PPP/C – a pro-people’s party
Presidential Candidate says trend to continue with victory

 

The PPP/C is a caring government that has exercised prudent management of the economy and through savings, invested heavily in improving the lives of people. That is why the Party remains confident that its supporters would overwhelmingly return it to Office for another term at the August 28 polls. This is what PPP/C Presidential Candidate Bharrat Jagdeo told supporters at the PPP/C public meeting at Industry, Region Four on August 14.

He explained that the social sector, which includes housing, health care, water, education and human services, has received the bulk of the budget, with education and health care receiving the majority. Also benefiting significantly from the pro-people spending of the PPP/C administration are the senior citizens. There are now 35,000 pensioners in comparison to the mere 2000 in 1992. Last December, the old age pension was raised from $2,000 to $3,500. Additionally, government pays the water tariff on behalf of pensioner. In the past, pension was granted based on a mean test, which was eliminated under the PPP/C term in office and pension is now payable as long as the age of 65 is attained.

Speaking extensively on the developments under the PPP/C 14-year rule, Mr. Jagdeo pointed to major leaps in the social and productivity sectors. PPP/C accomplishments include investment for the bauxite, rice and sugar industries, additional houselots, advancements in the information technology sector, construction of the country’s first stadium and convention centre and the permanent headquarters for CARICOM, as well as repayment of US$1.2B in external debt. The building of the Berbice River Bridge would start shortly. The government has also secured US$20M to restructure the Guyana Police Force to better tackle crime. He condemned proclamations by other political parties, especially the PNCR-1G, that they would be tougher on crime. He noted that the PNCR did not support government’s initiatives to toughen legislation against criminals, including a Bill to monitor deportees and one to prohibit bail for persons charged with kidnapping. Guyana cannot be paralysed by fear, Mr. Jagdeo said, because then the criminals would win.

He urged that Guyanese judge the PPP/C by its record in Office, which proudly boasts significant progress in every area. “I know some of you still have problems and we understand these, but please look at how we handled them in the context of what we were left with as a country,” he told the crowd. He added that “we can run on our record itself. If you go back to the 1991 budget presented by the PNC, you would get a feeling of the economy.”

The Presidential Candidate recalled that in 1990 the Caribbean Council of Churches came to Guyana and reported that there was not only destruction of the economy and infrastructure, but worse, a sense of hopelessness among the people. “We have changed it to one where people can achieve their dreams,” he said.

Mr. Jagdeo explained that Guyana inherited a foreign debt of more than US$2B and has repaid about US$1.1B. Additionally, through debt relief and debt repayments, government has managed to reduce the debt servicing to less than 20 percent as against the 94 percent it inherited from the PNC administration.

The area, a traditional stronghold of the PPP/C, was well decorated bearing the Party’s colours, yellow, red and black and posters of its Presidential and Prime Ministerial Candidates. Outstanding, was that the village boasts an arch in remembrance of founder of the PPP/C, the later Dr. Cheddi Jagan, as well as an illuminated cup, which was made in 1992 and has been present at every Elections since.

Mr. Jagdeo said the PPP/C cannot afford to marginally win the Elections as this would prevent the Party from having the majority of seats in the National Assembly. The Party would then be forced to form a collation Government. He recalled that in 1964 the PNC and the United Force formed a coalition government which ousted the PPP from Office for 28 years.

However, he is confident that the Party’s mission would be accomplished since its message of bringing people together is widespread and the PPP/C competitors are uneasy about this.

There are 13 days to go before the General Elections in Guyana and PPP/C Presidential Candidate urged supporters to ensure their National Identification Cards are in order and in cases of new registrants, that they uplift them so that they would be ready to support the Party at the General Elections. During the last Elections many votes were lost because of spoilt ballots. Supporters were told to place the X next to the cup on the top of the ballot paper, as well as the bottom. One is for the Election of the Presidency and the other is for regional representatives.

He told his supporters that they have the power in their hands to preserve the gains of this country including freedom. Mr. Jagdeo noted that his Party is not like the others that want to be reelected to Office so that personal material gains could be accumulated. Rather, the PPP/C seeks to continue the legacy of Cheddi Jagan and that is to improve the lives of ordinary citizens.

The PPP/C is committed to another term of hard work and improving the lives of Guyanese and that is why the Presidential Candidate sought a partnership with Industry residents as the PPP/C seeks to be returned to Office. This was met with loud cheers and fervent pledges of support on polling day when the PPP/C will contest the General and Regional Elections with nine other Parties. “Your presence and your support has helped the PPP/C to grow and has helped to move this country forward and it will help us to return to office come August 28,” he said

Among the fruits to be realised during the term are the construction of a US$300M hydropower plant and liberalisation of the telecommunication sector, including a new provider, Digicel, which signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Guyana on August 14.

Also addressing the crowd was PPP/C candidate Dr. Bheri Ramsarran, who hailed the many improvements in the economy and country as a whole. He also outlined extensive progress in the health sector and noted that Industry has not been left out of the development drive.

Dr. Ramsarran told supporters that his Party has a plan for every sector and many of them are already being implemented. He criticised the manifestoes and plans being outlined by his competitors, noting that many of these are extracts from the PPP/C plans.

August 15, 2006

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