PPP launches election campaign at Babu John…Opposition for frustrating major projects - Jagdeo tells audience

PPP launches election campaign at Babu John…Opposition for frustrating major projects – Jagdeo tells audience

Mar 09, 2015 News

– urges Ramotar to “kick some asses”

“They argue that Jagdeo’s pension will break the Treasury, but they have five persons now that this nation will have to carry—three Vice Presidents, a Prime Minister and President, and they talk about cutting cost…!”- Jagdeo

Braving the hot afternoon sun, thousands flocked Babu John, Port Mourant, Corentyne for the annual pilgrimage to the late founder/leader of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) and former President of Guyana, Dr. Cheddi Jagan, who the party refers to as the ‘Father of the Nation’.

PPP big wigs

Touted as the “unofficial” launch of the PPP/C Election campaign, the party’s top brass and much of the Cabinet as well as high-ranking government officials along with hundreds of youths from the party’s youth arm, decked out in red berets, turned up at the memorial site, for what can be called the largest gathering of party supporters in Berbice in recent times.
A march led the supporters into the ground, and the formal proceedings, which began around 15:00 hrs, were preceded by the laying of wreaths at the final resting places of Dr. Cheddi Jagan and his wife Janet Jagan, also a former President. The air was replete with electioneering as every speaker spoke vociferously about the party’s vision for the future, linking it with the legacy of Dr. Jagan.

President Ramotar delivering his address

But the star speaker of the afternoon was Former President, Bharrat Jagdeo, who spoke for about 30 minutes, commanding the attention of almost everyone. He opened his address by paying tribute to outgoing Prime Minister, Mr. Sam Hinds.
“Thank you for your decency and integrity and hard work!”
He alluded to A Partnership for National Unity’s Carl Greenidge, whom he said destroyed the economy of Guyana.
“And yet he speaks about the future and economic strategy.”
Jagdeo also mentioned Opposition Leader, David Granger, urging him to “come to the table and account for his record…because how do we know he is not going to return to that period?”
Mr. Jagdeo said that the opposition today has gone back to the “Old Burnhamism, old philosophy about three Vice Presidents, a Prime Minister and a President—that is exactly about the Burnham era—they’ve gone back reinstituting the National Service!
“They argue that Jagdeo’s pension will break the Treasury, but they have five persons now that this nation will have to carry—three Vice Presidents, a Prime Minister and President, and they talk about cutting cost…!”

PPP Prime Ministerial
candidate Elizabeth Harper lays a wreath

He termed it all as “Age old Burnhamism, vintage Burnhamism.” Jagdeo mentioned the various projects which were opposed by the opposition and went into detail about the benefits of each project. He noted that Ramotar’s Presidency was “a nightmare for Ramotar”.
“Every plan that the Government has put forward, they have tried to stymie!”
Jagdeo urged Ramotar, whom he referred to as a ‘Democratic Man’, to administer some “kicks up some [the Opposition’s] asses, too”.
“We allowed them to frustrate everything!”
President Donald Ramotar spoke for about 45 minutes about the various projects, including the Marriot Hotel, Amaila Falls and Specialty Hospital that were blocked by the combined opposition.
The Guyanese Leader complained bitterly about his term that was cut short by two years, by the Opposition.
He noted that he could have used his Presidential Powers to recall Parliament, then prorogue it, continuing that pattern until his full term would have come to an end.
However, he chose not to.
The party’s recently appointed Prime Ministerial candidate Elizabeth Harper congratulated women yesterday on International Women’s Day, at the beginning of her brief remarks.

Supporters listen attentively to one of the speakers at yesterday’s event

Harper said it was an honour to be the PPP’s PM candidate. “I believe in Guyana and service to Guyana and I wholeheartedly believe that, given the opportunity, I can work with President Ramotar in the next majority government, to increase the potential of this great nation we live in.”
Other speakers at the function included PPP/C General Secretary, Clement Rohee; Prime Minister, Samuel Hinds; and Region Six Chairman, David Armogan.
The programme was punctuated with cultural items, including songs from Calypsonian, Sweet Kendingo. The drummers from Conga-Naya also performed. Three students read excerpts from Dr. Jagan’s book, “The West on Trial”.
The pilgrimage ended with President Ramotar leading in the singing of Bob Marley’s ‘One Love’, on stage.