The following is a press statement issued yesterday by the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) in which it pledges its support for the Maduro Administration, currently under immense pressure from the opposition in neighbouring Venezuela to demit office. It reads:“THE People’s Progressive Party (PPP) extends solidarity to the Government and people of Venezuela in what appears to be a well-orchestrated attempt by the opposition parties, with backing from local and overseas reactionary groups, to destabilize the democratically elected Maduro Administration from office.

“The PPP has been following closely developments in that neighbouring State, and wishes to condemn, in the strongest possible terms, the loss of innocent lives by provocateurs, whose only objective is to reverse the clock of history and restore the old order, based on privileges for the wealthy class at the expense of the poor and the downtrodden.
“The PPP applauds the enormous economic and social gains made by the Venezuelan government under the charismatic leadership of the late Hugo Chavez and now President Maduro on behalf of the Venezuelan people, in particular the ordinary working people.
“The political opposition had hoped that with the passing of Hugo Chavez, the Bolivarian Revolution would have lost momentum. However, much to their chagrin and disappointment, the aspirations and dreams of Simon Bolivar for a free, democratic and just order in Latin America is continuing unabated.
“The current unrest in Venezuela has to be seen in that context. The party calls on the opposition forces to respect the will and the democratic aspirations of the Venezuelan people, and to desist from all attempts to incite violence and unrest in the society.
“The PPP empathises with the Venezuelan Government in its attempt to raise the quality of life of the Venezuelan people, in the face of a hostile political opposition, a situation with which Guyana is all too familiar, given what is taking place here, where the combined political opposition is using its one-seat majority to blackmail the country, and thwart the developmental agenda of the PPP/C government.
“The PPP is confident that the will of the Venezuelan people will prevail over the forces of backwardness and reaction.”