Fmr. Presidents Arthur Chung, Cheddi Jagan to be honoured

The Government of Guyana says it will announce shortly, national symbols to celebrate the life and work of former Presidents of Guyana, Raymond Arthur Chung, OE and Dr. Cheddi Jagan, OE.

In a statement from the Ministry of the Presidency, the Government said the process will be done within the context of set criteria for honouring eminent Guyanese.

This year marks the 100th Anniversary of the birth of both former Presidents.

According to the release, President David Granger said that the Cabinet has taken a decision that commemorative stamps, which are national symbols,” must adhere to national criteria”.

Earlier in the week, the Cheddi Jagan Research Centre (CJRC)  expressed disappointment over the failure of the Guyana Post Office Corporation (GPOC) to deliver on its commitment to make available a set of commemorative stamps in honour of late President Dr Cheddi Jagan on the occasion of his Birth Centenary.

“The Centre views this as a deliberate attempt on the part of the Government to frustrate an activity planned on March 20 to launch the stamp,” the Centre stated Wednesday.

The Government statement noted that the President responded to those comments noting that “such symbols must not be used for private, partisan or political messages, but ought to be used for national purposes.”

President Granger said that there is no objection to honouring the life and legacy of Dr. Jagan, who he described as “one of the founders of the Guyanese nation”, but added that Cabinet is of the view that there should be equity in the printing of such commemorative stamps, which are national symbols, the Ministry said