PPP Congress hailed as successful – Ramotar, Jagdeo emerged as top candidates

President Donald Ramotar and former President Bharrat Jagdeo emerged as the top candidates when the People’s Progressive Party (PPP/ C) 30th Congress voted for persons to sit on its Central Executive Committee. Ramotar polled 886 votes, while Jagdeo secured 851 to occupy the first and second spots respectively.
Culture, Youth and Sport Minister Dr Frank Anthony copped 724 votes to come in at third, followed by Attorney General Anil Nandlall with 690 votes, Gail Teixeira 651, Navin Chandarpal 604, Dr Roger Luncheon 560, Indranie Chandarpal 552, Pauline Sukhai 546 and Clement Rohee 540, round off the top 10 candidates.
Press and publicity officer at the Officer of the President Kwame McCoy was among some of the newcomers in the committee with some 228 votes.
Meanwhile, in a statement, the PPP said the clarion call of the delegates to the 30th Congress, which concluded on Sunday, is for the PPP/ C government to continue to work tirelessly to deliver higher levels of goods and services to the people of Guyana.
These include health, housing, education, water, jobs and entrepreneurial opportunities; the mobilisation of the Guyanese masses to support the identified higher level of infrastructure development – Amaila Falls project, the Marriott Hotel, the road to Lethem, a deep-water harbour, a new crossing over the Demerara River, the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) expansion – and to intensify community activism to address development at the local/ community level.
A success
The congress, the party said, was hailed by delegates and observers as among the most successful as it saw a higher level of participation and enthusiasm to stand by the party in bringing together the masses to realise a Guyana of peace, progress and prosperity.
The Congress was held during August 2 to 4, at the JC Chandisingh Secondary School, Port Mourant, Berbice, Region Six.
Participating delegates and observers came from party groups stretching across the 10 administrative regions of Guyana, inclusive of significant hinterland delegations.
Ministers of government, members of the diplomatic corps, representatives of fraternal organisations, both locally and overseas, representatives of the Women’s Progressive Organisation (WPO) and the Progressive Youth Organisation (PYO) joined party delegates and observers for a dynamic opening ceremony which set the tone for the subsequent plenary sessions over the three days.
A major highlight of the congress was the report of the Central Committee delivered by the general secretary, President Donald Ramotar. The report analysed current political, socio-economic conditions in Guyana and the impact of the international political and economic environment.
The Central Committee Report was an occasion for in-depth discussion on the way forward in the present situation where the party operates from a minority position in Parliament.
Obstacles
It also pinpointed the key obstacles placed by the political opposition in stymieing national development and undermining the democratic gains of the people of Guyana. The Central Committee Report also emphasised the need to seek alliances and forge a national consensus to defeat the anti-national position of the opposition. The delegates rallied around the party to heighten the struggle for the realisation of the Amaila Falls project.
There were workshops on the party, youth, women, local government, the political situation, Parliament, elections, and the regional and international environment.
The reports and recommendations from these workshops were adopted and will be reviewed and implemented by the leadership in the coming period.