UG to commemorate Cheddi Jagan’s 100th birth anniversary

To celebrate the birth anniversary of Dr Cheddi Jagan, the University of Guyana will be hosting a series of academic activities in honour of the late Guyanese President and co-founder of the institution in March this year.
According to UG Vice Chancellor Lloyd Griffith, the commemoration is intended to be consonant with the role of universities to facilitate discourse on significant personalities, policies, programmes, and events, analysing relevant aspects, some of which might be contentious.

Griffith stressed that the commemoration would not be a partisan pursuit, nor would it facilitate such, adding that he had recently convened the inaugural meeting of the 12-member broad-based planning committee tasked to recommend a comprehensive set of commemorative events.
The planning committee is expected to organise a series of exhibitions on the life and works of the late President, hold symposia at both campuses, and install a commemorative plaque at the Cheddi B Jagan Lecture Theatre, Turkeyen Campus.
The opportunity will be taken to raise funds to renovate the Lecture Theatre, and to increase awareness about Dr Jagan among the younger generation.

PPP activities
Meanwhile, in honour of the late President, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) will be hosting several activities throughout 2018 to mark his 100th birth anniversary. Among those activities are an academic conference and special cultural events across the country.
The aim of these activities is to reflect on the life and achievements of the late President and co-founder of the Party.
According to the PPP General Secretary Bharrat Jagdeo, the Party also hoped to spread more awareness among the youth population about Jagan.
From premier to chief minister and later President, Jagan is one of the noblest icons in Guyanese and Caribbean political history.
Further, activities to mark Jagan’s birth anniversary will not only be limited to Region Four (Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice), but would take place in all three counties. Activities are also planned for the Diaspora.
Cheddi Berret Jagan was born on March 22, 1918, at Plantation Port Mourant, British Guiana. He was a politician and union activist, who in 1953 became the first popularly-elected Prime Minister of British Guiana (now Guyana). He headed the country’s Government again from 1957 to 1964 and from 1992 to 1997.