A press release from the PPP said the congress will provide an opportunity for members to review the work of the party in the face of destabilisation attempts by the main Opposition People's National Congress Reform (PNC/R).

President Bharrat Jagdeo, a member of the party's Central and Executive Committees, is to give the feature address and declare open the congress today.

He Thursday said at a news conference in Georgetown he strongly believes that a lot of the current instability and tension plaguing Guyana has to do with a "well orchestrated ploy" by the PNC/R to destabilise the economy and to create every opportunity possible, irrespective of right and wrong or who gets hurt, to grab political power.

"I think it's some old people who can't get rid of the hatred from their hearts, who don't give a damn about the young generation and the future of this country (and) who would love to see us go back to the past when you had trouble in this country," President Jagdeo said.

The President also lamented the fact that hundreds of innocent people, simply because they are Indo-Guyanese, were targetted because of their race.

"This is terrible, people being targetted because of race. I've always maintained that everyone has an equal place in this country and people must not feel that because of their race they will be targetted. It diminishes all of us as Guyanese," Mr. Jagdeo told reporters.

The President also noted that the now infamous July 3 incident where illegal protesters affiliated to the PNC/R stormed the Office of the President and then went on to carry out acts of arson, looting and violence against innocent Guyanese, was well orchestrated.

According to him, "those who are denying it now and chastising others for saying they were involved, they were responsible for those people (the protesters)".

The PPP noted that its Congress, due to end tomorrow, is taking place on the eve of the 10th anniversary of the party in Government during which time it encountered numerous challenges, including efforts to derail the democratic process.

"Congress is expected to assess the local and international environment and come up with new strategies in order to reposition the party to execute its mission of improving the quality of life of the Guyanese people, in particular the working people", the release said.

Major items on the agenda of the Congress include the presentation of the Central Committee report by the General Secretary of the party, revision of the party programme and constitution, resolutions, political declarations and elections for a new Central Committee.

"The PPP is confident that it will emerge out of the Congress much stronger and united to continue with the task of rebuilding Guyana, one in which there is peace, progress and national unity," it said.

The major partner in the governing PPP/Civic alliance said the Congress is the highest decision making forum of the party and is expected to bring together more than 600 delegates and observers from all 10 administrative regions of the country.

In addition several overseas support groups and fraternal organisations are expected to be represented at the Congress.