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resident Bharrat Jagdeo was born Jan 23, 1964 in the village of Unity on the East Coast of Demerara, Guyana. He joined the Progressive Youth Organisation as a youth and after completing his high school studies, pursued higher education in Russia. Becoming an economist by profession, President Jagdeo earned a Master’s Degree in Economics from the Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia. Returning to Guyana in 1990, he worked in the state planning secretariat and continued with PPP work. After the "free and fair" elections of 1992, he was appointed junior minister within the Ministry of Finance from where he was quickly promoted. President Jagdeo served as Minister of Finance from 1995 to 1999 when, at age 35, he was appointed Guyana’s president, after violent street protests by the PNCR forced President Janet Jagan to resign due to ill health. While finance minister, and as president, he headed the negotiations that led to the write off the US$2.1 million debt the PNC had left around the neck of Guyana.
WEEK ENDING MAY 10, 2015 | guyanatimeSinternational.com
He was one of the youngest heads of government in the world and the PNCR decided to test his mettle with continued street protests, under Desmond Hoyte's strategy of "slow fyaah; mo fyaah". In 2001, Jagdeo was elected as
The Bare Facts in surrounding villages. Yet the economy continued to grow under his guidance. He was re-elected in September 2006 and the
Former President Bharrat Jagdeo
president, but the violence was ratcheted up with five escaped prisoners launching a full scale war against the state and the perceived Indian supporters of the PPPC
violence surged from everyday attacks against Indians and the police to the gang launching gruesome massacres - at Agricola, on the East Bank Demerara,
Lusignan on the East Coast Demerara, Lindo Creek in the Hinterland and at Bartica President Jagdeo signed into law, for the first time in Guyana, a two-term limit for a president. Against all odds the economy grew faster than that of any other regional economy. In 2011, President Jagdeo completed his second term as president and stepped down - to the consternation of his detractors who had confidently predicted that he was seeking a "third term". In September 2005, President Jagdeo was elected chairman of the Board of Governors of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank Group, a position he occupied until September 2006. He was awarded the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award by the Government of India in 2004 and the Pushkin Medal by the Government of Russia in 2008. In 2010, President Jagdeo was conferred with an Honorary Doctorate by the People’s Friendship University of Russia and in 2011 he also received an Honorary Doctorate from the DY Patil University of Mumbai, India. President Jagdeo was named by Time Magazine and CNN as one of their “Heroes of the Environment 2008”, and in 2010 he was awarded by the United Nations as a “Champion of the Earth”. In 2011 President Jagdeo was appointed Goodwill
Ambassador for Global Tropical Forest by the Leaders of the Amazonian, Congo and Borneo-Mekong forest basins.
From someone who knew him: Introduction by Moses Nagamootoo
Moses Nagamootoo
Speech at Good Hope, ECD PPP Rally, 19 August, 2006 "When BJ came to office in 1999, he was tested by fire of POLITICAL ARSONISTS WHO SET THE CITY ON FIRE; THEN HE WAS CHALLENGED BY THE CRIMINAL GANG AND THEIR BACKERS. But he arose from the ashes and, like a Phoenix, he emerged victorious in the 2001 elections. He stamped his own style of leadership, one that saw him in the trenches – out in front. If he was tested by fire, by 2002 he was challenged by terrorism from the prison escapees – the like of which was never seen in this land before. It was brutal, senseless, and cold-blooded. Then by floods. Someone told me he was the “Teflon Guy” – water does not penetrate him. But he stood the test
of time, and we now know that he is made of the good stuff. Like MOSES, he parted the flood waters and made this land dry and wholesome again! Bharrat Jagdeo deserves credit for his leadership. Reward him with a second term. It is always sweeter than the first. He is hard-working and capable. He has his fingers on the pulse of the nation’s problems and, in all cases, he has delivered solutions. I have watched Bharrat Jagdeo with unbiased eyes. I see in him a good person, who loves his country dearly, who portrays love of all races, love of children and our youth, and concern for the elderly. Moreover, I see in him as a leader with an agenda to push development. I share his broad vision to modernize this country, so we may create more jobs, more opportunities, and raise the standard of living of all."
Jagdeo against anti-Indian racism
At the funeral of PPP leader Reepu Daman Persaud, in April 2013, Jagdeo, the former president pointed out: “in the mean politics of Guyana, a resurgence in a hidden way” of anti-Indian Guyanese sentiment is unfolding. He illustrated his point by noting: “Recently, 38 persons… of East Indian descent were used in a case to say that the PPP, because they (are) employed in the public service, is practicing discrimination – that we are giving people of Indian-origin preferences.” continued on page 41