PPP congress set for July 20-21
Stabroek News
June 14, 2002
The PPP will hold its 27th Biennial Congress from July 20-21, where one of the highlights will be President Bharrat Jagdeo's address at the opening session. The congress is billed for the J.C. Chandisingh Secondary School, Port Mourant, Corentyne and its theme is 'Defend Democracy: Build on our Successes'.
Briefing the media at a Freedom House press conference yesterday, PPP General Secretary, Donald Ramotar, said that another of the highlights would be the report of the party's central committee.
He said the discussion of the report would allow the party's membership to "critically analyse developments locally and internationally in order to re-position the party to better fulfil its mandate of providing an enhanced quality of life to the people of Guyana."
Ramotar said too that they would also be examining ways of strengthening the party so as to accelerate and maintain the growth and development since it was elected in 1992.
Another highlight of the two-day congress, according to Ramotar, will be the election to the 35-member central committee. Foreign Trade Minister, Clement Rohee, chairman of the party's congress committee, said that the party groups were now in the process of submitting nominations of their candidates.
When elected, the central committee, at its first meeting would then choose the 14 members of the executive committee from among its members as well as the members of the party's secretariat.
Ramotar also reiterated his party's position on its collective leadership structure, which he said had served the party well since 1970. Before then, the party elected a chairman, general secretary and leader. He said too that the congress would also pay close attention to the issue of racial unity, especially at this time when divisive elements were attempting "to sow the seeds of discord between the two major groups in the country.
"Born out of the struggle to emancipate the working people from the bondage of exploitation and indignity, the PPP has always embraced a policy of inclusive politics."
Asked for the party's position on the continuation of the dialogue between President Jagdeo and PNC/R Leader Desmond Hoyte, Ramotar noted it was the PNC/R, which suspended the dialogue. He said too that he did not see his party accusing the PNC/R of promoting domestic terrorism as an impediment to the two sides sitting down to discuss issues of national importance.
Asked about the PPP's position on the racial composition of the army and police, Ramotar said that the party was more concerned about increasing the professionalism of the two organisations than their racial make-up.