–Dr. Jagdeo says; points to reality of love, respect Afro-Guyanese experience in the PPP/C

OVERCOMING the opposition’s decades-old untrue narrative that the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) discriminates against Afro-Guyanese has been one of the most aggressive battles that the party has faced.

During a Monday afternoon radio programme, Dr. Jagdeo referred to the party’s Sunday rally in Linden, Region Ten.
The organic mammoth crowd on Sunday was more than just support, it also symbolised the opposition’s racism being rejected, Dr. Jagdeo pointed out.
“We’ve had to overcome a history of lies designed to keep people away from us,” he said, while pointing to a few of the false narratives that have, in the past, penetrated Afro-Guyanese communities to keep them away from supporting the PPP/C.

The General Secretary, who also serves as Guyana’s Vice-President, noted that more Guyanese have abandoned these attempts to keep them loyal to the opposition, which does not have their best interest at heart.

In that regard, he pointed to the major in-roads the party has been making, and the last Local Government Elections (LGEs) stands as a testament of that.
The Vice-President said: “As people come into the family, they see the true nature of the PPP, and that’s why, in spite of the abuse that have been hurled against Afro-Guyanese designed to keep them away from us, they’ve been called all sorts of names, people have experienced the love in our family… they see the respect once you’re a member of the PPP family, we don’t look at race or religion or gender. You’re part of our collective.”

Further addressing the constant fear-mongering and political intimidation that Afro-Guyanese constantly face to drive them away from the PPP/C, Dr. Jagdeo highlighted that opportunities are being created for all, and the PPP/C has remained a party that fights for all.

“If we become racist, then we betray our Founding Father and also our founding ideals,” he firmly stated.

‘WE TAKE OUR PROMISES SERIOUSLY’
Reflecting on the path that Guyana has journeyed through, the Vice-President pointed out that the nation had to reel from the disastrous policies that the previous A Partnership for National Unity+ Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) had enacted from 2015-2020.

Guyanese listened to the APNU+AFC’s promise of a better life, and Dr. Jagdeo said instead of that, their tenure in office was marred by increased taxation, social programmes being taken away and approximately 35,000 jobs being lost.

Contrast their period with the PPP/C’s own, the Vice-President pointed to the strides in all sectors- ranging from 12 hospitals being built, over 60,000 jobs created, the children’s and joint services grants being restored and overall, the lives of all Guyanese being improved.

On that note, he said that a party’s currency is the promises it makes and the PPP/C, he said, takes its promises seriously and fulfils them.

“We go into these elections with a great deal of credibility,” the Vice-President stated.