Search for political solution must continue – PPP

In a New Year message, Clement Rohee, General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party said, “The search for a political solution that meets the expectations of the Guyanese people must continue.”

He added that “In this regard, the PPP extends a hand of friendship to all those who subscribe to the aspirations of a free and democratic society within the broad framework of a National Democratic State based on the principles of national sovereignty, a tri-sectoral economy, good governance, rule of law and a working class orientation.”

For the New Year, the PPP listed several objectives and said that the party was of the view that critical to their realization was the need to build trust at the political level and create political space for all. Confrontation and threats must give way to dialogue and the good of the country should remain

Clement Rohee
Clement Rohee

paramount in all our political engagements and discourse.

It said that from the standpoint of the PPP that there was a strong political will to find common ground. It noted that the PPP/C administrations have always recognized the importance of multi-party democracy and have always sought to ensure that opposition parties are not treated with disdain.

The objectives listed were: the party will continue to remain a critical partner in the development of Guyana and its people; the PPP remains committed to working towards overcoming the challenges the people face on a daily basis; the PPP will continue to address all matters affecting the welfare of their members and supporters and more so all Guyanese; the PPP and the PPPC government will continue to remain faithful to the vision of its founding leaders to create a society in which there is racial and working class unity, participatory democracy and inclusive governance.

The PPP also said that there has never been harassment of opposition politicians as happened in the past. The attainment of political power by democratic means will be recognized as a legitimate objective which is the right of every political party.

The message said that this will be a state of all Guyanese where the interest of all classes and strata of society will not only be protected but advanced to higher levels.

It said that in keeping with the party’s programme which calls for the establishment of a National Democratic State that represents the interests of all classes, groups and social strata as part of an inclusive state, a decision was taken by the party to work towards the creation of a broad left, progressive and democratic Nationalist Front comprising representatives of all sections of the working people, farmers, intellectuals, professionals, the business community, NGOs and all Guyanese who share a common vision of the National Democratic Choice.

Rohee said, “Comrades there can be no doubt that the political, social and economic landscape has been transformed under the PPP/C administration. Guyana today is a proud and respected member of the international community.

“As stated in the Party’s Political Declaration which emanated from its last Congress, the PPP recognizes, and is proud that as a nation under successive PPP/C Governments, we have established a formidable record of improving the lives of thousands of people, in particular our children.”

He listed the examples of “providing the opportunity for the first time for thousands of ordinary men and women to own their own homes; for the first time thousands of Amerindian children are receiving secondary school education; providing thousands of laptops to low income households in one of the most innovative projects executed by a government in the world to reduce the digital divide and enhance equitable access to new technology.”

The General Secretary stated that challenges remain. “It behooves us all, more so as representatives of the people, to put the national interest ahead of narrow partisan interests. Differences will be there, but in the words of President Donald Ramotar ‘the important thing is how we move forward in resolving our positions. To move forward will call for maturity if we are to avoid gridlock and inertia; political cooperation in the interest of the development of Guyana must exist”.