The opposition PPP today announced that it will hold its congress in the last quarter of the year.
In a statement today on its Central Committee meeting on Saturday, the PPP said: “The Central Committee resolved unanimously to hold its 31st Congress in the last quarter of the year (2016) in keeping with the Party’s Constitution.”
The last PPP congress was held in Berbice in August, 2013 and one is due this year, according to the party’s constitution. However, there had been speculation that internal rifts would lead to a postponement.
The PPP statement today said: “Note was also taken by the Central Committee of attempts by certain elements to sow the seeds of discord within the leadership of the Party. The Party reiterated its strong resolve to counter any such attempt to divide the Party.”
Sources close to the party say former presidents Bharrat Jagdeo and Donald Ramotar and current General Secretary (GS) Clement Rohee would be looking to gather votes at the congress and to have their supporters elected to the new Central Committee, Sources suggest that Ramotar could well challenge Rohee for the position of GS once the congress is over while Jagdeo would be assessing the prospects of a possible run for a third term in 2020.
An edited version of the PPP statement follows:
The Central Committee (C.C.) of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) met on Saturday, June 4, 2016.
The main highlight of the meeting was the report to the Central Committee from the Party’s General Secretary, Clement Rohee which formed the basis for discussions on the way forward in terms of strengthening the Party, both organizationally and ideologically, in order to deliver on its mandate to ensure a peaceful, progressive and prosperous Guyana with the PPP/C back in office.
Based on the General Secretary’s report, the Central Committee reviewed developments at the local and international levels.
The Central Committee took note of the developments in the global economy which appears to be in the throes of another crisis in the financial sector compounded by a slow growth pattern on a global scale and influenced by increasing protectionist measures which in turn is impacting negatively on global trade and growth estimated to be at 3.4 percent in 2016 and 3.6 percent in 2017.
At the national level, the Central Committee took the view that unless these danger signals at the global level are taken into account by the Granger-led coalition administration the; “rapid economic development with meaningful job creation with adequate wages and remuneration in pursuit of a dynamic and modern economy” promised in their 2015 election manifesto will become a pipe dream and the Guyanese people will be made to suffer the consequences unnecessarily.
The Central Committee took note of the economic and social decline that characterised the first year of the Granger-led APNU-AFC coalition.
The Central Committee expressed alarm over the fact that in less than a year the local economy has contracted significantly due primarily to economic mismanagement and fiscal indiscipline. This has resulted in a loss of investor confidence and the consequential inability to create new jobs for a growing youth population…
In analyzing the current political situation in the country, the Central Committee condemned the continuing witch-hunting and unjustifiable attacks against Party leaders and professionals who are perceived to be sympathetic to the PPP/C by the Granger administration and expressed its resolve to defend itself against such politically motivated actions by the Granger administration.
Note was also taken by the Central Committee of attempts by certain elements to sow the seeds of discord within the leadership of the Party. The Party reiterated its strong resolve to counter any such attempt to divide the Party.
The Central Committee expressed satisfaction over the performance of the Party in the recent Municipal and Local Government elections which the Party won by an overwhelming majority.
The Central Committee condemned the efforts by the Granger administration to undermine the democratically elected RDCs and NDCs controlled by the PPP/C and resolved to mount a more aggressive fight-back against government’s wrongdoings at the regional and national levels.
The Central Committee deliberated comprehensively on ways of preserving the substantial gains for the people made by the PPP/C administration which are now being systematically eroded by the current APNU-AFC regime.
Emphasis was also placed on the need to broaden the appeal and reach of the Party with respect to significant stakeholders and the society as a whole.
The urgency of the Party to retake political power within the shortest possible time was emphasised in order to arrest the downward trajectory in which the country is now heading…
The climate of fear and insecurity which now stalk the land was seen by the Central Committee as a manifestation of the gross incompetence of the current regime to guarantee public safety and security of the Guyanese people.
The Central Committee resolved to exert every effort to strengthen the Party organizationally, to improve Party discipline as well as the unity and cohesion of its entire membership.
The Central Committee resolved unanimously to hold its 31st Congress in the last quarter of the year (2016) in keeping with the Party’s Constitution.
