Having defied every odd for the past sixty years…
President Jagdeo says ‘PPP strong as ever’

“We remain strong because we have defied every odd; we remain strong because the various attempts to side track us, to get rid of us, have all failed; we remain strong because in spite of the rigging of elections, in spite of street protest, in spite of support for criminals for political purposes – the PPP is in power and will remain in power for a very long time in the future.”–  President Bharrat Jagdeo. A WIDE cross-section of Guyanese and members of the diplomatic and political community yesterday gathered at the Babu John crematorium at Port Mourant, Corentyne, Berbice to pay homage  to the ‘revered’ late leaders of Guyana, Dr. Cheddi Jagan and his wife, Janet.

And there was a clarion call by President Bharrat Jagdeo yesterday for their legacy  to be kept alive, in the midst of our people, including the children.

Addressing the 13th annual wreath laying and memorial observances for Dr. Jagan at Babu John, President Jagdeo said the late ‘father of the Guyanese nation’  bestowed the country with great dignity and pride, and left a lasting legacy that will be an “inspiration to all our people”.

“Every year I come here and after the speeches, I urge you to remain vigilant because it is only through your vigilance and your knowledge that we can adequately secure the legacy that Cheddi Jagan and Janet Jagan bequeathed to us,” he insisted.

It has been 13 years now since the late leader and founder of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) died – on March 6, 1997.  His wife, who was also President of Guyana, Mrs. Janet Jagan, passed away on March 28, 2009.

To this end, he urged the hundreds in attendance to ensure that “the children among our midst understand what these two great people stood for”, and the 60 years of struggles of the PPP that the duo led.

“…and that you yourselves are knowledgeable of what our party itself stands for, what makes us stick, what guides us everyday as we try to move our country forward,” the Guyanese head-of-state declared.

“If you understand these things, then our history will be safe; if you don’t (then) the people who constantly  – every single day, ‘word by word’  – who are trying to alter that history, they will just succeed. And if they succeed, then this country has a bleak  future,” he stated.

Mr. Jagdeo pointed out that the legacy of Cheddi and Janet Jagan is not in the hands of a few people or the leadership of the People’s Progressive Party but “they are in your hands, the hands of the people of this country.”

“And our gratitude to these great personalities must ensure that we maintain that legacy through our own efforts,” he urged.

PPP REMAINS ‘STRONG AS EVER’
President Jagdeo also told the gathering that 60 years after the PPP was formed and after it has consistently led every single struggle that matter in this country during those years, “the party remains as strong as ever”.

“We remain strong because we have defied every odd; we remain strong because the various attempts to side track us, to get rid of us, have all failed; we remain strong because in spite of the rigging of elections, in spite of street protest, in spite of support for criminals for political purposes – the PPP is in power and will remain in power for a very long time in the future,” President Jagdeo declared confidently.

He said the party has a proud legacy, and supporters must be proud to say that they are associated with this great party, which has led every struggle with dignity, and for improvement of people’s lives.

Mr. Jagdeo said during the years in office, the PPP administration has had a proud track record, changing a country that was characterised by hopelessness.

He maintained that today, because of the hard work, the country is on the move, and going strong with a bright future ahead.

Analyzing the changes made over the years, he said last year, despite being a crisis year with the global economic and financial meltdown, Guyana managed to secure the second highest growth rate in the entire Latin America and the Caribbean, with the largest budget ever this year.

The President observed that people are coming back to the country investing in homes, businesses, and infrastructure.

“It is not drug money. Every time people see you build a new house, the Alliance for Change (AFC) and the People’s National Congress (PNC) say drug money,” he said with sarcasm.

“But you check the growth in wealth because of the growth in our economy and  you will see the financial growth – as characterised by aggregate deposits in our banking system –  reflects the growth in the economy and that is where the money is coming from,” he explained.

Turning to the sugar industry in the ‘ancient county’ of Berbice, the President acknowledged that sugar is critical to the development of Berbice, being the largest single contributor to the Gross Domestic Product of that region and largest contributor to wages and employment.

He alluded to the difficult patch being faced in the industry and the $4B Government gave to GuySuCo in exchange for lands to develop house lots – to which the opposition is hostile and not supportive.

“It is not the $4B, it is the survival of the industry and the maintenance of jobs for thousands of workers. For me, the 2,000 acres of land is 10,000 house lots to poor families – that is the picture and that is what we are about,” the President  stated.

While imploring those gathered at Babu John to  understand these issues, President Jagdeo simultaneously alluded to the attributes of Dr. Jagan: “…there is one thing that we all recognised throughout his struggle and throughout his life – that he was fiercely independent, and always sought to chart a national pathway to prosperity that would be different than the remedies and prescriptions of the developed world”.

“And as we move forward, and as we manage our country in this era, we have to understand who are going to be our next heros; whose examples are we going to emulate in the future. We need to understand what kind of world we live in and what kind of Guyana we want to create, and whose values and ideas we are going to use in creating this new Guyana; and more importantly for us, to understand that and do justice to it…,” Mr. Jagdeo stated.

RESIST WITH BRAIN POWER
He also noted that there is a group of ‘naysayers’ in the country where “everything that we do is wrong for them”, and they sometimes use very alluring arguments that sound attractive to people.

He made mention of arguments relating to his recent trip to Iran, and talks about corruption.

“I say all of these things because there is an active battle out there for your minds and the battle is being waged sometimes not by the politicians but by some sections of the hostile media,” he stressed.

The Head of State said people have to be careful and analyze what is being said and resist with brain power.

He said this year and 2011 will be challenging years since the administration has to pursue plans laid out aggressively, and also in terms of politics, choose a new presidential candidate.

Mr. Jagdeo pointed out to the gathering that there is a process used throughout to select all PPP presidential candidates which the Central Committee of the party endorses, and whatever emerges out of that process, “we will have to respect”

“But I can assure you, our party will come out united and stronger, ready for the 2011 elections so that we can move forward and win those elections. That is the key prize,” he underscored.

Also, he noted that Local Government Elections needs to get going since there is a need for a renewal at the local level for programmes that can move forward faster.

“Comrades, we have this journey that we have been walking on together – we are old partners, some are stalwarts and some have freshly joined the journey but we need to increase the number of partners that we have on this journey together,” the President charegd.

He said this can be done because the PPP has always been “broad-minded”, reiterating that the party truly belongs to all the people of the country.

Alluding to working closer with the Parliamentary opposition, Mr. Jagdeo said this has to be done for the good of Guyana.

He said that the party welcomes closer engagement at the political level to work together in the interest of all the people of the country, and there is great scope for that.

“This country belongs to all of us and we should find a place for everyone but let me make it clear that in any engagement, we are not going to be dominated,” he stressed.

He said the party would be opened to new ideas and partners but “the primary thing driving them must be the interests of the people of this country”.

He urged the gathering to understand that process and recognise it is important for keeping the PPP  in power and moving in an appropriate way.

“Cheddi Jagan and Janet Jagan were special people. They were special because they did not just come and disappear like many others; they left not just ideas but institutions that would live a very, very long time  after they are gone, and we hope forever,” he stated.

General Secretary of the PPP, Mr. Donald Ramotar, in paying tribute also recognised the great achievements made by Dr. Jagan and Mrs. Jagan in the struggle for a better Guyana and restoring democracy.

Also, Prime Minister Samuel Hinds reflected on their contribution and various struggles for the country; and a message from the late comrades’ daughter, Nadira Jagan, was also read.

The programmes also included recitation of quotations by Dr. Jagan and his wife by students, and the launching of a football competition. Among those present at the wreath laying ceremony were Party members, Ministers of the PPP/Civic Government, and PPP/C Members of Parliament.