Khemraj Ramjattan is entitled to respond to his expulsion from the PPP but the position of the leaders and members is clear: "Party unity and discipline will not be compromised."

PPP Public Relations Secretary, Robert Persaud made this declaration in a statement yesterday afternoon in response to criticisms against the party's leadership which were raised by Ramjattan after PPP East Berbice groups moved a resolution in support of Ramjattan's expulsion.

Ramjattan had said the East Berbice bodies had not heard his version and that the resolution represented pre-emptive action by the PPP leadership "...forced upon the signatories...so as to [negate] the effect of my explanation to my party comrades."

Persaud's statement said the PPP leadership's expulsion decision had been met with resounding approval by the party's representative bodies at various levels: "...attempts in the media to portray him (Ramjattan) as the `victim' of some wicked agenda of the PPP leadership and membership are mischievous."

And Persaud referred to PNCR MP Raphael Trotman's remark about the effect the party's decision might have on young people as "sheer political opportunism".

Trotman in an invited comment to Stabroek News two days ago said: "I am concerned about the farreaching, longterm effects that [Ramjattan's expulsion] is likely to have on the minds of young people in Guyana."

Trotman had remarked that the PPP's expulsion of Ramjattan has cast politics in general in a bad light and will affect the views of political hopefuls and cause them to take a second look at the party's attitude.

But Persaud declared in his statement, "Trotman is no authority to speak on young people, their support for and their active involvement in the work of the PPP."

He added that the PPP has several well-qualified and capable young leaders within its structure, other than Ramjattan. He cited Dr Frank Anthony, Kweku McDonald, Mohammed Ali, Vanburn Browne, Parmanand Persaud, Omesh Oudit and Ramesh Rajkumar.