PPP collective leadership to back President
THE People's Progressive Party (PPP) says it will strengthen its principle of "collective leadership" to back President Bharrat Jagdeo sworn in last Wednesday. In a statement released yesterday, the main partner in the governing PPP/Civic alliance said the collective leadership principle will be boosted "so that our young and capable President can benefit from the wealth of political and governmental experience in the party and government." It also urged opposition parties to "respond positively to the appeal by our new President to sit and work together for the good of our country." "This appeal is a reiteration of the stated objectives of he PPP/Civic administration to engage constructively, all groups for the good of Guyana", it said. The PPP pledged its full and unstinting support to President Jagdeo "as he begins the exacting and demanding task of leading the government and nation to greater levels of achievement and successfully into the new millennium." The statement said the smooth transfer of the presidency, following President Janet Jagan's resignation for health reasons last week after 20 months in office, was in keeping with the formula promised the Guyanese electorate in the course of the 1997 election campaign. "The PPP notes with satisfaction that President Janet Jagan's resignation and the swearing in of Mr. Bharrat Jagdeo as President and Mr. Samuel Hinds as Prime Minister on Wednesday afternoon, are consistent with the provisions in the Constitution of Guyana. "We are convinced that this act will redound to the nation's interest and assure the continuing development of the Guyanese society", the statement said. The party hailed the "energetic and productive leadership Mrs. Jagan offered to the government and people of Guyana during the past 20 months." It said that at the PPP Central Committee meeting last weekend, Mrs. Jagan's decision to tender her resignation as President was received with regrets. "However, the leadership of the party relented to her request given the stated context. "In acceding to her request the party's leadership gave recognition to her sterling contribution to the many struggles of the Guyanese people since the 1940's and her selfless work in the affairs of state, in the early successive PPP governments and again in the PPP/Civic administration which took the reins of government following the successful 1992 elections. "The meeting then unanimously agreed that the `A Team' formula should be implemented immediately", the PPP reported. It said that Mrs. Jagan, at the Central Committee meeting, reassured the leadership and subsequently the nation that she will continue to make an input and offer guidance to the government. "Also, the party will once again benefit, on a day-to-day basis, from her leadership and party organisational acumen" it said. The PPP urged the nation to fully support Mr. Jagdeo and his administration. "The party is convinced that President Jagdeo and his government will continue to pursue the strategic goals of the PPP/Civic administration, as contained in the PPP/Civic 1992 and 1997 manifestos", the statement said.
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