Dr Roger Luncheon’s life holds many examples for all – Dr Singh

– to be cremated today

“There are many before you and they have chosen a path of fearlessness and the will to stand for what they believe and what you believe in and the courage to fight for that which is right and Rodger is a fine example of that.” – pull quote
Hundreds turned up at the People’s Progressive Party Civic headquarters in New Amsterdam to reflect on the life of former head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr Rodger Forbes Luncheon on Saturday evening.
During the “Night of Reflection,” Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh stated that Dr Luncheon held many examples for all Guyanese and provided important lessons for all including him.
“I learnt immeasurably; I consider myself a student of Rodger Luncheon. I learnt from him as did anybody else who came in contact with him. It was a great privilege to observe his intellect and his ability to process things.”

Recounting that Dr Luncheon in his early days attended Howards University in the US of A and subsequently became a nephrologist, Dr Singh noted that by choice he returned to Guyana and began working at the Georgetown Public Hospital.
“Dr Luncheon quickly not only identified with the progressive politics of Dr Cheddi Jagan but fully associated himself and integrated himself with Dr Jagan and the PPP at a time when simply saying that you are PPP could have gotten you locked up, at a time when simply saying that you are PPP could have caused you to lose your job. He was working at Georgetown Public Hospital, at a time when simply appearing at a PPP meeting could have gotten you fired and never getting work again, Rodger Luncheon identified philosophically and fundamentally with the politics of the PPP and the politics of Dr Jagan- embraced it and integrated himself into it,” Dr Singh noted.
This he added was being done at a time when it was not fashionable for Afro-Guyanese professionals to become members of the PPP and to associate themselves with that party.
“Today we have all seen how Afro-Guyanese who openly associate with the PPP and are members of the PPP continued to be attacked by the PNC up to this day. Can you imagine in those days how an Afro-Guyanese professional coming out openly and saying ‘I am PPP’ were treated? Remember at that time the Party was not in government. It was in opposition with Burnham in Government with no prospect of democracy returning – with no prospect of ever getting into government, Dr Luncheon associated with Dr Jagan at a time when he could have come under personal attack, his life could have been under threat, when being in opposition only meant a lot of hardship and struggle but he said ‘I believe in what Dr Jagan and the Peoples Progressive Party are doing and I will serve my county through my party’,” Dr Singh pointed out.
Dr Singh stated that Dr Luncheon showed remarkable courage.
“There are many before you and they have chosen a path of fearlessness and the will to stand for what they believe and what you believe in and the courage to fight for that which is right and Rodger is a fine example of that.”
He also spoke of how he personally learnt from the former HPS when he worked as Director of Budget in the Finance Ministry.
“I speak about learning and teaching, those of us who are senior comrades, there is a lesson in this for us; today we are bringing in a lot of young comrades, we have a duty just like Rodger Luncheon took the time to sit down with me at 6 O’clock with me on Saturday and all Sunday afternoon… He made the time to listen and advise. Dr Luncheon’s life in that regard provides also an important lesson to us.
Further, he added that Dr Luncheon was an outstanding member of successive PPP Governments.
“I want to ask all of the senior comrades to emulate that; make yourselves available to young comrades –guide them, counsel them, rain them in sometimes when they are running away too fast but don’t kill their enthusiasm completely,” Dr Singh advised.
Also making presentations at the ‘Night of Reflection’ were Regional Chairman, David Armagon and Vice-Chairman, Zamal Hussain.
Dr Luncheon will be cremated today. His body will leave the Memorial Gardens, Princes Street for the Office of the President, Vlissengen Road after which it will be taken to Freedom House on Robb Street. He will be then taken to his Kitty, Georgetown residence.
His body will be taken to the Arthur Chung Conference Centre for a funeral service where General Secretary of the PPP, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo and President Dr. Irfaan Ali will address the gathering.