Dr. Jagdeo recalls traumatic period before free elections

THE People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C)’s fight for democracy, hope, and freedom has propelled Guyana from a troubled past to a future filled with possibilities.
Recalling the history of October 5, the PPP/C General Secretary, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, described it as a “crucial” turning point for the nation during a press conference held on Thursday.
He reflected on Guyana’s journey from undemocratic and dictatorial rule towards democracy on October 5th, 1992 – a date synonymous with the “return of free and fair elections” to Guyana after the 28-year-long darkness of dictatorship through rigged elections by the Peoples’ National Congress.
Speaking more on the day that changed the nation for the better, he said: “Today is a very important day for Guyana, it’s the 5th of October and [it] represents to us in the People’s Progressive Party/Civic a day that started the renewal process in our country.”

Dr. Jagdeo then went on to say that October 5 does not only hold significance for PPP/C members and supporters, but for all Guyanese
He related: “But it does not have significance only for those who are members of the PPP or those who support the PPP. It has great significance for all the people of this country…”
Speaking more on the period before democracy was restored to Guyana, the PPP General Secretary recalled the negative traits that followed the nation, especially since it was plagued with debt.

Removing the “air of hopelessness,” according to Dr. Jagdeo, the PPP has led Guyana down a successful path owing to the strides made by the PPP.
Even reflecting on the 2020 General and Regional Elections, when Guyana saw its democracy once again threatened, the PPP/C General Secretary said that the rigging efforts were futile owing to freedom fighters being bold and technology being in place to expose the attempts.

RESTORATION OF DEMOCRACY

According to reports, before October 5, 1992, it was a virtual nightmare for most Guyanese to support themselves and their families due to the mismanagement and incompetence of the PNC regime.

It may be necessary to give some context on the factors that led to the rise of dictatorship, particularly for the younger generation unaware of our history and the challenges we faced during our political development.

It was not until the early 1990s after the intervention of the Carter Centre and the direct involvement of former US President Jimmy Carter that the dynamics of power changed, paving the way for the holding of free and fair elections.

Holding democratic elections did not come about without strong resistance by the PNC under the then leadership of Desmond Hoyte, who refused to agree on a critical demand from the Carter Centre, namely that the counting of ballots be done at places of poll.

Eventually, Hoyte conceded to the opposition’s demands, including counting the votes at the polling stations and changing the biased composition of the Election Commission.
Meeting the opposition’s demands, such as counting votes at the polling places, made the election results inevitable. Dr. Cheddi Jagan became the first democratically elected Executive President of Guyana when the PPP won the elections by a comfortable majority.

Since then, Guyana has progressed steadily and reclaimed its position as a standout in the Caribbean and worldwide.