Guyanese from all walks of life will get to see good political strategy, and an insight into the philosophical and practical approaches taken to advance the growth and development of the economy while balancing the scales of politics and government.

This will become possible when the General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party Civic, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo and President Dr Irfaan Mohamed Ali take the podium to deliver remarks at today’s ceremony to mark the 106th birth anniversary, and 27th death anniversary of the party’s founder and former President, the late Dr Cheddi Jagan.

The ceremony will also pay tributes to his wife and co-founder Janet Jagan who died in March 2009 after serving as a Guyanese President.
The leaders, more so Jagdeo, is expected to state how the legacy of the Jagans is being kept alive now and how it has passed through generations in the form of PPP/C and government policies.

They will no doubt delve into how the PPP/C party is treating with the goals that the Jagans had set out to accomplish back then when they were presidents and throughout their political career such as ending racism, eliminating hunger and fast-tracking Guyana infrastructural and socioeconomic development.
The PPP leaders and the president will not miss an opportunity to tell their supporters that they are participating in what Jagan lived and fought hard for in Guyana and they will paint a good picture of a strong fighting party.

But here are a few things that the public wants Jagdeo and the President to address in their speeches ahead of the next election.
Firstly, after giving the Jagans due respect and paying them homage, Jagdeo must take on the PPP/C critics which are the opposition political party, APNUAFC, the civil society groups and so-called independent commentators who are constantly hurting the image of his party and the country by making allegations that the PPP/C government and party are racist and discriminating against groups of people in the country.

This is dangerous and though he has spoken to the allegations ad nauseam, he should show how the government is actively sharing the resources in an equitable manner and broadening access to groups. He should show the drastic differences between the governments of the PNC/R, APNUAFC and PPP/C.
If he does not speak to it at Babu Jaan, he should do so at the next best opportunity because the public is buying into the opposition lies and they sympathize with the arguments of the opposition.

Additionally, Jagdeo must make it abundantly clear that this thing or concept that Hamilton Green said PPP/C leaders allegedly used in 50s and 60s of being ‘pon top’ is a lie and that is not what PPP/C, under his watch, stands for or subscribes to.
He must throw it away with all the mischievous and racist ideologies of the opposition politicians because Jagan never believed in the politics of racism. He wanted to achieve a government of national unity and inclusivity.

Secondly, the president must show all that his government is doing and all the work that he and his cabinet is doing to ensure Guyana stays on the right development trajectory in areas such as infrastructural development and socioeconomic welfare of citizens. He must stand up to the labour and trade unions who are acting as political conduits for the wider opposition. He must not mix and mince words but speak to his governments actions and why they behaved the way they did.

President Ali must get down in the political dungeon and fire shots where necessary, reminding the people that even though he is elevated to the presidency, he still could play politics if he chooses to and when. This is important because the opposition is taking advantage of government by bullying and forcing its hands.
The president should make his philosophy clear and update the public on the success of ‘One Guyana’ and his attempts at building unity and good governance which are what the Jagans fought hard and long to have for Guyana.

Thirdly, both politicians have the opportunity to state their disgust at PNC and APNUAFC politicians for upholding the electoral fraud that took place in elections and for justifying rigging. Aubrey Norton is possibly going to try the same thing that they did in the 2020 elections next year and both leaders must drag him over the coals.
They must also state their concerns about the election fraud cases and how they are being handled and delayed at the level of the magistracy.

Jagdeo and President Ali must say why no one is sentenced yet for electoral fraud or rigging. They must not shy away from speaking to this and the role that it sets for law and order, and constitutional compliance.
Fourthly, they should stand tall on the principles and philosophical thinking of the PPPC now and say how they have changed in order to serve Guyana better.

They must also speak to other political issues and the shenanigans of the opposition because the opposition politicians will be listening from their homes and in Berbice.
Finally, the PPP/C must know that the 2025 election race starts with this Babu Jaan event. As a matter of fact, since the PPP won the polls, it started. What will be said today will set the tone for the next poll. So, it is time to set the record straight and let the truth be heard wide and far.