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The extravagance we see today is nothing but an insult to the Jagans’ legacy

Mar 23, 2015 Letters

Dear Editor,
I’ve been following the exchanges in the media sparked by former President B. Jagdeo’s press conference where he sought to compare his lifestyle to that of the late Presidents, Cheddi and Janet Jagan. While it’s not my intention to vilify Mr. Jagdeo in any way through this medium, it’s hard not to agree with Sadie Amin’s assessment of “chalk to cheese”.
I was privileged to work around the Jagans during the last year of President Cheddi’s life, and then for some years until Mrs. Jagan also passed away.
I make no claim of being very close to the family, or a confidante in any way, this was simply my personal observations while performing my duties in the service of Guyana.
The Jagans, I must concede, were very simple people, to the point of it being difficult not to notice, their mannerism and concern for those around them I believe were always genuine. That simplicity and humbleness is what struck me the most about them, since I had expected their attitude towards us the ordinary folks, to be quite something else.
President Cheddi was probably the proudest grandfather, and often made time for his five grand kids, whether at State House or Bel Air. Mind you, they had no such luxuries as their private swimming pool but the President took them to the Castellani pool to have their fun in the water. After Dr. Jagan died Mrs. Jagan started back living at her own residence in Bel Air, even when she went on to the Presidency.
Mrs Jagan would often do a little walk around in her yard, like any other ordinary woman, checking her plants and fruit trees and would sometimes engage us in light conversation. One morning she did something that I must admit left me a little embarrassed, she was downstairs and checked our washroom facilities and cleaned it herself.
Not that we had it in a terrible state, but maybe she saw something that we missed and added her little touch. She never quarreled or lectured us on how to keep the washroom, but of course we made greater efforts thereafter, so her visits to our facilities from then on were just to provide toiletries. In my mind, the Prime Minister of a country cleaning her Security Detail’s washroom was unheard of, but such was the humility of the Jagans.
Nadira, from my point of view is so much like her mom. During her visits to Guyana, whether alone or with her family, she was always pleasant and often generous with her “little tips for the boys”.
In some ways I think we looked forward to her visits, also to the holidays especially Christmas when Mrs. Jagan was a little more generous than usual.
Working around the Jagan family was nothing short of a pleasant experience, not that we took our duties any lightly than the expected standard, but the atmosphere around them made things a whole lot more comfortable. Whenever I happen to hear the song ‘Show me Heaven’ by Maria McKee, it reminds me of Mrs. Janet Jagan. Sometimes when she was alone in her home she’d play some music, and that particular song she always played the loudest, I suppose it was one of her favourites.
The political ideology of the Jagans will always be a topic of debate in this land of ours, but as ordinary folks who went on to become Presidents of this nation, their humility has gone unmatched by their successors. The extravagance we see in our leaders today is nothing but an insult to the Jagans’ legacy!
S. Sarius
Former Presidential Guard

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