The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU), is indeed pleased, to have been invited to share this platform where once again tribute and homage is paid to the great Cheddi Jagan who passed on twenty-one (21) years ago.
For us in GAWU, Cheddi Jagan remained throughout his public life a champion of the working-class. He educated the working-class and made them aware of the strength and authority they possessed to make changes at their work places and in society for their overall betterment. For the working-class to succeed for what they want to achieve, he advocated working-class unity and solidarity as important and tested tools.
Dr Cheddi Jagan knew that without the requisite organizations and strong, clear and relevant leadership of those organizations the workers’ struggles for their advancement can be skewed. Hence, Cheddi became actively involved in the establishment and support of political and trade union organizations.
This explains his role as architect of the Political Affairs Committee (PAC) and later the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), a Party which he became the General Secretary and which, under his leadership, represented the Guyanese working people, championed the cause of World Peace, stood up against US imperialism and British colonialism and advanced a socialist vision for Guyana.
In the Trade union sphere, he was the President of the Sawmill and Forest Workers Union. He assisted in the formation of the Guyana Industrial Workers union in 1946 and when that union became non functional sometime in the late 50’s he assisted in the formation of the Guyana Sugar Workers Union which was later renamed the Guiana Agriculture Workers Union (GAWU) and finally renamed the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union of which he was Honorary President for many years.
Dr Jagan had embraced the ideology of the working class and was guided by Marxist – Leninist tenets. In his book, The West On Trial, he said that, Das Kapital opened up new horizons for him. Comrades, on reflection on the work and life of this great son of the soil, often referred to as the Father of the Nation, we must also remember some of the issues he battled to obtain and which he succeeded in. There are among others:- universal adult suffrage where Guyanese were no longer deprived from voting because of not owning a property or earning certain level of income; the granting of political independence to our country; the recognition of GAWU in the sugar industry after decades of struggle; the restoration of electoral democracy and democratic norms in the country after a number of rigged elections spanning twenty-four years. He became head of the governments in 1953, 1957, 1961 and 1992 and his administrations executed a number of positive policies in the field of agriculture and certain industrial development, in education, health, housing, infrastructure and for pensioners. His government legislated measures which were overwhelmingly pro-people. The establishment of the University of Guyana remains an enduring symbol of his commitment to the development of Guyana.
Today, the crises of the world capitalist system which is so much, in evidence particularly in the United States of America, the United Kingdom and others countries of the developed world are placing painful and unbearable measures upon the backs of their workers in those countries today, then, more than ever Dr Jagan’s ideas and ideology continue to be relevant. It must always be a guide and inspiration for us in Guyana and our leaders can really do much if his teachings and vision serve as a compass for action.
The GAWU pays homage to Cde Cheddi at this time. We will continue to support the work and struggle to ensure the realization of his dreams.
Long live the memory of Dr Cheddi Jagan!
