FROM the inception of the Public Affairs Committee (PAC) – the forerunner to the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), the Jagans had established a vital women’s partnership that struggled in sync with the parent body, always led by the partner in struggle of Dr. Cheddi Jagan, his wife Janet.From this movement evolved some powerful women in the socio-political construct of Guyana.

Women and youths, through the Women’s Progressive Organisation (WPO) and the Progressive Youth Organisation (PYO) have traditionally been the backbone of the body politic of the PPP. And their contributions in the unrelenting struggles for freedoms from various oppressors in the political dynamic in Guyana is unparalleled.

After the restoration of democracy in this country, subsequent to the October 5, 1992 elections, women and youths continued to play a major role in the rebuilding process of the nation; and most significant were the choices of Mrs. Janet Jagan as Prime Minister and Vice-President prior to her election as Executive President of the nation; as well as a very youthful, but incredibly brilliant Bharrat Jagdeo becoming initially Finance Minister and subsequently President of the country.

With the Civic component added to PPP stalwarts, yet more women and youths were absorbed into the composition of the new Government; and today the young lions and lionesses have joined the old PPP stalwarts in adding considerable dynamism in the transformative developmental processes in this country.

The “Gentlemen’s Agreement” between Dr. Cheddi Jagan of the PPP and Mr. Sam Hinds of the Civic movement – GUARD, was founded on a partnership whereby the PPP conceded the Prime Ministerial slot to a member of the civic component in any Government the coalition formed.

Since the formation of the PPP/C Government in 1992, Prime Minister Samuel Hinds had served the country beyond the call of duty in that capacity, even while presidents have been changed as a result of former President Jagdeo facilitating a change in the Constitution to a two-term limit.

With the naming of career diplomat, Elisabeth Harper, as the ruling party’s Prime Ministerial candidate, there has been elation and approval by supporters of this choice and many expressions of support for her nomination.

However, true to form, instead of lauding the choice by the PPP of someone without baggage as its Prime Ministerial candidate, the consensus from the joint political Opposition is that Ambassador Harper should not have accepted the offer.

President Donald Ramotar has summarily dismissed the Opposition parties’ negative responses and deemed their reactions as “acts of desperation.”

The President, in an interview published by this newspaper, rejected the criticism that the PPP/C, via Harper’s nomination, is seeking to play up her gender appeal. “We have always been appealing to women. The PPP/C has given Guyana its first female President, its first female Chancellor, its first female Chief Justice and now its first (second after Mrs. Janet Jagan) Prime Ministerial candidate.”

The President was pellucid that Ambassador Harper was chosen only on consideration of merits.

The joint Opposition’s reaction to Ms. Harper’s appointment as a running mate to the incumbent President, who is also the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C’s) unanimous choice as presidential candidate, is a telling indictment of the mindset of derelicts who treat women as tokens rather than partners in the socio-political landscape of their party in particular, and the nation in general.

Their track record of criticising anyone who chooses to serve the nation out of love of country by joining with the Government in its transformative developmental drive denotes their lack of patriotism and real care of the Guyanese people. Afro-Guyanese who accept official and technocratic positions within the governmental construct are labeled “houseboys’ and alluded to as traitors to “kith and kin.”

So it is to be expected that, instead of congratulating a woman who has contributed immensely to this nation with dedicated service, for having been trusted to serve the nation in an even more demanding position with challenging responsibilities and wishing her well, they choose to admonish her instead.

Ambassador Harper has an unblemished record of service to this nation, and this is the quality of leadership that hallmarks PPP/C governments; so the popular opinion is that she is a superlative choice to be Guyana’s next Prime Minister.