– observes minute’s silence in honour of Mandela

THE Central Committee of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) met on Saturday, December 7, at the Albion Training Centre, East Berbice Corentyne and commenced the meeting with a minute’s silence in honour of the passing of world icon, former South African President, Nelson Mandela.

The PPP leadership expressed disgust over what appears to be a sinister plot of the media in consort with the opposition political parties, PNC/APNU and AFC to destabilise Guyana’s economy by attacking and undermining foreign investments, the local private sector and public sector investment projects in general

The PPP in a press statement said that the discussions at the Central Committee meeting centred on two presentations – the General Secretary’s Report delivered by Mr. Clement Rohee and a report by Dr. Roger Luncheon on the local economy and the international situation.
The Central Committee examined the implementation of various aspects of its political strategy and concluded it was sufficiently in a state of readiness for either local government and national and regional elections.
Full-scale discussions on the continuous efforts of the PPP to reconnect and strengthen its links with the working people also featured prominently, with the leadership of the party giving firm recommitment to intensify and enhance the work of party groups and structures as one of the priorities over the months ahead.
The party will give greater attention and supervision to the Progressive Youth Organisation and the Women’s Progressive Organisation to boost their capacity as it prepares itself for any political eventuality over the coming months.
In keeping with the programme of the PPP which calls for the establishment of a National Democratic State that represents the interests of all classes, groups, and social strata as part of an inclusive State, a decision was taken to work towards the creation of a broad left, progressive, Democratic and Nationalist Front, comprising representatives of all sections of the working people, farmers, intellectuals, professionals, the business community, NGOs and all Guyanese who share a common vision of the National Democratic Choice.
The Central Committee condemned the unsubstantiated attacks against the party and Government by the combined opposition aided and abetted by a hostile opposition media.
The PPP leadership expressed disgust over what appears to be a sinister plot of the media in consort with the opposition political parties, PNC/APNU and AFC to destabilise Guyana’s economy by attacking and undermining foreign investments, the local private sector and public sector investment projects in general.
It was the resolve of the party’s leadership to adopt a more aggressive strategy to continually expose and dismantle the obstructionist agenda of the opposition media. The party’s machinery will support an intensified approach to protect the national interest, safeguard our democracy and gains from the incessant opposition media assault. The Central Committee pledged that the opposition and its media will not go unchallenged at any point.
The sanitation and environmental health situation generated much discussion with the meeting exploring ways and means of finding solutions to the garbage disposal problems which has resulted in much concern by residents.
The Central Committee heard reports from party regions in Berbice and discussed extensively ways and means to strengthen party structures in the regions.
With respect to the international situation, the meeting analysed and took note of the continuing failure of the neo-liberal models of development to deliver to the needs of the working people and the resultant global, economic and financial crises which have gripped the capitalist world, more particularly in the Eurozone economies.
It is the working people who are forced to carry the full burden of the crisis through high unemployment levels, wages freeze, cuts in social services and an overall decline in the standard of living of the working class.
The party reaffirmed its commitment to and support for the working people the world over in their struggle for a just world order and for their social and economic advancement.
The Central Committee also expressed satisfaction over the enormous strides made by the PPP/C government under the leadership of President Donald Ramotar and re-affirmed the party’s unswerving support to the president and his administration in its on-going effort to enhance the quality of life of the Guyanese people.

OPTIMISM
The meeting ended on a high note of optimism and a resolve to intensify efforts to strengthen the party both organisationally and structurally.
A fan-out into several communities by Central Committee members reinforced the support of residents of East Berbice, Corentyne for the party and interactions provided party leaders with firsthand information on issues of concern.