– Rohee says extensive discussions on this was held during party’s ‘CC’ meeting on Saturday

THE Central Committee of the ruling People’s Progressive Party (PPP) met, last Saturday, at Freedom House and General Secretary Clement Rohee, who chaired the meeting, reported that extensive discussions took place also on local government and national elections.

The Party’s preparedness to face the electorate whenever elections are called was also discussed, he told a press conference yesterday at the party’s Freedom House headquarters in Robb Street, Georgetown.
According to him, during the caucus, much emphasis was placed on strengthening the party, both organisationally and ideologically, in order to respond, effectively, to the challenges on the ground.
One of them, he said, is the disposition of the combined Opposition, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC).
Rohee said: “The meeting condemned the combined Opposition parliamentary parties for continuing attempts to derail the development agenda of the PPP/C Administration by the indiscriminate cuts in budgetary allocations to the Ministries of Amerindian Affairs, Health, Public Works and other Government agencies.”
To date, the cuts affected the Specialty Hospital ($910M); upgrading of Regional and District Hospitals, including Port Kaituma, Kwakwani, Linden, Bartica, Eye Surgery Operating Room at Linden, etc, ($360M); ambulances, All Terrain Vehicles (ATV) and boats ($42M); surgical equipment and instruments ($32M); the Amerindian Development Fund ($1.1B); other Amerindian Programmes and tractors, etc, ($40M); the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) modernisation and expansion ($6.6B); Civil Aviation ($50M) and Hinterland Airstrips ($185M).
The PPP General Secretary said: “The need for greater Party unity and for the Party to close ranks in light of destabilisation attempts by Opposition elements, aided and abetted by a hostile Opposition was emphasised.”

OTHER ISSUES
He added that, among the other issues addressed by the Central Committee was the role and militancy of the women and youth arms of the Party, the Women’s Progressive Organisation (WPO) and the Progressive Youth Organisation (PYO) and broad guidelines and directions given on the way forward.
“The meeting was highly critical of the Opposition media, in particular the Kaieteur News for its unrelenting attacks against the PPP and the PPP/C Government,” Rohee revealed.
He stated, too, that the Central Committee was high in praise for the current Administration led by President Donald Ramotar for the substantial gains made, in terms of economic growth and enhancing the living standards of the Guyanese people in the face of a hostile Parliamentary Opposition and a less than favourable external environment.
Rohee said the meeting heard presentations from himself and President Ramotar, which set the tone and provided the broad framework for the discussions and deliberations.
“…the Central Committee lauded the PPP/C Administration for presenting yet another pro-people budget to the National Assembly and for the emphasis the Budget placed on health, education and social sector development as a whole.”
The General Secretary said the meeting ended on a high note of optimism, with all members pledging their unstinting loyalty and commitment to the cause of the Party and current Administration.

(By Vanessa Narine)