Posted June 27th. 2009

This article first appeared in the March 10, 1997 edition of the Caribbean Daylight newspaper

In the space of twenty four hours two distinguished sons of our Caribbean succumbed to the inevitable hand of death. The death of any human being reminds us of our own mortality, but the passing of those who publicly labored for the cause of justice, fair play, and righteousness must force us to redouble our own commitment to the creation of a better world. If the lives of Cheddi Jagan and Michael Manley are of any significance to our existence, and they are tremendously so, it must be to summon us to greater sacrifice for the liberation of self, country and nation.

In a Caribbean that has produced a legion of superlative public servants, Jagan and Manley stand in the front ranks. Their pre-eminence is not a vile concoction of this writer. Rather, it flows from the bowels of the historical march of the Caribbean nation. For indeed both our departed soldiers were Caribbean to the core. And both had a sense and vision of the region's place and role in the global landscape. And I say vision deliberately, for very few modern political leaders can match these two men n this regard.

This short tribute to Dr. Jagan is not an attempt at giving a eulogy. Others are better placed to do that. But as someone who has said a lot about the man in life, it is only fitting that I say something in this hour of parting. I knew Cheddi Jagan personally. By the time we met, he was already an icon in the freedom struggle. He was an example to a seeking young man wanting to play a part in his people's quest for justice and dignity. "The West on Trial" was an early testament. Despite my later questioning of some of the choices and tactics of Dr. Jagan's generation of leaders, my respect never waned for the man whose battle persistently summoned Guyana to reach deep within itself. In an era where most politicians are "Scoundrels in Suit and Tie", Cheddi Jagan remained above the fray. No man is faultless, and Dr. Jagan committed his fair share of errors. But his sincerity, integrity, and patriotism could not be faulted. Many people have correctly cited his honesty and innocence as both his major strengths and weaknesses.

But I will remember Cheddi Jagan as an apostle of the working people's struggle for bread and justice; a tireless worker for the emancipation of the poor and powerless. Many have made claim to that mantle, but Cheddi has earned it. He fought the poor man's fight even when it was not fashionable to do so. And he was not ashamed to identify himself with that much hated but deeply misunderstood word: COMMUNISM. His was an unshakable belief in the right of the toilers, the hewers of wood and fetchers of water, to stand in the front ranks of humanity.

In so doing, he challenged the very basis upon which modern accumulation of wealth rested. That was no easy thing to do in a world dominated by an imperial order and bent on turning back the tide of working class resistance. Dr. Jagan was a different kind of anti- colonial leader. He did not seek mere constitutional independence form Britain, for he had the vision to realize that without economic independence based on a fair distribution of wealth, constitutional independence would be meaningless. On this score he stands apart from his contemporaries.

If the working peoples of Guyana and the Caribbean enjoy any dignity today, it is largely due to the fact that Jagan had the courage to stand in their ranks and proclaim their cause. And he inspired other fortunate members of the society to put their skills and talents to the service of the less fortunate. His was a full life of service, selfless service. Death comes, as it must come, but the spirit, life and legacy of Dr. Jagan will continue to defy death. He died knowing that he left this world a better place than he met it. We who are left behind must not squander such a splendid legacy.

David Hinds lectures in Caribbean and African Diaspora Studies at Arizona State University in the USA. His writings on Politics in Guyana and the Caribbean can be found on his GuyanaCaribbeanPolitics.com website.