THEY came in their numbers as busloads flocked the Cheddi Jagan Research Centre, Kington last Thursday to honour and celebrate the struggle for the “Restoration of Democracy after the dark 28 years of dictatorship under the PNC” in Guyana.

Such were the sentiments of General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party Clement Rohee, who gave the feature address to the gathering centred around the message of honouring the struggle of the party and those involved in that struggle.
“We are a continuation of that struggle in a different era, but let us not forget that before us there were others… thousands upon thousands of people who struggled to ensure that the People’s Progressive Party was back in office in 1992.”
He commended the sacrifices made by those in the struggle who were persecuted and imprisoned.
Outlining the achievements of the Government in its consecutive office terms, Rohee said, “The Government has touched the lives of thousands upon thousands of people, providing them with potable drinking water when there was none.”
Recognising the challenges faced by these achievements, the General Secretary said: “We are not yet perfect, we have not reached the stage of perfection where everything is available to everyone.” Rohee stated that there are still expectations coming from the people which are acceptable as human nature.
He added that as the economy expands, the livelihood of the people is expected to improve. This is true, according to him, because “people want to make something called progress in life.”
“Every single action, policy, statement, step this Party makes is a progress, because that is the nature of the party. We always seek progress.”
On the notion of Maurice Bishop’s “Forever ever, backward never”, Rohee stressed that the Party has never adopted a principle that is counterproductive.
Drawing from the history of the party, Rohee alluded to the struggle of the PPP in 1950 in demanding adult suffrage where “one of the first statements from the party was for human adult suffrage” where every citizen of Guyana must have the right to vote for the government they trust.
He compared the development of the “right to vote” in British Guiana which was determined by the ownership of land and property to the current voting rights of Guyanese. “The few that had earned property and had the land were the few that decided where this country would go.”
That barrier was broken by Dr. Cheddi Jagan, said Rohee, enabling each Guyanese to have the right to vote.
He asserted that this victory was representative of the progressive nature of the PPP. Rohee also highlighted the dark times faced by the party. “The enemy was knocking at the gates,” he said, “working day and night plotting and planning to make sure that the PPP did not hold office in this country.”
General Secretary Rohee outlined the dramatic history of the People’s Progressive Party from their struggle to gain adult suffrage, to what he described as “28 labouring years in the opposition from 1964” and finally the restoration of democracy in 1992.
He called on those in attendance to observe the 22nd anniversary of PPP leadership with tribute and homage to those who contributed to the fulfilment of the legacy of 22 years that currently stands.
“The people have won”
The event similarly saw the life and works of Dr. Cheddi Jagan being honoured as the rise to office of the PPP was placed on display with the words of the late former President Dr. Jagan, “The people have won.”
An overview was provided of the Party’s co-founder, whose work was recognised as a symbol of struggle and how “one man together with the masses took hold of history and guided it in a purposeful manner to become the tool of the masses.”
President of the Women’s Progressive Organisation, Indranie Chanderpaul speaking on behalf of the WPO noted the significance of October 9 in referring to two events, the first being the suspension of the constitution in 1953.
It was a time when the PPP had won 18 out of 24 seats during the first election held under adult suffrage, only to be abruptly removed from office after 133 days. The second event, she noted, was October 5 which marked the swearing in of Dr. Cheddi Jagan.
In concluding remarks she said: “We can all say that we have come a far way as a nation. There is a lot of work that all of us must continue to do because development is a work in progress… There’s a lot to do…. but all the sacrifices, the commitments and the struggles that were made were not in vain because our country is on the move and has been on the move for the last 22 years.”
Comments were also given by the General Secretary of the Guyana Rice Producer’s Association, Dharamkumar Seeraj who recognised the fact that former President Dr. Cheddi Jagan at one time served as President of the Guyana Rice Producers’ Association, serving with the aim of promoting and advancing the interests of rice producers.
“Comrade Cheddi was always a fighter not only for workers but also for farmers and the peasantry and after all the industry went through, we have seen on reflection… that between two Governments of the People’s Progressive Party, the record of the rice sector… will tell you when the PPP was in Government.”

(By Derwayne Wills)