region Six at the site where he was cremated.
As customary, the event is usually graced yearly by the party’s ‘big-wigs’ including the President, Prime Minister and other senior Ministers, Party leaders and supporters. This year however, the event was boycotted by almost all the PPPC top Government officials. Instead, it was the party’s Executive Secretary and Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha, M.P who delivered the key remarks.
Over the years the party has come under heavy criticisms from the Opposition APNUAFC, the Guyana Elections Commission and the Ethnic Relations Commission ERC for using the event to score cheap political points. Especially during the election season.
In 2011, the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) had to admonish then President Bharrat Jagdeo for statements made to PPP supporters at Babu John, Port Mourant on March 13 of that same year, describing his remarks as a dangerous and unnecessary precedent. In that Speech Jagdeo had accused former President Granger of having “blood on his hands”.
Then in April of 2015, Attorney-at-Law, Christopher Ram filed a private criminal charge against Jagdeo citing remarks again at Babu John, Port Mourant in March he quoted Jagdeo as saying then that, “The Opposition consistently shout about the racism of the PPP but they practise racism. The Opposition beat drums at six in the morning and say let us throw out those coolie people.” After an extensive investigation by the GECOM media monitoring unit it was found that Jagdeo’s statement breached the Racial Hostility Act.
Many believe that the absence of the usual provocateur should be seen as a blessing in disguise. Since Guyanese are fed up with the hostile message that normal overshadows the great legacy of Dr. Cheddi Jagan at such events.
More, In The Ring.
