WITH Congress being the highest decision-making forum of the incumbent People’s Progressive Party (PPP), President Donald Ramotar, in his capacity as Party General Secretary, has called on its membership to help strengthen the party, and stay true to the principles and beliefs of its founder-leader, the late Dr. Cheddi Jagan.

He made the call Friday at the opening of the Party’s 30th Congress, now in its third and final day at the J.C. Chandisingh Secondary School, where it is hoped that by the end of the meet, a new breed of leaders will have been elected, and a new course will have been charted for the Party.
“As the People’s Progressive Party, we have a duty to fight for these principles, and never to relent, even in the face of an uncompromising and uncomprehending opposition. I make this personal commitment that I, as President and Head of State, will not relent. And as General Secretary of your Party, I commit you, members of the People’s Progressive Party, to never ever relent either,” he said, adding:
“We must therefore rise, reorganise and rebuild, as someone once said; share ideas, define the points of disagreement; and overcome these whilst continuing to deliver development for all.”
He also spoke passionately about where he would like to see the country headed in the not too distant future, promising to do whatever it takes necessary to end the present gridlock in the National Assembly so as to get on with the business of running the country, and making dreams a reality.
Said he: “I am committed to securing better healthcare; better schools; better jobs; better transportation; and security to all families. This is my dream, and we, as the PPP, will do everything in our power to make this dream a reality.”
Although he has tried unremittingly to work with the opposition, he has so far been unsuccessful in shifting them from intractable positions inimical to Government’s developmental agenda; but, ever mindful that for Guyana to continue the path to progress that began with the PPP/C Government’s assuming office, there has to be radical change, the President said, “The time for harsh decisions may be now…”
The joint opposition has taken unilateral, oftentimes unconstitutional decisions on national budgets, key developmental projects, and vital legislation, all programmed in the Government’s agenda for continued advances in the national development paradigm.
The gridlock in the National Assembly, with the joint opposition slashing national budgets of 2012 and 2013 to the tune of billions of dollars and stymieing key projects; jeopardising funding for the flagship Amaila Falls Hydro-electric Project, and unresolved impasse on important legislation, including the anti-money laundering Act, has severely inhibited the impetus in social development and is threatening the sustained economic growth of recent successive years.
Left poised at the brink of runaway national progress in 2011, this ‘new dispensation’ created with the loss of PPP parliamentary majority is jeopardizing the nation’s economy and the people’s welfare and could precipitate catastrophe in the nation at various levels, and it is from this basis that President Ramotar observed, “There is only one hope here in Guyana, and that lies right here in this Hall with us. We must continue to battle…”
The President promised more resilience and commitment to the people, as he listed some of the more significant achievements of the PPP/C Government, namely massive investments in the social sectors of health, education, infrastructure and other social programmes, and expressed the resolve that the party will persevere against all odds in its mandate to improve the quality of life for all the people of Guyana.

Transformative projects
Transformative projects that are majorly impacting the lives of citizens; or on stream, such as the Berbice Bridge, the Brazil/Guyana linkage through the Takutu Bridge, the proposed Suriname/Guyana bridge, the New Demerara River bridge now being charted, roads, hospitals, the new stelling in Essequibo, the new ferries that have improved transportation in Regions Two and Three, the distribution of over 100,000 house lots, with a new ferry for the Mabaruma/Georgetown route soon to come on stream, another highway to the city from the East Bank of Demerara, expansion of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport and Ogle Airport, and the flagship Amaila Falls Hydro Project were also highlighted by the President.
But all of these transformative social programmes, averred the PPP General-Secretary, were achieved in consonance with the Party’s commitment to the people of Guyana.
“All the sweat and frustration, the efforts that have gone into making these things happen, is for the sole purpose of making a better life for the people of Guyana,” he said.
And with reference to the dark years of the previous administration, President Ramotar said that the extant progress in the national framework could only continue if the current status in the National Assembly, which, in effect, is a non-functioning Parliament, is changed, and he appealed for a resurgence of dedication to the ideals and principles of founder-leader, Dr. Cheddi Jagan, and a resolve by Party supporters to help to effect that change.
The President’s sentiments were endorsed by Progressive Youth Organisation President, Omar Sharif, who said that the Party has revamped its youth division, with a charge from Ramotar to be more proactive in efforts to re-energize its young brigade.