Foreign Affairs Minister Offers Condolences on Passing of Janet Jagan

ST GEORGE’S, Grenada, March 28, 2009 – Grenada’s Tourism and Foreign Affairs Minister, Hon. Peter David offered condolences to the Government and people of Guyana on the death of former President Janet Jagan, who died on Saturday.

The Minister said the death of Mrs Jagan was a great loss to the region and described the late Guyanese leader as a tireless fighter for the rights of developing countries.

“She served the Guyanese people with dedication, commitment and integrity. These attributes became the sustaining factor of her life’s work during the long battles with her husband, the late Cheddi Jagan, for an independent Guyana. Therefore it is heart-wrenching to begin to accept the loss of such a dedicated patriot of Guyana…"

Minister David said that Janet Jagan has been a very close friend of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) Government.

“She has played a major role in shaping sustainable democracy in Guyana, and she will be missed,” Minister David said.

Chicago-born Janet Jagan, who became the first female president of Guyana, died aged 88, just hours after she was admitted to hospital.

Janet Rosalie Jagan (née Rosenberg) was a former President of Guyana, serving between 1997 and 1999, and previously served as Prime Minister in 1997.