PPP/C ready for local and general elections, says General Secretary
THE Central Committee of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) held its third meeting since the convening of the party’s 30th congress in August this year at the Albion Training Centre in Region Six (East Berbice/Corentyne).And General Secretary Clement Rohee informed the media at a press briefing yesterday at Freedom House that the party is ready for the local government elections, as well as regional and national elections.
He said: “The Central Committee examined various aspects of the implementation of its political strategy and concluded that it was sufficiently in a state of readiness for either local government and national and regional elections.”
“Well Oiled” Machinery Rohee explained that the PPP/C from an “organisational perspective” has always been ready for the eventuality of elections, with “well oiled” machinery. “We don’t spring into life only when elections are in the air. We are always on the ground,” he declared. Rohee added that the party has the reputation of being the “best organised” when elections roll around and it intends on maintaining this status. The General Secretary addressed the party’s loss of its parliamentary majority and made it clear that where those losses occurred, work is ongoing to regain lost support. “We are as confident as confident can be,” he said in reference to regaining the parliamentary majority. He noted too that the Women’s Progressive Organisation (WPO) and the Progressive Youth Organisation (PYO) – components of the PPP/C machinery –are expected to have their capacities bolstered for any political eventuality over the next months. The General Secretary added that efforts will also be made to strengthen party structures in the region. The party’s need to strengthen grassroots links, Rohee said, also featured at the meeting, with the leadership of the party expressing its commitment to intensify the party’s efforts in this regard. “The party has resolved to intensify efforts to strengthen the party both organisationally and structurally,” Rohee said. According to him, the Committee’s discussions were centred around the General Secretary’s report and a report from Dr. Roger Luncheon on the local economy and international state of affairs. As it relates to the latter report, he said: “A decision was taken to work towards the creation of a broad, left, progressive, democratic and national group, comprising of representatives of all sections of working people, farmers, intellectuals, the business community, NGOs and all Guyanese who share a common vision.” The General Secretary noted that this will see advances made in representation of all classes and groups in the social strata, as part of an inclusive move towards development. He pointed out that the Committee’s attention was also directed towards, what the party has dubbed efforts by Opposition factions to destabilise the economy, by “attacking and undermining” foreign investments, the private sector and public investment projects. Rohee said: “The party leaders have resolved to adopt more aggressive strategies to expose and dismantle the obstructionary agenda of the Opposition. “The party machinery will support an intensified approach to protect the national interest and safeguard our democracy and gains from the incessant Opposition media assault. The Opposition and its media will not go unchallenged at any point.” The Central Committee, according to the General Secretary, also reaffirmed its support for President Donald Ramotar and his administration. Ramotar marked two years as Head of State just over a week ago; general elections having been held in Guyana on November 28, 2011. Local government elections were last held in 1970; subsequent to 1994, the elections could not be conducted because they had coincided with the general and regional elections of 1997. Written By Vanessa Narine
