“Quiet giant” – former MP, Region 2 Vice Chair hailed for “selfless leadership”

Former People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Member of Parliament and Vice Chairman of the Regional Democratic Council for Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), Vishnu Samaroo, has been hailed as a quiet giant for his selfless leadership over the years.
“Comrade Samaroo represented a generation of selfless leadership,” President Dr Irfaan Ali stated while addressing mourners during the funeral service at Lima, Essequibo Coast, on Saturday.
Describing Samaroo as a “quiet giant”, Ali recalled that the long-standing party stalwart was at fore when the PPP/C embarked on rebuilding efforts in 2015 after losing office. According to the Head of State, Samaroo played a leading role in organising major party events in Region Two and was present at every single meeting – a trait he says must be emulated in order to build a stronger movement within the PPP.
“[Samaroo] had a quality that is called ‘presence’. Many of our comrades sometimes believe that ‘you know somebody else is coming; I don’t need to be there.’ But whatever the event was, once it was party-related and his Government-related, he would be present. Even if he is there sitting quietly, he will be present because he understands that presence carries a greater meaning.
Presence carried the meaning of association, the meaning of agreement and the meaning of being part of a great movement. And Comrade Samaru was present at every stage of this party development and this Government achievement, and I think that is one of the characteristics that we don’t speak much of, the importance of presence,” Ali stated.

He recounted that during the 2025 elections campaign trail, when the party held rallies in Region Two, Samaroo, though not in the best of health, would still show up.
“Even then when he was not in his full health, his family was preparing him to go to the rally, to drive him past the rally because he wanted that presence to be there. Even if it was just to drive past, knowing that he was there for his party, present for his party when his party requires him to be – an extraordinary quality,” Ali noted.
According to the Head of State, this quality is already being embraced by the current PPP/C Administration with not just Government leadership but also party leadership being present on the ground to serve citizens.
Pointing to Vice President and PPP General Secretary (GS) Bharrat Jagdeo’s recent public outreach in Region Five, President Ali noted that presence among the people is non-negotiable and is an important part of the party’s DNA.
The President went onto note that while Samaroo’s passing leaves a void that cannot easily be filled, his life and the legacy he has left behind will be celebrated.
“The example he set will continue to guide future generations of public servants and political activists… Farewell, Comrade Vishnu Samaroo. You served your people well. You served your region well. You served your country well. You served your party well. And for that, you will always be loved and remembered,” President Ali stated.

Sacrifices of family
Meanwhile, GS Jagdeo, in his remarks, recognised not just the contributions made by Samaroo but also the sacrifices of his family, from whom he had to spend considerable time away in service to the party and the country.
Jagdeo recalled that Samaroo, like many other PPP stalwarts, had struggled immensely when they joined the party, facing discrimination and hardships in their fight for freedom.
However, in celebrating the life of the late Samaroo, the PPP GS stated that this current era brings different types of struggles for the party and its members. He said the hard work and memory of stalwarts like Samaroo must be used as inspiration to ensure the PPP’s future is secured and does not become perilous, especially at a time when social media is being used to sway people.
“So how do we, in this new era, live up to this wonderful struggle and memory of people like Comrade Samaroo and rise to that challenge? That’s what is before us now. Or else, we will not be serving their memory and their struggles well… We have to plan for the future. We have done that from Cheddi Jagan’s days and progressively, year after year. Once we are in Government, the country changes for the better,” Jagdeo stated.
The PPP GS went on to outline the importance of ensuring the younger generation remembers the struggles of the past – something he says is key not only to prevent reoccurrences in the future but also to continue the type of hard work that members like Samaroo did to keep the party strong.
“And that’s the only way we can really pay tribute to Comrade Samaroo…and all of these giants who stood on this course. They inspired all of us as young people. They inspired us. They supported young people, you know, to rise in the party… And so don’t think that we can sit every day and live on past glory and the struggles of comrades like Samaroo. Every day we have to struggle… That’s the only tribute we can pay, to allow the memories of Samaroo and others who went before him to use that memory to continue to strengthen the party and provide leadership in the country,” the GS stated.
Also speaking at the funeral services were past PPP General Secretaries, former President Donald Ramotar and Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha.