The only daughter of late Guyanese President Dr. Cheddi Jagan has expressed her extreme disappointment that former President Bharrat Jagdeo “would try to compare his lifestyle to that of my parents, former Presidents Dr. Cheddi Jagan and Mrs. Janet Jagan, and defend his opulent lifestyle by pathetically claiming that my parents also lived in a large house in an affluent community. Nothing could be further from the truth.”
The daughter, Nadira Jagan-Brancier fired off at Jagdeo over his statements and comparison between his current lifestyle and that of her father. She wrote a letter to the press.
At a Freedom House press conference last week, Jagdeo defended his large pension package and his seaside mansion by saying that he should not be expected to live in a logie since the PPP’s founder and late President Cheddi Jagan also did not live in a logie.
“I don’t think Cheddi Jagan living in Bel Air Park in a nice house was typical of most of Guyana, but Cheddi Jagan lived at that time there…because at that time, that was a Prime area”, Jagdeo said.
Ms. Jagan Brancier in her letter sought to give Mr. Jagdeo a history lesson on her father’s acquisition of the land and the sacrifice he made to build the modest three bedroom house.
She quoted former PPP executive member Ralph Ramkarran who in an online blog wrote that “the impression given by Dr. Jagdeo that Cheddi Jagan built a mansion, at the time comparable to his own, in an existing exclusive area is completely false and disingenuous.” This simple, modest but comfortable house was designed by my father and built in 1966. You can visit and see for yourself. At that time there were only a few houses in this area. All the homes that were built much later in this area were much larger and more elaborate, so that the current area is now considered an affluent neighbourhood.”
Jagan-Brancier said “my parents, as is well known, devoted and sacrificed their lives for the betterment of the people of Guyana. They did not use their position for personal gains, which would have been very easy to do. Instead, due primarily to their high moral and ethical standards, they chose to live a very simple and comfortable lifestyle. They did not lead an extravagant life. Even when they were both Presidents of Guyana they maintained the same simple lifestyle they had always lived before.”
She added that it is sad that no one, especially in the PPP leadership has come forward to challenge “these false and misleading claims that Bharrat Jagdeo has made against my parents, except for an old and dear comrade and friend of my parents’– Ralph Ramkarran.”
Ramkarran in conversation tree blog also wrote that “it is a sin for Bharrat Jagdeo to use the example of Cheddi Jagan to justify his mansion, his pension and his Cadillac lifestyle.”
Jagdeo has repeatedly come under criticism for his sprawling seaside mansion which includes indoor and outdoor pools. He has often sought to defend his wealth and the mansion by pointing out that he worked hard for his money.
Filed: 16th March 2015
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