YESTERDAY, at the Leonora-based PPP Regional MP’s office in Region 3 (West Demerara-Essequibo Islands), scores of elderly citizens were treated to a sumptuous lunch, and were given  hampers that contrived to contain almost every basic dry good and condiment that would satisfy the heart of a householder.

The indefatigable Irfaan Ali, Minister of Housing and Water who holds the portfolio of Tourism, spearheaded the activities and did the honours on behalf of Party General-Secretary, incumbent President Donald Ramotar.
PPP activities generate a sense of family, with the young and the elderly working harmoniously side-by-side to serve their communities and their country; and this occasion was no exception. It was a joy to witness the respectful deference accorded the older folks by the young volunteers who joined Minister Ali in sharing out the food and the hampers.
If this activity is a microcosm of the political landscape of the country, then the PNC/APNU has real cause for concern, because its support base seems to be crumbling, while that of the PPP is being strengthened; because, working together with absolute camaraderie in this PPP community initiative were young people from across every racial divide.
This is a hopeful indicator that, some day in the near future,the PNC would not be able to use its supporters as cannon fodder and bait to derail democratic processes and norms in the country, because they are recognising, and enjoying being a part of,the PPP’s community-building and citizen development and enhancement programmes.
Spontaneous M.C. of the informal event, whom Minister Ali called Uncle Albert – a long outstanding old stalwart with young energy, who is in charge of party work in Leguan, said that the occasion was to celebrate the spirit of love and sharing of Christmas, and reminded the elderly folk that it was Dr. Cheddi Jagan, that great champion of the working class, who had encouraged and facilitated  free worship for all religious faiths in Guyana.
He reminded them of some of Dr. Jagan’s achievements in wresting for the elderly pension for every senior citizen, because he had abolished the nefarious means test that decided the qualifying factors for an elderly person to receive an old-age pension, among a plethora of others, including free water to pensioners.

Contributions to struggle
Regional Vice-Chairman Mohamed Pasha lauded the contribution of Guyana’s senior citizens who had stood alongside the PPP through every travail and trial, until today the PPP has triumphed and been provided the opportunity to transform the country and the lives of its citizens from what obtained prior to 1992. He averred that it was Guyana’s senior citizens who had valiantly struggled during that era, and had laid the foundation for the progress in this era of PPP leadership with a new generation continuing the legacy of striving for, and achieving, goals for the benefit of the nation.
He was loud in praise of Minister Ali’s hard work and accomplishments.
In a short but dynamic address, Minister Ali reminded the elderly citizens of their sufferings under colonial and PNC regimes, alluding to the ultimate sacrifice made by Kowsilla and the destruction of the then best-producing estate located right there at Leonora; with the resultant decay and deterioration of the community and the quality of life of the people, because, like every sugar-based community, the estate provided the major means of employment – directly and indirectly.
Drawing attention to the opposition’s resistance to the government allocating $4 billion to subsidize the sugar industry, for which they, especially the AFC, wanted to take him before the Committee of Privileges for him to be sanctioned, the minister urged the elderly folks to relate all the stories of their struggles to the younger generation, members of which are often swayed by the clever rhetoric of the opposition because they are ignorant of their nation’s history.
He drew attention to the catastrophic ripple effect on the national economy and socio-developmental imperatives if the opposition holds sway and causes an end to the sugar industry in Guyana; but he simultaneously promised that this would never happen under a PPP watch.

Sustaining the sugar industry
He said that President Donald Ramotar sent his love and regards, and that he is fully committed to sustaining the sugar industry and to further expand all social services, which could all be lost if the joint opposition holds sway, because they are holding their one-seat majority like a sword over the head of the PPP/C Government.
The minister informed the rapt and attentive audience that the President has expressed his appreciation for the hard work invested in the PPP struggles by its senior citizens, who continue to support the party in its endeavours.
In an exclusive interview with the Chronicle, Minister Ali said that at that Region 3 PPP MP’s office, ministers and other senior officers would meet  citizens several times per week to deal with issues affecting the them, with in excess of 6,000 cases having been dealt with over the last year to date, most of them successfully to conclusion.
Alluding to the PPP’s philosophy of serving people irrespective of any other consideration but that of humanity, because the PPP is grounded in service to the people and the party works as far as is possible to ensure the enhancement of the quality of the lives of citizens, the minister assured that there would never be a divergent path from this legacy of the party’s founders.
Apart from finding solutions to concerns expressed by various groups and individuals, Ali said that they also hosted medical outreaches, children’s and family events geared toward improving family and community life; and created avenues for greater representation of the needs and concerns of the people.
Referring to yesterday’s event, Minister Ali explained that it was part of a continual reaching out to the people and work within communities in efforts to achieve productive goals, especially in restoring the societal balance so urgently needed to sustain peaceful and supportive family roles within the framework of the community.
To this end, the minister informed that the officials had been working diligently with the young people of the region in an integrated, holistic approach to getting them involved in healthy activities; and he mentioned the re-activation of the Cheddi Jagan Memorial Dominoes competition.

A family of givers
The minister came from a long line of PPP supporters who served their communities and country well. And one of these stalwarts — his grandmother Sakeena — had taught young girls and single parents life skills such as upholstering and sewing, a resuscitation of which activity the party proposes for the immediate future, along with creative and character-building exercises such as poetry reading, elocution debates, drama, inter-secondary schools’ debating competitions, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera in efforts to resuscitate community life.
Counselling would also be provided, and comprehensive computer and related training programmes are also in the works.
Minister Ali said those activities would not be extraneous to the formal educational concepts in the school system, but would be compatible with an added edge.
The minister’s uncle, Mushtag Ali, will be donating the sewing machines for the sewing classes.
One of the main events planned for the future is a revival of the Cheddi Jagan T20 Cricket Memorial competition, because cricket had suffered in the region, especially at the competitive level.
“We are hoping to provide counselling in conflict resolution and other psycho-social dynamics; career guidance for, but not limited to, young people,” said the minister, who continued, “We are hoping to extend our reach to NGOs that provide counselling in anger management and other related areas, such as sports counselling. These initiatives are certain to redound to greater care and love within the social landscape of the communities nationwide.”
That the PPP is succeeding immeasurably in these initiatives was attested to by the group of young volunteers from across every divide, whose selfless and committed work ensured the success of the joyous event, which was reflected in the happy countenances and expressions of appreciation of all the participants – both givers and recipients — yesterday at the PPP Regional MP’s office of Region 3.