The Dream of Cheddi’s Heart
– is being realized because PPP believes ‘Together we Will’ achieve
ALL ages, all races, from every corner of the nation, Guyanese are mobilizing under the rallying cry of the PPP: “Together we Will”. It is an adage and a concept that is not mere sloganeering, but a party policy that is integral to the quintessential core values of a political party that Dr. Emanuel Cummings described as the “Father and Mother” of all political parties in Guyana.
And somewhere in the stratosphere Dr. Cheddi Jagan is smiling in pure happiness because what his partner in struggle, PM Sam Hinds has described as his “Dream of the Heart” is once more becoming a reality.
This nation that PPP/C Presidential candidate Donald Ramotar describes as a “rainbow of races” is being united through the equitable governance of the PPP/C administration, which is being recognized by every fair-minded Guyanese citizen, who can see beyond party politics to a future bright with promise for their children.
Guyanese are today bonding in, according to Moslem cleric, Winslow Barton, brotherliness and neighbourliness once more as everyone strives – individually and collectively, to create a landscape of peace and cohesion where all Guyanese children could be afforded the opportunities of living in a country that offers them opportunities for personal growth and a life of prosperity provided by their own endeavours through the facilitating mechanisms of a caring, responsible and committed administration.
And while there is admission – even within the government administrative construct, that there are many problems within the national landscape still awaiting resolution, the momentum of change and restructuring to enhance the development dynamics, in equitable, transparent and accountable ways, is gathering even more forceful synergies, especially with the advent of a Donald Ramotar presidency who, while promising that his administration will be based on continuity, because PPP/C has one developmental manifesto, which is periodically changed to adapt to extant and emerging challenges, and especially in its modernization thrust, will govern with his own personal management imprimatur.
RUNAWAY TRAIN RIDE TO VICTORYThe PPP/C is on a runaway train ride to victory at the November polls, which is evident from the reception at its public meetings and rallies so far. As veteran in the hustings, Gail Teixeira said, in formerly pro-PNC enclaves, where PPP candidates used to be bricked down, people are now coming out in numbers to listen to the speakers – which may not translate into votes, but which indicates that Guyanese are becoming a more mature people who are not prepared to mortgage the future of their children for political opportunists who have no qualms about using their supporters for cannon fodder, even as they themselves enjoy the most luxurious lifestyles in absolute safety.
The mood at the PPP Kitty rally last Sunday was buoyant, with all national talent providing world-class entertainment, even as serious issues were addressed by the speakers.
Master of Ceremonies, Clinton Collymore, before introducing medical practitioner and social, cultural and religious activist, as well as lecturer at the medical school, Dr. Vindhya Vasini Persaud, said that this is a historic juncture in the history of the country, where the country is poised to accelerate progress and build on the laudatory achievements of the Bharrat Jagdeo administration, because Guyana is all set to become a land of “milk and honey”. According to Collymore, a staunch Hindu, he has always been ‘Uncle Colly’ to Pt. Reepu Daman Persaud’s children, and he was happy to welcome his niece Vindhya to an election platform for the first time.
Believe in country that encourages citizens to forge ahead Vindhya said that she lives in a country that has a government which espouses ideals that encourage people in every sphere, of any gender, of all ages to develop themselves to optimal capacity; a government that encourages its people to use their diversity as enriching factors to unity and sharing of cultural and religious observances and practices to create an environment of religious, political and cultural cohesion.
She exuded confidence in her delivery, whereby she said that young people – from Guyana’s hinterland to its coastland are experiencing as never before the opportunities provided by the PPP/C government to lead and excel; and that they can stand very tall because they are achieving their goals at optimal levels through the facilitating mechanisms developed by government.
Citing the international acclaim that President Bharrat Jagdeo has won for himself and, by extension this country and its people, Vindhya said that this is an example of the PPP/C’s faith in the young people of the nation, because the President has done this nation proud and is leading by example.
About women’s achievements, she acclaimed the female professionals and achievers, some of whom occupy the highest positions in the land, with over 50% of UG graduates being female. She adjured Guyanese women to recognize that their issues have been brought to the forefront by the current administration, which has enacted legislation to protect their interests and put systems in place to empower them so that their dependence on male partners can be minimized, if not altogether eradicated.
Vindhya described Presidental Candidate Donald Ramotar, whom she has known from her childhood, as approachable and accessible; and someone with political savvy and experience; someone who has a passion for the people of this country, who will continue to blaze the trail that his predecessors had carved.
Opposition promising what PPP/C already delivered
Young Collin Croal applauded Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo for shepherding the nation so well and lauded the PPP/C for investing one-fifth of its budget in the education sector – in academics and techvocs, as well as providing myriads of benefits and opportunities for young people in the land to pursue personal growth and development, alluding to himself as a prime example.
He referred to the government’s investment in enhancing scientific and technological competencies to bring this country on line with, and even supersede modernized variables in even first-world nations, citing an instance where even jobs would one day be procured online through government’s facilitating medium – the Central Recruitment and Manpower Agency.
Alluding to some of the areas where young people are benefiting from government interventions in the area of sports, he cited several state-of-the-art facilities built for sports development, and made special mention of the new hinterland sports programme, as well as the fact that young persons can today own their own homes.
He lamented the fact that everything the government built, the opposition criticizes, then end up utilizing. According to Croal, all that the opposition collective are today promising the Government has long since been delivered to the people; especially the scholarship programmes, which has long been in force, and which will soon result in almost all medical institutions in the nation being manned by all-Guyanese medical practitioners.
MULTIRACIAL PARTY
Dr. Emmanuel Cummings said it is important that the PPP/C win Region Four at the polls so that it can control development in this very large and important region and encouraged his fellow Afro-Guyanese to vote solidly for the PPP/C so that their region can enjoy progress without impediment.
He said that management of the country is moving from one economist to another and that the PPP/C is the only national party that is interested in national development.
According to Dr. Cummings, the PNC left Guyana in a hole from which President Jagdeo dug the nation out, and that Donald Ramotar will continue on this path to progress. Urging parents to let their children know of the times when merely eating certain foods made one into a criminal, he said that the PPP/C is the only party with the people’s interests at heart and that from the very inception it has been a multiracial party that is developing the nation with equity.
Dr. Cummings recalled that previously scholarships were only provided to children of the elitists, whereas today any poor child can aspire to any profession because the best educational opportunites are being provided to all Guyanese children without fear or favour, which is being reflected in the composition of scholarship awardees and the results of examinations, because schools countrywide are now doing well in the various exams.
There was a time in this land when one could not dream, but only had nightmares, reflected Dr. Cummings, who iterated that the environment that has been created by the PPP/C lends to a cohesive society, acculturation, and religious pluralism, and warned against a return to a climate of the past, when children were malnourished. He said that the country has developed progressively under successive PPP/C Presidents, and will continue to do so under a Donald Ramotar presidency.
In today’s Guyana, he stressed, there is affluence resulting from a changed political landscape fostered by the PPP/C – a party of which he is a proud member, to which he was converted through the sincerity of its applications to nation-building and national development – a party which has an open-door policy for anyone. He posited that the other parties are fooling around and warned voters not to vote for a party that “left us in a miserable state”.
“Look at women here today, boy”
Gail Teixeira, former secretary to Dr. Cheddi Jagan, has no justification for remarking on the ratio of women present at a PPP/C event, because she was mentored from near-childhood by a man who always upheld and fought for the rights of women to equal opportunities for women. She is an example of the PPP’s firm commitment to safeguard women’s rights to upward mobility and dignity. All the female members of the PPP/C can attest to the equal opportunities afforded them by the patriarch of the party; which is inherent in the foundations of the PPP.
Gail, who has been legendary for her colourful rhetoric during political hustings, used very moderate language – for her, in describing the state of Guyana, which she likened to a severely battered woman in tatters when the PPP/C acceded to office in 1992.
Today, she emphasized, Guyana brooks no “eye pass, because it is not battered anymore and can stand tall in the international arena, and one of the reasons she cites is the fact that no other country in this hemisphere can boast of the level of Guyana’s economic growth – especially during this global crisis, which leaves more money available for accelerating development in every sector, which has been lauded by international financial institutions (IFI), including the IMF.
She specially alluded to the fact that, because of government’s astute management of the economy, Guyana need no longer be held hostage to “impossible arrangements” by IFIs and that even the UN has recognized Guyana’s phenomenal human rights record.
Recalling the many times during debates of agenda items crucial to the national good when the opposition walked out of Parliament; the years when, despite international observers declaring the elections were free and fair when the opposition held the nation to ransom with looting, burning and mayhem, to the extent that the PPP had to give up two years of its mandated term in office in order to save Guyana from the depredations of the opposition, because the PPP has always put Guyana first, while the opposition has a history of irresponsible leadership. Speaking of the violent crime wave that rocked Guyana when hundreds of people lost their lives, including a well-beloved sitting minister of the Government, she warned that Guyanese must take nothing for granted and to always guard Guyana’s democracy.
President Jagdeo turned country around
Alluding to the relatively peaceful period from 2006 to 2011, Teixeira said that it was during this period that Guyana made its greatest developmental strides in every sector.
She drew attention to the constitutional reforms and the unique model of the reconfigured nature of Guyana’s all-inclusive parliamentary system, which exists only in this country, and which allows opposition members to play an integral role in the governance of the country through the parliamentary committees. She also referenced the refusal of the opposition, despite the constant clamouring for accountability and transparency, to accede to the Integrity Commission’s request for scrutiny of their assets, which every member of the Government allows, because the PPP have set model standards.
Teixeira recalled that, although Steve Surujbally was one of the names submitted by the opposition for appointment as GECOM head, they have used one excuse after another to create disturbances, like a “lil boy” throwing tantrums, and she posited that Guyana does not need childish leaders who are always reckless and irresponsible.
Stressing that developmental works in the country are programmes in progress, Teixeira promised that as long as fathers continue to abdicate their responsibilities to their children, the government will ensure the welfare of those children, because all Guyanese children “belong to us” and the government will continue to invest in the people and always seek peaceful resolution of differences, and also to continue to involve all relevant stakeholders in decision-making processes.
According to Teixeira, people are resolute in bringing their problems to the government because they know that those problems will be addressed – sooner or later. She referred to media houses which breach the laws of Guyana, setting grounds for the opposition to “make mischief”. She said that when there are innocent victims of perpetrators in the opposition enclave the persons who always claim to represent the victims are always absent, which she contends is opportunism and hypocrisy.
Alluding to Rwanda, where media houses led the violence that killed hundreds of thousands of innocent people, including children, Teixeira said that the government will continue to be responsible and disallow any element to separate Guyanese into ethnic camps, because everywhere Guyanese want to see “betterment”.
Contending that there is space in Guyana for everyone to co-exist peacefully and productively, she said that there is hope for Guyana on the horizon because the PPP/C has “got it in the bag” with its projected modernization programme, with which this country will continue to move forward at an accelerated pace.
Mentioning the superlative leadership of incumbent president, Bharrat Jagdeo, Teixeira said that when this country’s history is written, it will be recorded that he was the leader who turned this country’s fortunes around – working “24/7” to do so, and expressed pride in him as a Guyanese man and a Guyanese leader who has created a model country out of Guyana. She adumbrated her belief that if “we can do it in the worst of times, we will do it in the best of times”.
Roger in his “rikitiks”
That was the laughing comment made by an old man when the veteran Roger Luncheon took to the podium – and an imaginative person can just imagine Dr. Cheddi sitting on the stage behind him, smiling at his fire, as in days of yore – and it seems that the only thing that is changed is that his hair has turned white. This was vintage Roger Luncheon, who spoke about “righting wrongs” and “achieving miracles”. As he spoke one could see what Joseph Hamilton meant when he said that a politician needs “fire in his belly and politics in his veins”; but they don’t make them like Roger Luncheon and Cheddi Jagan anymore, largely because the PPP/C has almost righted all the wrongs in the country and there is no more need for struggle in the nation.
In his own unique style Luncheon delivered a power-packed presentation, wherein he reminisced on the centuries of injustices perpetrated on Guyana’s First Peoples by successive oppressors, until the advent of the PPP/C in office post-October 1992, when the new Government embarked on a dynamic programme to “right the wrongs” committed on Guyana’s Amerindians in such a dynamic way that has no parallel in even first nations in the treatment of their indigenous communities.
He emphasized that the PPP/C, which has the best track record in “correcting wrongs” will continue this trend with the next President and that Guyanese can rest assured that their best future lies in the hands of the PPP/C.
Luncheon says “we belong”
Alluding to the victimization by opposition elements of Afro-Guyanese who want to eschew racist rhetoric and divisive politics to ally with the PPP/C in charting a better future for themselves and their children, and ultimately the nation, Luncheon passionately declared: “This damn nonsense must stop. We have to put an end to this foolishness.” He said that henceforth no Afro-Guyanese should be subjected to discrimination, scorn, ridicule, enmity by those who have destroyed dreams through their greed because they dare to dream of a better future because “we belong”.
He said that thousands of Afro-Guyanese are rejecting hate-based politics, which was reflected in the composition of the crowd at the rally, emphasizing that “we have been there and have seen it” and that Afro-Guyanese know what they have to face to support the PPP, but that “we are part of the dream” for a prosperous and modernized Guyana.
He prophesied that 2011 marks a new dawn for Guyana, because it has heralded a return to the spirit of 1953, and that Afro-Guyanese are recognized for the “glorious contributions we have made”, which will continue under the PPP/C.
Speaking of miracles, Luncheon recalled the 28 years of wilderness during PNC reign over this nation, when no-one thought that they could ever see the level of development and progress achieved by the PPP/C during its relatively short stewardship of the country. He posited that this transformation is a miracle, because miracles are wrought not only by the words of religious leaders, but also by the works of man; and thus the PPP/C has a reason for confidence because they have created hope in the nation; and that Guyanese owe thanks and praise to President Jagdeo because he created miracles during his term in office.
He however noted that not every miracle can be achieved by man – certainly not that of raising the dead, among which he listed the AFC, APNU, and the WPA. He invited crowd participation in his raillery and, playing to the gallery, he asked the crowd “Who killed the PNC?” with the response being a thunderous “Corbin”; “Who killed the AFC?” elicited the roar “Ramjattan”, finally the question “Who killed the WPA” and the response was “Roopnarine”.
He then offered that APNU died in childbirth because Granger was the midwife, which drew the comment from the audience “the doctor speaks”.
Luncheon then concluded by advising the crowd that the ‘mighty works” started under President Jagdeo will continue under Ramotar’s watch, and hailed “Long live our diverse nation and national unity.”
PPP/C always hold arms wide open for everyone
Putting an end to months of speculation President Jagdeo announced November 28 as polling day. He also informed the crowd that, to circumvent a routed opposition from creating problems, he was postponing the ban on CNS 6 – imposed on that station from recommendations by the ACB, until after elections; thereby negating the accusations that PPP was afraid of CN Sharma who only received negligible numbers of votes and was certainly no threat to the PPP/C juggernaut. The other opposition elements had access to other channels (also independent print media) for their propaganda, including Demerara Waves and other network systems.
Recounting some of the opposition tactics for causing strife in the nation because they cannot win at elections, the President recalled that, during one meeting Roger Luncheon said that “we will break the back of the PNC”, which anyone would recognize was figurative language, not to be taken literally; but the PNC used that to accuse the PPP/C of inciting violence against them and to initiate another wave of destructive protests in the country.
Conversely, said the President, the PPP/C always strive for peace and progress and to take the country forward; and that it is a party that always hold its arms wide open for everyone.
He said that the ban on Sharma was necessary because the latter always flouts the laws of the country and allows the airing of programmes that pit races and religions within the national construct against each other.
The Head-of-State said that he acceded to the ACB recommendations, although he was lenient and concurred with Savitree Sharma’s request for a reduction to four months; but because of the subsequent furore being created by the opposition elements, who are looking for excuses to create mayhem, he has postponed the ban because he wants the opposition to participate in the elections so that the PPP/C can “thrash their a….s”
He briefly traced the development of the country, stating that the momentum will accelerate under the Presidency of Donald Ramotar, who he describes as someone who was “blooded in struggle” and who will continue to work hard toward ensuring a brighter future for Guyanese children, all of whom “belong to the PPP”.
The President dismissed as “silly” the economic programmes outlined by the AFC and said that party’s economic advisor was someone who had been fired by Robert Persaud. He explained that AFC’s IT advisor, Gerhardt Ramsaroop, left the PPP/C because he wanted the party to throw a poor woman out of her home so that his family could take her property. He said any government pursuing the economy strategy outlined by the AFC would soon send inflation skyrocketing in the country, which will wipe out all the gains made by the PPP/C government.
With regards to the PNC the President outlined the destruction that party caused this nation while it was in government and said that the PPP/C has enabled the average Guyanese to “own things”, especially homes. He said that the opposition media would like to “disappear” the crowds at PPP/C rallies, as well as all the development achieved countrywide and that, while they speak of objectivity, none of them could be objective because they are all affiliated to one political party after another.
Because of their predilection for fostering and encouraging internecine conflict through their programme content and their predisposition to criticize the government on nebulous and erroneous contentions, President Jagdeo disputed their claims to objectivity and said that they deserve to be tried and condemned by an international court for inciting inter-racial, inter-religious violence in this country.
However, he promised that the PPP/C will continue to pursue the fulfillment of Dr. Cheddi Jagan’s dream of bringing all Guyanese together, because his party considers that freedom and prosperity for all the races in the land, working together in unity in the spirit of 1953, is the party’s biggest victory.