At a news conference yesterday at the party's Freedom House headquarters in Georgetown, General Secretary, Mr. Donald Ramotar said: "The 27th Congress of the PPP was highly successful with delegates and observers recommitting themselves to the ideals of the party and with renewed zeal to strengthen it and to reach out to a wider cross-section of the Guyanese society."

President Bharrat Jagdeo, in his opening address at the Congress, had called for a united party that is philosophically focused and organisationally strong to realise the dreams and aspirations of the membership and the Guyanese society for the attainment of an enhanced quality of life.

Referring to the unfortunate killing by bandits of one of the party's observers at the Congress, Balram Kandhai, 18, of Golden Fleece, Essequibo, Ramotar said that while he did not have all the information surrounding the fatal shooting, it seemed much more than a coincidence. He said the party would be issuing a detailed statement on the incident when all the relevant information is gathered.

On the issue of whether the menu of measures recently announced by the President are adequate to combat the recent steep rise in violent crimes, Ramotar said it was too early to make an assessment because all the measures have not been implemented as yet.

Responding to a question on the declaration of a State of Emergency as a means to deal with the current spate of crimes, he said he needed to engage in further discussions before giving a definitive position.

He said that at the Congress much attention was paid to the domestic situation, especially the threats by the main Opposition People's National Congress Reform (PNC/R) to democracy and the "apparent nexus between them and the criminal elements."

The report of the Central Committee called on the PNC/R to desist forthwith from all activities that can "undermine and fracture the desired peace and harmony in our society."

The efforts of the Government to improve the life of the Guyanese people were applauded in the report, especially in the areas of human resources development, rehabilitation of the social and physical infrastructure, reduction of poverty and advances in the education, health, housing and water sectors.

The bulk of the discussion at the Congress was based on the report which dealt with the international and local situations, and came up with fresh ideas on how to "reposition the party to take advantage of the dynamic nature of the global environment," Ramotar reported. He said the discussions generated lively and fruitful debates.

Regarding amendments to the party's Constitution, the General Secretary said there were four submissions which generated healthy debate with participants expressing their positions in a free and frank manner. However, these were unanimously rejected or withdrawn by the movers.

"Of interest, is that one of the amendments while not passed, saw Congress agreeing to expand the women, youth and geographical participation (without voting right) in the deliberations of the Central Committee", he said.

The General Secretary reported that a resolution dealing with the original ideals of the party and the current socio-economic situation locally was approved by the Congress.

"The PPP at its 27th Congress being held at Port Mourant, Corentyne, Berbice, the birthplace of its main founder and leader for forty-seven years, the late President Cheddi Jagan, here resolves to rededicate itself to achieving the objectives and realising the vision of Cheddi Jagan and other founders of the PPP embodied most recently in the New Human Global Order and in the party programme," the preamble to the resolution stated.

The resolution went on to express solidarity with all peoples who are still under bondage and called for a peaceful settlement of conflicts in various parts of the world. It also vehemently condemned the terrorist attack on the United States on September 11 last year and supported all measures to bring the perpetrators to justice.

The resolution expressed support for globalisation, but called for a more equitable approach to the problems of poor countries, including debt relief and poverty reducing measures.

It also recognised the insecurities in the society and called for work towards the elimination of poverty as a means of ending insecurity.

The draft party programme between this Congress and the next one was presented, the General Secretary said and related that it makes a fresh assessment of the local and global changes, "particularly from 1992 when drastic changes had occurred both in the international and national life." The programme also considers new steps to be taken to continue the development process, which started since 1992 in a democratic framework.

Ramotar, responding to the ideological position adopted at Congress, said that the 700 delegates and observers overwhelmingly supported the party remaining a working class one but recognised the important role of the private sector in the development of the national economy. He added that the party believes that the two sectors of society can develop side by side.