April 10, 2005

"I am in for the long haul" - Joey Jagan

by Nills Campbell

Leader of the newly-formed Unity Party (UP), Dr Cheddi B. Jagan, Jnr, said his entry into the political fray is no flash in the pan; he is in it for the long haul.

He has pledged a determination to help fulfil his late father's dream for a united Guyana, and for improvement in the lives of poor people.

In an interview with Stabroek News, the dental surgeon turned politician - walking in the footsteps of his father, late president, Dr. Cheddi B. Jagan - said he was haunted by two of his father's unfilled dreams: unity among the racial groups in Guyana, and the continuing poor state under which people exist.

"I am hoping to see a government based on coalition politics. I disagree with the PPP that a coalition government cannot work. My father believed in unity and on each occasion when he won elections after the 1955 split, he offered the late Forbes Burnham the opportunity to join in a coalition."

'Joey', as he is better known, made a plea: "To fellow political leaders in this country, we are privileged with the chance of uniting our people for a brighter Guyana. My father tried his best given the circumstances. Like my late father I believe that unity is the best solution for our country, please do not let the vision of my late father die.

The private sector

"I believe in a coalition government that is dedicated to the concept that the private sector is the engine of growth - and I refer to active belief in the private sector's role, not mere mouthings. I mean the private sector first and foremost in the economic activities of our country."

The private sector, he said, involving both local and foreign entrepreneurs should be facilitated and given all support to play their rightful and meaningful roles in the development of Guyana's economy. "I believe in tax holidays. Yes, I certainly do. Of course I believe that these concessionary agreements should be properly worked out and the private enterprise should be allowed to expand."

He is confident that foreign private investment could bring about greater involvement of local entrepreneurs and subsequently a proliferation of local enterprise.

He conceded that he was likely to benefit from his father's stewardship in the political realm, but was quick to point out that there were differences in what his father believed when compared to his beliefs.

He cites as an example the role of private enterprise as against government ownership. "You would have to evaluate, however, that in those times he [the late President Jagan] probably found it necessary to take such stand."

On the issue of nationalisation, Jagan Jnr said he would have never done so. He cited the Guyana Electricity Corporation - this was nationalised by his father in the sixties - and the bauxite and sugar industries and their consequent failure.

He holds the view that nationalisation wrecked the economy, subsequently wrecking the country in general. He sees government's role as a facilitating one, laying the groundwork, providing the infrastructure. "The PPP believes in government control… but this gets you nowhere in the end."

Caught between the sea and the conservancy

Questioned as to what would be the difference in his party's policy on housing as against what obtains today, Jagan Jnr remarked that the writing was on the wall. "Georgetown, the East Coast and some other areas on the coastland are under threat and the answer is for government to help the people to move to higher ground.

"We have to have strategic plans to move people to situations that are safe… perhaps the hinterland areas or those areas where there is higher lands. There is need to establish new town bases, and government should facilitate in providing the basic amenities and thus challenge the private sector to take on the task of building houses for people."

Told that his late godfather, Forbes Burnham once spoke of moving the capital to the North West, Jagan Jnr said proper feasibility studies would have to be undertaken to determine the areas that are ideal.

He pointed to Region Ten as one of the closer locations that could be examined, stressing that one would need to weigh the reality of economic activities in an area before arriving at conclusions.

"What is certain is that there is need for safer grounds for the people and one cannot ignore the fact that changes in weather patterns could redound against our people since Guyana is below sea level. Not only should we be looking for safer grounds for our people, we should seek to create twin cities in areas such as Linden. We should seek to create more major cities, we have lots of land; we need thinking leadership to bring ease to people who are caught in this dilemma. They are caught between the sea and the conservancy… they need deliverance."

Jagan Jnr gave the reminder that the Australians, the Americans and other nations expanded to effect development.

Government has a role, he said, to lay the foundation adding that it was time his father's dream of having electricity from hydropower bore fruit.

On the issue of young people, Jagan Jnr said: "I'd like to see youths playing a bigger role in the running of the country. There are lots of them out there who are talented and others who are well trained in private enterprise management… time to get them properly involved."

Marketing ministry

He said a Unity Party administration, and preferably one that involves a coalition, would like to establish a Marketing Ministry. He sees the need for proper linkages. Agricultural produce from Guyana could be marketed in the Caribbean.

He decried the high prices Caribbean people are paying for food, most of which is imported from North America. Guyana should be able to produce more and to help fill this vital need.

He was happy that Brazil was extending a hand to Guyana with an apparent willingness to aid in Guyana's development. He has no objections to Brazilians investing here but warned of the need to ensure they are properly registered and comply with taxation and other laws.

Guyana has got to be wary about being swamped through immigration by a country with 186 million people. With economic expansion he commented, would come the challenge of needing more skills. He is urging that this country seeks to attract more people from Caricom and to allow for regional development through this process.

On the issue of Foreign Affairs he does not agree with the policies of the Bharrat Jagdeo administration. Call-ing the relationship between this government and the United States half-hearted, he said that the US was a super power and the only one in the world. Guyana's geographical and economic positions also demanded that we seek to enjoy better relationships with that country.

His main reason, however, has to do with the hundreds of thousands of Guyanese who reside in that country, pointing out that no other country in the world would have such high economic savings by Guyanese.

Reminded that he was in politics, which was no Sunday school class, 'Joey' quipped: "I know. I watched my father and mother struggle for this country. I know of such pains. However, if those who now lead the PPP think they could resort to dirty tricks, let me warn them that I am in this for a long, long haul. They would fail in their dirty games just as the PNC failed. They would do well to take a lesson from the PNC.

"Burnham felt he was too big a giant to be touched and that he could not be moved. We have seen that even rigging of elections was defeated.

"Like my father, I am out there with the people. That is why I have been going about seeking out people, empathizing with them with their countless problems and to assure them that my father's dreams for them and for Guyana are not yet lost," he said. He accuses the PPP of only seeking out the people when it is time for elections.

He said he was a student of great minds like Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela. These are men his father also admired. "Those leading the PPP cannot deny that both Gandhi and Jagan believed in coalition and in justice for the poor and downtrodden," he stated, noting that he could not remain as a parliamentarian under the present brand of party leadership who have turned their backs on his father's dreams for his people.

Jagan Jnr's mother Janet, now retired, was also a former president of Guyana.