…says President Jagdeo
PPP Presidential Candidate Donald Ramotar has a strong track record of achievements within the party and remains committed to national unity and the development of Guyana. President Bharrat Jagdeo made this assertion yesterday during a press conference at the Office of the President, when he addressed the issue of Ramotar’s independence as his successor, given his (the president’s) involvement in a series of transitional projects currently in the pipeline.
These include the Amaila Falls Hydro Project, the Fibre Optic Cable from Brazil, and Climate Change issues, among others.
Jagdeo said, “My strong involvement in a lot of these projects does not mean that Donald Ramotar cannot be independent. Donald Ramotar is a strong person; he will have to chart a way forward, I do not see a problem with helping to get some of these projects done.”
According to the Head of State, any assistance rendered in implementing some of the projects can, in no way, be seen as infringing on the Ramotar’s independence, rather it can be viewed as a collective effort towards the successful realisation of the projects.
President Jagdeo noted that, while the President has “tremendous individual power”, the party has always remained supportive of all efforts.
In this regard, he expressed confidence that Mr. Ramotar can “chart his own course” for the continued growth and development of the country.
“We have done a lot of work, but we have yet to take off, and that take off will come under Ramotar. When  the manifesto comes out, I am sure that it will have these projects in it … five years from now Guyana will be better off, under his presidency, than now when I am leaving,” President Jagdeo stated.
Exciting line-up
Continuing, President Jagdeo assured that the PPP/C’s 2011 elections campaign will be progressive, compared to other contesting parties, as it will driven by young, experienced party members.
He explained, “We have a very exciting slate and we are in a unique position where we have a lot of young people who are also experienced; if you look at the cabinet that we currently have, you will see more than half of the members are in their 30s or 40s.”
Jagdeo pointed out that the party members have been tried and tested in very serious conditions; and as such, they offer the greatest chance of continuity.
He reiterated that young people will be a prominent part of the PPP/C’s campaign, as they continue to focus on the future development of the country.
“If you  look at the entire approach to the elections, we do speak about the past and how difficult it was, we have spoken about the long road and how far we have come, but a lot of our campaigning  is about the future too, about what we have to offer Guyana,” the President said.
According to the Head of State, the plans for a new progressive Guyana, with a new economy and new sectors, are already unfolding for all to see.
Young people are expected to play a very important part in these new sectors which are projected to generate most of the country’s wealth in the future, he added.
This includes the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector, which, according to President Jagdeo, will revolutionise the traditional sectors and allow for the delivering of services to the people of this country in a different mode.
“We are already implementing this, unlike some of the parties that promise this,” he stated.