Jagdeo restates commitment to democracy and dialogue
By Daniel DaCosta
Stabroek News
July 21, 2002
Party members, special invitees, members of overseas support groups and government ministers over-spilled the upper flat of the J.C.Chandisingh Secondary School at Port Mourant on the Corentyne yesterday as the ruling People's Progress Party (PPP) launched its two-day 27th Congress.
Delegates from the country's ten administrative regions have converged in the village that gave birth to their party's leader, the late president, Dr Cheddi Jagan to deliberate on party and national issues over two days.
News that former president, Mrs Janet Jagan was missing the congress for the first time in the party's history, crept across the hall sparking rumours of illness.
President Bharrat Jagdeo delivering the feature address at the opening referred to her contributions to the party over the years. "She never missed a congress and I know she is sitting alone at home and I know how she feels." Noting that the PPP appreciated her struggles for the party and the country over the years, he called on the congress to send a message to her that the party was as strong and united as ever before.
Addressing the packed school hall, President Jagdeo said democracy is "well and strong in the party and members must remain committed to the original ideals of the party. The main objective of the party is to create a better life for every Guyanese regardless of race or religion." Referring to opposition forces who mobilize criminal elements and young people to create mayhem, he described as a "lethal combination" political cover to outright criminals saying "that is part of the struggle we face since the aim is to create instability and destroy the economy." He urged delegates to discuss strategies and solutions to these issues.
He called on party members to reject violence as a form of solving problems. "I believe in dialogue as the only meaningful solution to our problems. We are committed to dialogue but we must not mistake dialogue and inclusiveness for power sharing at the executive level. There is no example that it works at the level of the Cabinet, in fact, it does not work in many cases.
"Some comrades have made this mistake and have created confusion and have sent mixed signals to party members. There is no backdoor to power, which can only come from the people."
Referring to the tasks ahead as simple but difficult the Head of State said they involved "keeping young people employed and away from extremists; moving ahead with educational programmes which could take people out of poverty and teach our people pride in their country, respect for elders, to think for themselves and to create and not destroy; fulfilling basic needs; better health care for all; housing; strengthening security not only within law enforcement agencies but preparing [young people] to defend themselves and their country." According to Jagdeo he expects that these issues will be discussed at the plenary sessions of the Congress.
Touching on corruption Jagdeo called on party members to lead by example. "We cannot fight corruption if we are corrupt." The government he reiterated has worked hard to clean-up corruption and he urged party members to fight corruption saying "we must not be defensive on this matter." (It was at this point that the power supply was disrupted briefly interrupting his speech.)
"We have an obligation to project the image that we are a party for all Guyanese, We are Cheddi Jagan's party," he declared. "People are trying to create divisions among the party, but all of us are united. We do not have divisions within the party. We are a team and do not worry about the newspapers which say there are divisions."
Talk of the proposed resolution by the Groenveldt PPP Group, which was expected to be tabled by Central Committee member and attorney-at-law Khemraj Ramjattan on amendments to the party's constitution was very much in the air, but very few were willing to express their views on the proposals and its possible impact on the deliberations. Ramjattan was very guarded when asked to comment.
Moses Nagamootoo who arrived about half an hour late said it was an indication of the openness that existed within the party that such a resolution, which challenged long held views within the party, could be tabled. Some delegates said that there should be some changes in the constitution but said such decisions should be made by congress.
President Jagdeo was loud in his praise for those party members who have served the party with distinction over the years and the United Kingdom, United States, Canadian and Cuban governments for the assistance they have provided over the years. On the question of the party's ideology, the President, without making any direct references to terminology said the party has always been on the side of the working class. The deletion of the words Marxism/Leninism from the party's constitution forms part of the proposed resolution. "This does not mean we are against any other class but we have clarity on our position and we are not divided on the issue of ideology," he said.
Calling on party members to provide leadership in their communities, the President said some party members did not know what the party was doing and did not participate enough in their communities.
Touching on his expectations of the congress, he said, "I look forward to a stronger and united party, a resolve to fight poverty and enhance economic conditions for all Guyanese and force alliances to achieve this task. I hope that we would also send a strong message of hope for all the people of Guyana."
Referring to the international situation, the Head of State remarked: "We are facing a difficult international environment with tremendous pursuits of neo-liberalism and a mad rush to free-up markets and liberalization. This has created crises in a number of countries of the world. We need global institutions of governance particularly in the financial institutions and in the trade environment. We must therefore push for a system, which will allow us to survive." Since September 11, he noted, security issues have taken precedence over developmental issues. "This must not happen, there must be a balance."
Back on the local scene, he said that since 1997 the opposition PNC/R has been unwilling to accept the results of the elections and has continued to make allegations of racism and discrimination. "Yet the record is there to show that every community in Guyana has benefited since 1992 from government assistance and development works. The land distribution programme," he pointed out," is fair and we have the documentation to support this."
The opening session of the congress was chaired by Dr Frank Anthony while messages were read by Chairman of the Progressive Youth organisation [PYO] Robert Persaud and Women's Progressive Organisation [WPO] leader, Indra Chandarpal. Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Reepu Daman Persaud, paid respects to the party's fallen heroes.
Last night the delegates heard Donald Ramotar present the Central Committee report and the party programme by Dr Roger Luncheon. Today there will be elections for the Central Committee and amendments to the party's programme and Constitution are among the topics to be discussed. The workshop sessions include party organisation, the political situation, the economic situation, the international situation and the social sector.