Guyana’s Ruling Party Celebrates 21st Anniversary In Power

GEORGETOWN, Guyana CMC – The ruling People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) is celebrating the 21st anniversary of its victory at the polls saying Guyana had advanced significantly under its stewardship.

“Even though it has been 47 years since we became independent, we have only had freedom in the last 21 years in this country.

“We fought for democracy in Guyana because we believed that we could not have sustained social and economic progress unless we have freedom and freedom is something we cannot put a price on…it cannot be measured, but it is indispensible if we are to go ahead,” President Donald Ramotar told supporters on Sunday night.

Ramotar addressing the “Return to Democracy” rally at the Lusignan Market Tarmac, admitted however that corruption was an issue that the government was still battling with, mainly because it was so deeply entrenched within the pat government of the People’s National Congress (PNC).

The PPP/C was victorious at the October 1992 polls, regarded by many observers as the country’s first ever fair and free elections. The party assumed office on October 5, 1992 with the late Dr. Cheddi Jagan as the Head of State.

President Ramotar reminded supporters that historian and politician Dr. Walter Rodney and other political leaders were murdered simply because they opposed the PNC.

“Today these same people are talking about criminalization of the State when they themselves led a criminal State,” Ramotar said urging supporters not to forget the struggles or take for granted the achievements that have been made.

Meanwhile, former President Bharrat Jagdeo said that it was important for the PPP/C to fulfil its mandate and must be judged on the basis of how it has changed the social and economic landscape of Guyana.

The former president spoke of the transformation that the various sectors have seen under the PPP/C administration, particularly as it relates to the public health and education systems.

He said in the past, only 35 percent of Guyanese children were able to attain secondary education but the figure has risen more than 80 percent, including children coming from the hinterland. He said Guyana is fast approaching the attainment of universal secondary education.

Jagdeo reminded too, of the bankrupt state of the country’s economy in 1992, when 94 percent of revenue had to be spent servicing debt. But he said the figure is now four percent which is the lowest in the Caribbean.

PPP/C General Secretary, Clement Rohee, said that the opposition has always been of the misguided view that the PPP/C does not possess the calibre of people to run the country, but the Party has proven them wrong.

“The PPP/C administered the affairs of this country for 21 years through fair and free elections, which is something they never did,” he said.