PPP denies receiving KGB funds
THE opposition PPP is denying claims by the PNC that it had been funded by the former Soviet KGB while in power in the early 1960s and is challenging the ruling party to prove “its false allegation”.
“The PPP had at no time any connection with the KGB and never received any KGB money”, the party said in a statement yesterday.
The PNC last week claimed the Soviets had passed money to the PPP “especially for financing special operations”.
The PPP charged the PNC “is bent on riding an anti-communist bandwagon” as it did while the PPP was in government but noted the ruling party in the mid-1970s claimed to be the only genuine Marxist-Leninist party here describing itself as ‘bolshevik’ (genuine) and calling the PPP ‘menshevik’ (spurious)..
Freedom House said that in deeming the PPP a tool of a foreign power, the PNC was trying to “project its own sins” to the opposition party. It claimed the PNC had conspired with foreign intelligence services to overthrow the PPP in the early 1960s adding “it is on record that the PNC leadership received money from a foreign intelligence agent.”
The statement said the PPP and PNC received fraternal assistance from the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (CPSU), including scholarships, holiday trips, medical treatment.
The statement added tile PNC at one time had pressured the Soviet Union to stop its fraternal assistance to the PPP. It said when the PNC government also refused newsprint and vehicle import licences to the PPP, an appeal to the CPSU “led to gifts of newsprint and vehicles to both the PNC and the PPP: the PNC arranged the import licences, other documentation and formalities.”
Five charities benefit form court settlements
FIVE local charities were yesterday the recipient of donations totalling $60,000 from the Rotary Club of Georgetown.
Magistrate K. Juman-Yassin, a Rotarian, was instrumental in getting the funds. He explained that five outgoing passengers previously pleaded guilty to forging Guyana passports.
They, through their lawyers, came to an agreement and they agreed to donate $72,000 to charity.
However, they asked Mr Yassin to choose a worthy one and he turned over the funds to the Rotary Club for them to decide.
Permanent Secretary in the Home Affairs ministry, Fairbairn Liverpool the incoming Rotary president, at the ceremony which was held at Mohamed’s Radio and Electronics store in Robb Store, thanked Mr Yassin for his initiative.
Dharm Shala, and New Horizon Home each received a cheque for $15,000, while the Blind Institute, Joshua Children’s Centre, and Uncle Eddie’s home received $10,000 cheques.
The other $12, 000 is still to be apportioned.