Recognising the one-seat majority of the opposition parties and what was described as their “reckless” and “anti-national” positions, the 30th congress of the PPP has resolved to redouble efforts at reversing this situation at the next general election.
Its political declaration released today following last week’s congress also lauded the tenure of former President Bharrat Jagdeo, endorsed General Secretary Donald Ramotar’s report and pledged to address any reports of corruption, a problem that has beset the PPP/C government.
The declaration also addressed the matter of ethnic insecurity in what would appear a ground-breaking departure for the PPP which has historically argued that any such cleavage is manufactured. It said “We recognize that ethnic insecurities are real and that any political solution must address these insecurities and build trust and confidence among our people”.
The declaration follows:
………………………………………………
Political Declaration
………………………………………………..
Arising from the highly successful 30th Congress of the People’s Progressive party, the following Declaration is made:
WE THE DELEGATES AND OBSERVERS to the 30th Congress re-affirm our commitment to the People’s Progressive Party and the struggles it has waged and will continue to wage for the liberation and development of Guyana.
WE recognize that it is not without significance that our Congress was held in Port Mourant, a national heritage site on the Corentyne, dedicated to the honoured memory of Dr. Cheddi Jagan who together with co-founder Mrs. Janet Jagan along with others, inspired the formation of the party in 1950. At that time the odds were tremendous and daunting, but these pioneers of independence, democracy, development and social justice persevered and triumphed.
WE recognize that Dr. Cheddi Jagan was a visionary leader not only for the PPP but for Guyana, Latin America and the Caribbean and that he continuously sought solutions to our political and ethnic realities. We in the PPP will continue to work towards Latin American and Caribbean unity.
WE pause to salute the leaders and members of the PPP over the last 63 years who guided and sustained the unity and resilience of the party in the face of numerous provocations and hardships.
WE remain committed in the face of adversity and challenges posed by both external and internal forces to justice, progress and development of all the people of Guyana and to our nation.
WE have noted recent global and regional developments where democratically elected governments have been toppled by military and other undemocratic interventions and we remain watchful.
WE remain committed to the PPP as the only political party which has brought progress and betterment for our people and laid the foundation for democracy in colonial times: struggled for 28 years to restore it at the first free and fair elections on October 5, 1992 and has consolidated the democratic architecture of our country through constitutional, parliamentary and legislative reforms and enhancement of human rights of our people over the last two decades.
WE remain committed to protecting this youthful democracy and democratic nation born out of these long and hard struggles and will do all that is humanly possible to prevent reversals and a return to the pre-1992 days.
WE the younger generation, in particular, of the PPP commit ourselves in this period of new and unprecedented situations in the body politic to remain united and resolute in facing these challenges and steering Guyana out of these rough and unpredictable waters.
WE affirm our commitment to continue efforts to build and to work with a national united pro-democracy alliance of stakeholders and made up of workers, farmers, business, intellectuals and professionals, women, and youth from all races and ethnic groups to maintain and speed up the forward momentum of the developmental thrust in our country.
WE affirm our determination to continue to unite the diverse ethnic groups in our country and to unequivocally reject those who are intent on dividing our people on the basis of ethnicity.
WE recognize that ethnic insecurities are real and that any political solution must address these insecurities and build trust and confidence among our people.
WE recognize with pride as PPP members that Guyana has made tremendous economic progress, surviving the global financial and economic crises that have ravaged many countries in the world, including the USA, Southern Europe, and some Caribbean countries.
WE extend our heart-felt appreciation to former President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo for his stewardship as President in putting Guyana on the world map for its achievements in the political, economic and social spheres and his visionary role on climate change at the international levels.
WE state with pride that in the 21 years in office we have radically reformed the Guyana Constitution and upheld it, protected human rights, safeguarded democracy, upheld due process, protected the workers and farmers, assisted the private sector, cemented good neighbourliness with States on our borders, articulated the best interests of overseas Guyanese and have created transformative developmental projects which will allow Guyana to make quantum leaps to being a modern democratic nation.
WE in particular pledge our unswerving support to the Government in its efforts to ensure that the Amaila Falls Hydro-Electric Project is not torpedoed by the anti-national posture of the opposition forces and that the government continue its efforts to advance other transformative projects such as the Specialty Hospital and the Cheddi Jagan International Airport Expansion project.
WE recognize and are proud that as a nation, under successive PPP/C governments, we have established a formidable record of improving the lives of thousands of people and particularly children. To name only a few – providing the opportunity for the first time for thousands of ordinary men and women to own their own homes; for the first time thousands of Amerindian children are receiving a secondary education; providing thousands of laptops to low income households in one of the most innovative projects executed by a government in the world to reduce the digital divide and enhance equitable access to new technologies.
WE stand firmly on the side of good governance, the promotion of accountability in government and in the party and transparency of those in public life. Furthermore, we support the party in government and the party in firmly addressing such cases of corruption wheresoever they are found in a timely manner.
WE reaffirm our firm commitment to ensuring that public safety and security remains a top priority in the overall developmental strategy of the PPP/C administration. To this end, we will work to ensure that the Administration provides the Joint Services with the necessary tools and legal provisions to allow them to execute effectively their lawful responsibilities in the fight against all forms of criminal activities and the protection of our borders.
We will work hard to ensure that the human, political and civil rights of every Guyanese is safeguarded within the meaning of the Constitution and the criminal justice system.
The party in government pledges to vigorously defend the security of Guyanese of all walks of life and to combat violence in the home, schools, at work and at play.
We recognize that there is still more to be done and the party recognizes that some things that we wanted to do in government could not be done because of the lack of human, technical and financial resources.
We recognize that in this the post-November 2011 election period we have been tried and tested by the one seat majority of the opposition APNU and AFC in the National Assembly and their reckless anti-national positions.
We resolutely resolve here today that we, the party delegates and observers, to the 30th Congress, will work strenuously to strengthen the party and its bodies, to invigorate our work amongst the people with more focused political leadership and consciousness, to ensure that the present situation is reversed at the next elections.
The General Secretary’s Report
This 30th Congress endorses the Report of Cde. Donald Ramotar, and supports its conclusions. We urge all Party members to study the report, discuss it and develop plans and campaigns to implement its conclusions and recommendation in their political work.
Of utmost importance, are the conclusions in relation to building the strength of the Party to confront the new challenges facing it in this period and supporting the Government in its work to develop the economy and secure the nation.
August 4, 2013
Port Mourant, Corentyne Berbice