– now the longest serving member of the Party’s Central Committee
THE People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has extended best wishes to Mr. Reepu Daman Persaud who celebrated his 75th birthday on January 16th. The PPP, in a statement, noted that Mr. Persaud is now the longest serving member of the Party’s Central Committee. He has been serving at this level for more than fifty (50) years.

“Over this period, he emerged as one of our country’s national leaders who participated in many important and historic activities,” PPP General-Secretary Mr. Donald Ramotar said in the statement.

“These include the anti-colonial struggles, the fight to restore democracy and the period of re-construction and building Guyana,” the PPP stated.

As a politician, Mr. Persaud worked closely with Dr. Cheddi Jagan and was involved in all the important decisions of the PPP.

As a Member of  Parliament from 1964 to 2006, Mr. Persaud served the Guyanese people with distinction.

In the opposition benches, he had to contend with many leading legal luminaries. He held his own and kept the struggle for democracy in focus. He was also the Party’s spokesman for agriculture and again took to task many of the PNC regime’s Agriculture Ministers.

From 1992 to 2006, he was the leader of the House. Again he served with distinction, as he did in his ministerial portfolios.

Mr. Reepu Daman Persaud is also the leading Hindu Pandit in Guyana and, according to the PPP, “this is a title he earned”.

The party noted that through his political and other work, he defended and promoted this culture which was brought here by indentured servants from India.

However, in doing so, he also promoted tolerance and respect for other religions. He has always stood firmly on the PPP’s position on freedom of conscience.
On this note, the PPP extended best wishes to Pandit Reepu Daman Persaud and his family on this most significant milestone.