–Dr Jagdeo says; reminds nation that party stood like a ‘bulwark’ fighting again to restore freedom, dignity to this land
IT is the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) that has stood like a bulwark to restore dignity and freedom to Guyana, according to the party’s General Secretary, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo, who said that they will continue to fight for racial unity.
For the past few weeks, the PPP General Secretary has intensified his efforts to reject the misinformation campaign of the Opposition, geared at painting the PPP in unflattering light even when history shows otherwise.
At the opening of the party’s 32nd Congress’s at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC) on Saturday, this call for racial unity carried the same volume; one might even say it was louder, as Dr Jagdeo highlighted that the People’s National Congress-Reform’s (PNC-R) has used certain tactics to “mislead” the people of this country.
“Throughout the party’s history, we fought for racial unity… we will fight for racial unity because we believe in it. The reason they don’t want us to fight this, the reason they don’t want us to keep this way, is because they don’t want us to grow this party,” the PPP General Secretary said.
Even with the heavy rains and somber weather, the sea of red withstood the turbulence and the PPP General Secretary used the opportunity to let critics of the party know that it is well-equipped to lead the nation to transformation.
During his address, the PPP General Secretary reflected on two promises, one was to win the 2020 General and Regional Elections and the second one was to emerge in government as a more diverse political party.
The PPP did just that, according to him, with evidence of diversity being on full display with one glance at the mammoth crowd.
With that said, he underscored that the Party’s founder Leader, Dr. Cheddi Jagan, would be proud to see racial unity being attained.
He related: “Cheddi Jagan, if he was standing here, he would’ve been the proudest person here as I am.”
Dr Jagdeo then went on to say: “Cheddi Jagan always wanted this because he knew this party would be invincible if this part reflected the whole gamut of this country… and it is happening today.”
However, he made it clear that these were not easy tasks and Guyana would not be where it is today had it not been for the PPP’s success in the 2020 polls.
“Emerging as a diverse political party is not easy too, particularly in a country where there is a systematic, ongoing campaign of racism,” Dr Jagdeo said.
He went on to say that if persons trace the passage of time, they would see that the party has always stood on the right side of history.
Speaking more on the objective of the party, he said that when Dr Jagan founded the PPP in 1950, it was aimed at fighting for independence for all Guyanese, regardless of their working class or their race.
He went on to say: “It was the PPP that stood like a bulwark fighting again to restore freedom and dignity to this land.”
What the PPP inherited from the PNC-R, according to him, must be repeated to the people of Guyana so they can be reminded about how the country has changed for the better.
According to him, the PNC-R’s legacy was filled with poverty, hopelessness, nonexistent democratic institutions, a politically aligned army, weakened infrastructure and economic recession coupled with no investment.
“We took a bankrupt economy and returned it to solvency and one of the most dynamic economies in the world even before oil and gas,” Dr Jagdeo boldly said.
He also told the mammoth crowd that they must not allow persons who try to redefine the PPP to succeed but instead constantly remind the others about what the PPP fights for and what it means to Guyana.
Dr Jagdeo added: “We are now witnessing a new era of transformation and this transformation has to be led by the PPP. We’re equipped to do it based on our history, our experience and our achievements and I’m proud to say that we are led by our young leader, Irfaan Ali who came out of this party.”
He then gave justification as to why the PPP has to lead Guyana to its transformation and said: “Patriotism, democracy, freedom, inclusivity; these are key words in the People’s Progressive Party that we don’t toy with. We don’t just say them and they mean nothing to us.”
Dr Jagdeo further highlighted how the PPP has a record of prioritising its youths and this can even be shown with him and President, Dr Irfaan Ali entering the cabinet in their 20s.
“… We’ve always given young people not just lip service, we’ve trained them, we’ve included them, and when necessary, elevated them to the highest office,” he said.
