Government to better recognise outstanding Guyanese stalwarts – President Ali

…as Ashton Chase Inc launches

The Guyana Government is moving to correct the “poor job” being done to give adequate recognition to all those who played a significant role in the past to shape Guyana’s political, social and economic landscape, paving the way for the country to be where it is today.

This is according to President Dr. Irfaan Ali on Thursday evening as he delivered the feature address at the launch of Ashton Chase Inc. – a not-for-profit entity established to celebrate the life, work and ideals of the late Guyanese stalwart, Ashton Chase, SC, OE.

“I acknowledged this before, we do a poor job in this country at keeping and recognizing those who contribute significantly to our country,” the Head of State admitted.

On this note, President Ali disclosed that he has instructed Culture Youth and Sports, Minister Charles Ramson Jr., to convert Parliament Square into a space where “…we celebrate all of these people in a very public place.”

However, the key to this, the Guyanese Leader posited is to instill this information and other important historical facts into the respective minds of young children so that they can then become the custodians.

“[We have to look at] how we instill the history of Guyana in the minds of our children, and that is the bigger task. That is the more important task because if our children, and us, know the history of our country, then all of us will be custodians of that history and all of us will carry the weight of that history…”

“And if we instill the history of our country, and the history of these great men and women… then we will never be in a place where our history will be forgotten, or people who contributed so significantly will be forgotten,” the Head of State asserted.

Turning his attention to Chase, a celebrated legal luminary, and champion of the working class who passed away on July 10, 2023, at the age of 96, President Ali noted that the Guyanese stalwart’s ideals remain relevant today and will continue to do so for generations to come.

These ideals include restoring the purity of the political vocation, protecting the covenant of democracy, upholding the rights and aspirations of workers, ensuring that the law is of service to people, and to the cause of justice, and the value of personal integrity in public life.

“His ideals set the mission and the agenda for this non-profit organisation launched in his honour and under this name… It is his ideals, his values, and his standards that form the basis of this organisation. It is his ideals that must set the agenda and mission of this organisation – nothing else…”

“I pledge my government’s support for [Ashton Chase Inc’s] work in being true to the ideals of a great Guyanese. Nationalistic, patriotic, and champion of the working class, may the ideals of Ashton Chase continue to inspire generations,” President Ali stated.

Meanwhile, Chase’s daughter- Pauline, in recalling the journey to the establishment of this organisation, explained that her family wanted an avenue to honour, pay tribute and continue his life’s work.

“Nothing seemed sufficient to capture him,” she stated, adding that they ruled out a foundation and a trust – both limited in scope for what they intend to do – and eventually settled on the formation of a company.

According to Pauline, an attorney-at-law as well, “The vehicle of a company gives the necessary depth and flexibility… Ashton Chase was an institution within himself and it was only fitting that the name of the body in his memory reflected that… And so, Ashton Chase Inc. was born – a not-for-profit to promote his life, work, and ideals.”

With Chase having penned at least eight books during his illustrious life, the first order of business for Ashton Chase Inc. would be a reprint of these texts that range from topics such as law, politics and current affairs as well as updating editions, especially the law text.

Proceeds from the sale of these books and other income to the not-for-profit entity will go towards funding scholarships in the field of labour law.

Some of the books authored by Chase include The Law of Workmen’s Compensation (1963); A History of Trade Unionism in Guyana (1966); Industrial Law (1974); Trade Union Law in the Caribbean (1976), and Industrial Relations (1981).

The late Ashton Chance along with Cheddi Jagan, Janet Jagan, and Jocelyn Hubbard formed the Political Affairs Committee, which was the precursor of the formation of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) in 1950.

Called the father of labour and industrial relations law in Guyana, a politician, a Barrister-at-Law, an Attorney-at-Law, as well as a prolific author, Chase was the country’s first Labour, Industry, and Commerce Minister and was responsible for piloting legislation permitting the recognition of trade unions based on a majority vote among employees. (G-8)