PPP/C mobilised and ready for general and regional elections – Rohee says party committed to expanding alliance
WITH general and regional elections a little more than four months away, People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) General Secretary, Clement Rohee has said that the various arms of the party have been mobilised as the party seeks to regain a majority at the May 11 polls.Noting the PPP/C readiness to contest the upcoming national elections, Rohee, who is also the Minister of Home Affairs, said that since its founding the party has never participated in an election unprepared.
He pointed out that there is a timeframe within which key dates, including that for presentation of the party’s List of Candidates to Chief Elections Officer, Keith Lowenfield, will be announced.
Speaking at the PPP’s weekly press conference at Freedom House in Robb Street, Georgetown yesterday, Rohee said his comrades are on top of the situation, but the party has not yet settled on names for the List of Candidates. The talk is that former President Bharrat Jagdeo would be on the party’s list, but Rohee said that a collective decision would determine the names on that list.
He noted: “I would love to see him on the list”.
Jagdeo is a highly influential executive member of the party, and is Guyana’s longest serving Executive President. By virtue of being a PPP/C executive member, he would participate in discussions to select the names that would appear on the PPP/C List of Candidates.
Rohee told reporters that the selection process has started, but there is a long way to go. He also said that the PPP is working to build and expand its alliance.
In 1992, the PPP, led by late leader and founding member, Dr. Cheddi Jagan, formed an alliance with the Guyanese Action for Reform and Democracy (GUARD), led by Canadian-trained Chemical Engineer, now Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, to form the civic component of the party.
Remains open
In light of the turbulence experienced during the life of the 10th Parliament, it has been felt that there is need for an all-inclusive Government; and according to the PPP/C General Secretary, the party has always been open to the idea.
“It depends on how you define an all-inclusive Government. Usually, when you take those tourism packages of some hotels, they give you an all-inclusive package, which is breakfast as well as dinner and access to the pool, (as well as) access to so many other things. If by definition all-inclusive is a similar reference, well, the PPP has always maintained a position of inclusivity; and this is precisely why we generated the concept of the civic component.
“So, our approach, as we have said much earlier in last year, we are working to build and expand the PPP/C alliance,” Rohee said.
Rohee said the PPP believes in expanding the alliance. He noted: “Therein you will see how we define our understanding of inclusiveness,” as he underscored the need for many more persons to get onboard the journey to develop the country.
He disclosed that the party has already met with a number of groups and individuals, and he pointed out that there is no need to broadcast those meetings, or “go on the roof and shout about them.”
He reported that feedback from those meetings has been positive, and he said that many of the ideas and suggestions emanating from those meetings would be incorporated into the party’s strategy for the future.
That aside, he said the Progressive Youth Organisation (PYO) and the Women’s Progressive Organisation (WPO) remain key pillars of the party.
Both Rohee and President Donald Ramotar have been nurtured by the PYO, which has been a reservoir of the party, providing ideological and political orientation to members.
With elections scheduled to take place in May, the PYO has begun outreach activities, mobilising support on the ground. Under the vibrant leadership of Housing and acting Tourism Minister, Irfaan Ali, the youth arm of the PPP is expected to contribute significantly to the party’s campaign.
extracted from the Guyana Chronicle
