GENERAL Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C), Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, says the continuous discrimination of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNC/R) against its Indo-Guyanese members will eventually lead to the party’s downfall.

Dr. Jagdeo made this comment during his speech at Babu Jaan, Port Mourant, East Berbice-Corentyne last week where he paid tribute to the founding leaders of the PPP/C.

The General Secretary said that Aubrey Norton has been the Leader of the Opposition for over a year and already the party has changed two Indo-Guyanese general secretaries and a treasurer.

He also criticised Executive Member of the Working People’s Alliance (WPA), David Hinds, who disparaged a number of PNC/R Indo-Guyanese members for speaking out against racist and incendiary remarks made by the WPA.

Hinds had said that the PNC/R Indo-Guyanese members were only there to attract Indo-Guyanese voters.

Hinds referred to Indo-Guyanese PNC/R member Geeta Chandan-Edmond as a “slaver catcher” for having condemned remarks made by WPA member, Tacuma Ogunseye, who made racially charged remarks against East Indians at a public meeting in Buxton, East Coast Demerara.

Hinds had also directed comments at PNC/R Parliamentarians Ganesh Mahipaul, and Natasha Singh-Lewis; Regional Chairman Daniel Seeram, and Mayor Ubraj Narine who had issued a joint statement condemning the remarks of another WPA Member, Rhonda Layne.

“That’s their only purpose in the party. Not to promote a multi-ethnic and to respect people of every race and every faith as this party does…They (PNC/R) saw them as outsiders. That philosophy, the racism of the PNC will lead to their demise, and now they are rapidly dying as an organisation. At the next elections, not just the local government one, we will prove that definitively in the one in 2025,” Jagdeo told hundreds of PPP supporters at Babu Jaan.

Jagdeo reasoned that such a philosophy is not in line with the values of a modern, democratic society and that the PNC/R needs to embrace a more inclusive and progressive approach if it hopes to remain relevant in the political landscape.

The General Secretary noted that this is an important message, as it highlights the need for political parties to evolve with the times and adapt to the changing needs and values of their constituents.

President Dr. Irfaan Ali, at the same event, had pledged to eliminate all “weapons of racism” that are directed at the government and its citizens, amidst a wave of racial discrimination being fuelled by opposition elements.

The Head of State called on the nation to stand strong against “forces” which are “hell-bent” on weaponising racial discrimination in Guyana.

Dr. Ali stressed that it is important for political leaders to prioritise the well-being of the country and its people, rather than engaging in divisive rhetoric that only serves to further polarise the nation.

“They only weaponise this one great asset that we have; the one great asset is our diversity as a people. It is not a negative; our diversity is a great asset to us, but there are those who cannot help themselves but weaponise this asset.

“…I say that no weapon formed in the clothing of racism will succeed, once this People’s Progressive Party is alive. And we don’t intend to die; we will stay alive. We will disband, destroy and completely wipe out the weapon of racism that continues to be used against the people of this country. And those who handle the weapon must understand that their days are numbered, and their days are coming to an end, because that weapon is being destroyed, globally. And that weapon will be buried here in Guyana,” President Ali said.