Dear Editor,
Reference is made to an article entitled “Why is the PPP is the only national party in Guyana” by Dr. Randy Persaud, Professor Emeritus & Advisor in the Office of the President, which was recently published in Demerara Waves (May 4, 2024). In his contribution, Dr. Persaud defines a number of requirements that a truly national party needs to meet. These include a broad nation-wide base with representatives from all regions that comprise our nation, a membership representing both genders and all major national ethnicities, and an inclusive party leadership reflecting the nation’s diversity. He concludes the article with the statement that “To date, only the PPP has satisfied these requirements”.
The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) held last weekend its 32nd Congress at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre in Liliendaal, ECD. Some 3,000 delegates attended the event, which concluded with the election of a new Central Executive Committee, which is comprised of 35 voting members. Whereas Dr. Persaud’s article lacked hard data supporting his claims of inclusivity and diversity of the PPP leadership, the list of elected members to the PPP’s Central Committee provides a unique opportunity for validation. The breakdown by gender and major ethnic groups was calculated. For comparison, the composition of the Guyanese population by gender and ethnicity, according to the 2012 census, the most recent one, is given in parentheses.
Gender
• 80% men (49%)
• 20% women (51%)
Major ethnicities
• 83% Indo-Guyanese (40%)
• 11% Afro-Guyanese (29%)
• 6% Amerindians (11%)
It is evident that Indo-Guyanese men are massively overrepresented in the PPP leadership. Even more telling is the composition of the 2024 Executive Committee, which was announced yesterday, May 7, 2024. While Afro-Guyanese were still represented in the 2017 body, none qualified to serve on the new Executive Committee, which is comprised of 15 members entertaining voting rights. This key decision body of the PPP is therefore dominated by Indo-Guyanese men. Hence, the claim of Dr. Persaud, which is also frequently voiced by the PPP leadership, that the PPP represents the only truly multi-racial and diverse party in Guyana is not supported by hard facts. Those claims have therefore to be relegated to falsehoods and qualify as blunt party propaganda.
Any party claiming to represent inclusiveness and ethnic diversity needs have these claims reflected in the leadership structure and by a history of nominating presidential candidates on the basis of merit, irrespective of their gender and ethnic background. Sadly enough, this has to date been nothing but lip service as both leading parties, the PPP and the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), have failed to implement these self-evident standards ever since our nation gained independence in 1966.
Sincerely,
Andre Brandli, PhD
