-Dr Jagdeo says, highlights lack of inclusivity in both parties

THE leadership of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNC/R) and the Alliance for Change (AFC) mirrors a lack of diversity, although both parties tend to advocate for this.

This is according to the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) General Secretary, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo who addressed the question of where do mixed persons fit in the “all black” leadership, during his weekly press conference on Thursday.

He stated: “Mixed people or any other for that matter, don’t have a place there. It’s ridiculous… racist cabals now control and it is not a good thing for people with where the country is going.”

Dr Jagdeo also pointed out that despite the lack of efforts towards bettering the lives of citizens, the Opposition is now “running down” initiatives that are geared towards enhancing the well-being of Guyanese.

“Look at what happened when they were in government for people in Linden,” the PPP General Secretary said.

The PPP General Secretary highlighted the difference between the PPP/C when it comes to implementing measures that will better the lives of all and called the PNC/R an “elitist” party.

He said: “I doubt whether even Afro-Guyanese will find a comfortable place in that party…”

“You’re not going to get help if you’re an ordinary Afro-Guyanese,” he later stated.

Aubrey Norton was re-elected as Leader of the PNC/R, together with Vinceroy Jordan and Elizabeth Williams-Niles as Vice-Chairpersons and Shurwayne Holder as Chairperson. The newly elected Treasurer is Elson Low.

In the AFC, Nigel Hughes was elected the new Leader while the Chairman of the Party is now David Patterson with Michael Carrington as the new Vice Chair and Raphael Trotman as the General Secretary.
Dr Jagdeo had previously pointed to evidence that contradicts tunes centred on care for Afro-Guyanese that the PNC/R disguised as the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) sings.

The PNCR, according to him, has campaigned on “racism and fear” which resulted in many persons being afraid to throw their support behind the governing PPP/C.

However, this fear is now being eroded, he said. “…People may be tempted to say if I’m Afro-Guyanese then this is my party because it caters for my interests… but that’s false too,” Dr Jagdeo said.

He went on to say: “APNU wants to create a victim mentality among Afro-Guyanese.”

Outlining some of the rumor mills being peddled by the Opposition and how they are far from the truth, Dr Jagdeo first touched on the subject of scholarships.

He asserts that a significant number of Guyanese, including individuals from the Afro-Guyanese community, are profiting from scholarships, surpassing the amount provided during the previous coalition government’s tenure.

Touching on the topic of house lot allocations, he said: “More Afro-Guyanese have gotten house lots under the PPP than they would ever get under APNU.”

“…They don’t want Afro Guyanese to get wealthier, so [they] will keep them not owning anything,” he said while highlighting that unlike the APNU, the PPP pushes for betterment for all Guyanese, including Afro-Guyanese.

Further, he said: “‘We are campaigning on trying to grow people’s lives, not keep them down.”