PPP always keeps faith with people
– PM Sam Hinds prime example
WHEN Dr. Cheddi Jagan invited Sam Hinds of the GUARD movement to join with the PPP through a civic component to form a PPP/civil society alliance, along with others from diverse political parties who wished to join the PPP to help in rebuilding the nation after the relatively free-and-fair elections in 1992, the latter decided to take a leap of faith.
Sharing similar visions, ideals, and commitment to nation-building, Cheddi and Sam embarked in a partnership that did not end with Dr. Jagan’s passing – because the PPP patriarch passed the baton of leadership on as well, which was ultimately handed over by Mrs. Jagan to the young man they had both mentored; and Sam kept right on partnering the young President, as both a father figure and a co-leader.

Passionate speakers denouncing the collective opposition and applauding the developmental policies of successive PPP/C administrative constructs. (Adrian Narine photos)

The rest is history.  Bharrat Jagdeo, as President, went on from strength to strength and left an unparalleled record of development in Guyana; but he could not have done it without the team created by the Jagans, with Sam Hinds being an integral partner in leadership for all the years of the PPP/C in government.
When Presidential Candidate Donald Ramotar announced that Sam Hinds will continue this partnership, with the Civic component retaining the Prime Ministerial position, as agreed, it marked and highlighted the fact that the PPP keeps faith with anyone who sincerely commits to join with that party in nation-building; but moreso, in Ramotar’s own words, PM Sam Hinds “…has the energy, he has the desire, and he has the will to continue to serve our country.”
Prime Minister Samuel Archibald Hinds, O.E., has served Guyana with distinction and is beloved by all Guyanese without reservations, except the hate-mongers, who refuse to see this gentleman’s innate goodness and humanity, which makes him rise above self to work indefatigably for the common good.
And the partnership will continue with a Donald Ramotar/Sam Hinds leadership combo that will propel an accelerated national development that will take every Guyanese – man, woman, and child out of the jaws of poverty as the new governmental construct build upon the foundations laid by the Jagans and Bharrat Jagdeo.
Enroute to the Lieu-Ken-Pen Square at Wismar last Sunday, what immediately impacted the consciousness was the proliferation of PPP/C banners and posters lining all along the highway, through the streets, and right up to the venue, all untouched – neither defaced nor torn.  That this was so in Region 10 was striking to anyone who is au fait with things and events past in Guyana.
Noteworthy, also – more than either at the Albion or Kitty rallies, the rally in Linden reflected a truly Guyanese audience, with a mixture of thousands in near-equal parts of almost every ethnic and religious Guyanese composition.
My God, this was a Region 10 audience expressing jubilation at a PPP/C rally, unprecedented after the decades-old political split that divided the nation along racial lines.  This was history in the making last Sunday at Region 10; and the significance would not have been lost on all those who struggled alongside Dr. Jagan, who grieved even as he fought to restore unity once more in the Guyanese nation.  As Donald Ramotar said during an interview with this newspaper, this achievement is the real victory of the PPP/C – that Guyanese are once more coming together to work toward the common good in the spirit of 1953.
In the tranquil beauty of a balmy twilight in that rural community, with the river meandering its lazy way, successive speakers gave their reasons for joining the PPP/C, while the audience listened attentively – wildly cheering at times.
Master of Ceremony (MC) Mr. Robeson Benn, invited all Region 10 citizens to make that leap of faith, because the PPP/C administration needs the energy to continue development in the region, urging against their paying heed to those who charge the administration with accusations of racism and discrimination, despite the amplitude of evidence to the contrary.
He reminded Lindeners of the past, when ‘Guylines’ and baton-wielding horse guards determined what basic commodities and foodstuff should be allowed to the ordinary citizen and encouraged them to help the PPP/C to win the national and regional elections so that the administration could continue to develop their region without impediments and obstruction.
Ms. Maylene Stephens said the PPP/C, under a Ramotar presidency, will continue to transform Guyana and reminded them of all the assistance that they have been receiving from the government toward bettering their lives and their communities.
Moslem social activist, Jafar Mohamed prayed for the nation and said that those who lived through the era of PNC domination will appreciate the salvation in the nation that the PPP/C government has provided.  He posited that there are only two religions – righteousness and wickedness, where some worship God and some worship the Devil.  He urged that Region 10 citizens accept salvation in whatever form it comes and disregard the irrelevancy of skin colour and other nebulous considerations.
Heaping accolades on the PPP/C’s leadership while blasting the opposition as cheats only intent on power, who are all scrambling for leadership, Mohamed stressed that, under divine guidance, the PPP chose its Presidential Candidate with 100% votes, and thus Ramotar is clearly God’s choice.
Maybe it is portentous, because while it rained heavily during the APNU rally, and on Sunday all along the Linden highway, and even earlier at the Lieu-Ken-Pen Square, the sun shone brilliantly before gracefully submerging itself into a balmy twilight before and during the PPP/C rally, which elicited remarks from supporters that this is God’s blessing on the PPP/C.  They also remarked on the thunderous blasts from the skies on the President’s Day of Appreciation, which preluded the event – a phenomenon they consider to be an ovation by divine forces for a job well done.
Phillip Bynoe fancifully praised the PPP/C for being a political party that is as constant as the northern star (which travellers and sailors use as a guide on difficult journeys); and provides positive leadership, which is the reason that he ascribes for the party growing successively stronger and more united countrywide.
Flaying Regional Chairman Mortimor Mingo for continually hindering progress and robbing the community’s coffers, Bynoe urged listeners to vote for the PPP/C and climb the ladder that they are in the process of providing to take the community out of the hole of poverty into which they had been thrown by the past administration.  He expressed his conviction that Donald Ramotar will continue to build on the path of progress carved by President Jagdeo.
Sherry James related that she was squatting in Amelia’s Ward when Mingo threw her out.  However, years later she is now the proud owner of a home through the PPP/C’s housing drive.  She urged her compatriots not to be fooled anymore by those who make false promises.
She recalled previous years, when opposition leaders were inaccessible to the people, and when the villages had no lights and Robert Corbin would drive past in his luxurious vehicles to his farm, which had lights, comparing then to now, when President Jagdeo and other PPP/C leaders meet ordinary citizens on a regular basis to hear their problems, for which they always attempt to find solutions.  She scoffed at their charges of discrimination and related that, as a soldier in Seweyo, they had no private vote and were forced to vote for the PNC.
According to James, a palm tree is very difficult to kill, but that professional killers had killed the PNC.  She then went on to read an obituary for that party, which had only destructive policies that had devastated the country – with negative impacts on the Guyanese people.
Andrew Forsyth recalled the bad times under the PNC Government, when everyone suffered near-starvation, unless they could fish; and that PNC thugs even beat persons who line up for the little ration that they occasionally made available.
He urged Region 10 citizens to work along with the government as one family to continue to develop their community and the entire country, stating that the campaign is about continuing progress under a PPP/C administration.  He reminded listeners that it was the PPP/C government that had saved the bauxite industry when the PNC, which, after retrenchment and absolute mismanagement, had intended to shut down the industry.
West Watooka, he said, was a veritable jungle which the administration has already transformed, as they have the rest of the community, and he outlined many of the developments already undertaken to make lives better in the community; and many of the projected plans to thrust the community into great prosperity in the immediate future.
Party stalwart, Neendkumar, also outlined some of the developmental programmes that the government had already executed, including a state-of-the-art hospital and other facilities.
POLITICAL CAPADULLA

Foreign Affairs Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett said: “I am a proud Buckwoman”, to loud cheers from members of the indigenous communities present at the event.
Describing President Jagdeo as a visionary who strides tall in the international arena, she reminded the audience that, when the President was presented with the Champion of the Earth Award, he accepted it on behalf of Guyanese.
She adumbrated some of the many beneficial programmes that the PPP/C administration had executed to give Amerindian communities equal rights in their country – especially the right to own their own lands.  She recalled the days when the past administration had treated Guyana’s first peoples in ways that broke their self-esteem and dignity.
Positing that a monster is still a monster, even if its name is changed, she concluded that there is no political capadulla that will bring back that party (referring the PNC turned APNU) to life.
Presentations were also made by Prime Minister Sam Hinds, President Bharrat Jagdeo,and Presidential Candidate Donald Ramotar.
World-class entertainment was provided by the St. Cuthbert’s Dance Troupe, with the Temperature Band accompanying Kross Kolor Performers, Mighty Kendingo, Vanilla, Big Red, and Jumo.  M.C. Robeson Benn was jubilantly dancing to the throbbing sounds from the African drummers, who were belting out a medley of Kanchan,  Bollywood filmi songs, traditional queh queh, chutney, and Terry Gajraj’s Guyana Babu with equal fervour,