PPP proud of its record for democratic Guyana
--- General Secretary Ramotar
Guyana Chronicle
October 3, 2003
GENERAL Secretary of the People's Progressive Party (PPP) Mr. Donald Ramotar, yesterday indicated that the ruling party is extremely proud of its record in the struggle for a free and democratic Guyana.
Noting that October 5 marks the 11th anniversary since that historic day when democracy was restored to the people of Guyana after an absence of twenty-eight years, Ramotar told a news conference at the party's Freedom House headquarters on Robb Street that during that period, the country deteriorated from being among the most prosperous in the English-speaking Caribbean to the poorest in the Western Hemisphere, thanks to the People's National Congress (PNC).
According to Ramotar, the PPP wishes to use the occasion of October 5 to remind Guyanese of the "immense sufferings and deprivations inflicted on the people of Guyana" by the former PNC administration.
"Who could forget the indiscriminate and senseless banning of essential food items such as wheaten flour, peas, potatoes, milk and cheese? Who could forget those days when being caught with a loaf of bread was considered a criminal offence?" Ramotar questioned, pointing out that still fresh in the memories of Guyanese were the brutal killings and harassment of political opponents, including the deaths of world-renowned historian Dr. Walter Rodney and Father Darke who was knifed to death for daring to march against PNC atrocities.
He said these are only some of the atrocities experienced by Guyanese during that dreaded past. "The systematic destruction of our physical and social infrastructure, coupled by a steep decline in purchasing power as a consequence of economic mismanagement all conspired to create hell for the vast majority of the Guyanese people," Ramotar asserted.
Ramotar also said the party wishes Guyanese to remember that the restoration of democracy did not come about without a vigorous and sustained struggle in which the PPP played the leading role. "The evidence will reveal that the electoral rigging machinery which served the PNC so well in the 1968 and subsequent 'elections' were well oiled and put in a state of readiness for the October 5, 1992 elections," he posited.
He told reporters what the PNC did not reckon with was the resolve of the Guyanese people for "an end to tyrannical rule and the strength of international opinion in favour of democratic renewal".
According to the General Secretary of the ruling party, the rigging intent of the PNC was quite evident from the refusal of the late PNC Leader and former President, Mr. Desmond Hoyte, to agree to the counting of votes at the place of poll, which he said was described by Hoyte as a "logistical nightmare".
Ramotar said it took the "combined weight of local and international opinion to, as it were, twist the arm of Desmond Hoyte before he finally succumb to the holding of democratic elections in October 5, 2003".
The PPP, he said, also wish to acknowledge the role played by the Carter Centre and Former US President Jimmy Carter personally in the restoration of democracy to Guyana.
"The victory of the PPP/Civic alliance at the polls under free and fair election was almost a forgone conclusion even though the playing field was far from level," Ramotar told reporters at the news conference he hosted along with Presidential Advisor and PPP Executive, Mr. Kellawan Lall and Mr. Ulric Ramana, the PPP's Organising Secretary.
The General Secretary recalled that on August 29, 1992 Hoyte announced at the Square of the Revolution that General elections will be held on October 5, 1992, a matter of only 35 days away - the shortest possible time for the official campaign.
Ramotar noted that this however failed to prevent the PPP along with its Civic component (PPP//Civic) from scoring a decisive victory at the polls, winning some 53.5% of the votes as compared to the PNC's 42.3%.
"Under the theme, 'Time to change, Time to rebuild', the PPP/Civic under the dynamic leadership of Dr. Cheddi Jagan begun the task of national reconstruction and national reconciliation in a vigorous and energetic manner," he said, adding that successive PPP/Civic administrations under the leadership of Presidents Janet Jagan and Bharat Jagdeo have consolidated and sustained the growth momentum with the result that Guyanese today are enjoying a much higher quality of living as compared to that under the PNC. Ramotar is also of the view that the PPP/Civic has introduced new norms of accountability, transparency and good governance.
The PPP/C administration, in keeping with its philosophy of inclusive and participatory democracy have set up a number of parliamentary committees and commissions, including several rights commissions to address the question of ethnic insecurity, he said.
He said, too, that the Party recognized that much more needs to be done to "build bridges of tolerance and understanding among the diverse peoples of Guyana" especially in view of calculated attempts by some elements in our midst to sow the seeds of strife and ethnic division. According to Ramotar, "the PPP is convinced that these attempts to divide our people will fail".
He recalled that the PPP at its last meeting of the Central Committee reviewed local and international developments and remained convinced of the correctness of its political line which is aimed at putting people at the centre of the development process. "The achievements of the PPP/Civic administration in the social sectors; education, health, housing and water to name but a few are nothing short of being spectacular and are there for all to see," he asserted.
Ramotar also stressed that the PPP would like to assure the people of Guyana that it will continue to remain steadfast and faithful to the cause of a Guyana in which there is social justice and equity and where there will be opportunities for every Guyanese to develop his or her potential to its maximum.
He, however, urges all Guyanese to be vigilant and prepared to "repel threats to our democracy by those who wish to take us back to the dark days of dictatorship and oppression"..
Meanwhile, Ramotar noted that a number of public activities have been planned across the country to mark this historic return to democracy (October 5) and stated that Party is inviting the general public to participate and celebrate in our achievements as a nation.