The PPP did not restore democracy. It was not a gift they give. That was a combined effort of many local and international supporters who were able to convince the US to pressure the Hoyte regime. It is not only typical of the PPP to co opt all the kudos for such effort, it speaks to their contempt for others like the WPA who provided the basis for the first mass movement against the PPP. Critical support and opposition to tyranny are not the same thing. One can say they were so incompetent and clearly useless as an opposition force the believed a concocted phrase as "critical support" can place them securely on a wall where they can play both sides of the field.quote:Originally posted by Cobra:
PPP has proud history of championing cause of democracy:
Written by HYDAR ALLY
Wednesday, 05 October 2011 01:08
Source: Chronicle
OCTOBER 5, 1992, marks 19 years since democracy was restored to Guyana after an absence of 28 years. This effectively meant that an entirely new cohort of voters would be given an opportunity to exercise their franchise in the upcoming national and regional elections, persons who never experienced what life was like during that period of undemocratic rule.
It is important that voters in general and young voters in particular, make full use of this right to vote which was taken away by the PNC during those 28 years. It was 28 wasted years which saw Guyana retrogress from one of the more developed economies in the hemisphere to the poorest country in the region.
The PPP can take justifiable pride in the fact that, as a party, it has fought and won the right of all eligible Guyanese to vote in national elections. Prior to 1953, not everyone was permitted to vote. Only those who had money or property could have voted which effectively disenfranchised a significant number of Guyanese.
In those days, the age of voting was 21 years and not 18 as is the case today. Again, it was the PPP that vigorously fought for the voting age to be reduced to 18 years which was granted by the British government despite strong opposition from the PNC and the United Force.
That right to vote unfortunately was taken away by the PNC in the elections of 1968 and all subsequent elections until October 1992 when Guyanese once again regained that fundamental right to vote, thanks to robust representation made by the PPP to the international community.
This resulted in the intervention of the Carter Centre which played a key role in getting the Desmond Hoyte administration to agree to hold democratic elections.
As expected, the PPP under the leadership of Dr. Cheddi Jagan won a comfortable majority of the seats and the new PPP government immediately began the task of reconstructing the country, a daunting task given the extent of social and infrastructural decay which resulted from the over two decades of authoritarian rule.
The PPP has a proud history of championing the cause of the Guyanese people for a free and democratic society.
Were the PPP concerned with democracy they would not cling to the PNC constitution, a dictatorial one at that, with such tenacity. They are as usual afraid to do the right thing. They can indeed be champions of our people if for once they trust in the people to select who is best for them. This constitution facilitates the race based strategy they embrace and affords them the totalitarian control of the state the take such delight in. I am sure Romatar or Jagdeo, two, of the worse of the lot, would not be our president if the people chose. But democracy for the PPP is as I noted, the imperative of the dogma of the third communist congress, they see themselves as the chosen and as such do not trust any outside input or respect the people's input. They are happy with their status as the new plutocrats.