– says while the entire world is poorer for his passing, his legacy of virtue in struggle and the triumph of justice over injustice will forever live on

THE Central Committee and entire membership of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) mourns the death of Nelson Mandela who passed away peacefully on December 5, 2013 at age 95.The PPP, in a condolence message, said Mandela would be remembered for many things – as a fighter against apartheid rule, as a leader of the South African people, as an international statesman, as a person of strong moral character and tenacity of conviction in a free and democratic South Africa – attributes that sets him apart from others especially during those dark and painful moments of white minority rule.
But it was his ability to rise above the political fray, reconcile differences and bring together people from all across the political and ethnic divide that defined him as a true and genuine statesman, the PPP said.
“For him no sacrifices were considered too great in his struggle for a free and dignified society. Not even the suffocating and toxic environment of repressive apartheid rule was enough to silence him or weaken his resolve for an end to the hated system of apartheid rule,” the party said.
It noted that after spending twenty seven years in prison Mandela rose to become the first democratically elected President of South Africa. And he is rightly regarded as the Father of a free democratic and modern South Africa.
The PPP said it has always been inspired by the heroic struggles of Nelson Mandela and the ANC of which he was a founding member. “Indeed both parties have always enjoyed warm and fraternal ties with the PPP leading the struggle in Guyana for an end to apartheid rule,” the PPP stated.
It said such was the extent of the respect accorded to the PPP that the ANC- led government  awarded Dr. Cheddi Jagan that country’s highest award – the Oliver Tambo Award.
According to the PPP, “the entire world is poorer for his passing but his legacy of virtue in struggle and the triumph of justice over injustice will forever live on”.
In honour of the life and work of this great and outstanding leader, the PPP will be hosting a commemorative activity on Monday December 9 at 17:00 hrs at the Umana Yana, Georgetown.