A successful 32nd Congress of the People’s Progressive Party is assured

Dear Editor,
On the weekend (May 3rd to May 5th) the People’s Progressive Party is having its most important event through its 32nd Congress at the Authur Chung Conference Centre, Liliendaal, Region 4.
This Congress would be under the theme “Strengthen the Party, Defend Guyana, Unite Our People for Progress and Prosperity”, very applicable at this time since Venezuela’s unjustifiable claim to the Essequibo and building a “One Guyana” Platform for the 2025 Elections.
This Congress would take the leadership (Central Committee and Executive Members) into the next General Election in 2025, on a stronger bearing because of the excellent work that the Government has been doing over the last three- and one-half years, after taking office in August 2020.
The Party continues its intensive preparations and logistical arrangements for the delegates and observers drawn from all ten (10) of the Administrative Regions of Guyana and several overseas groups will be gracing the activity.
The Congress will provide for a comprehensive overview of the Party’s performance since the last Congress and outline a strategic direction in keeping with the Party’s Programme and Guyana’s present social, political and economic development.
The Delegates and Observers will examine the Government’s stewardship of the country so far as against the dismal performance of the APNU+AFC from 2015 to 2020, initiate discussions and make recommendations to the Party on the way forward. Emphasis will be placed on strengthening the Party’s structure and unity as the PPP seeks to provide sound, consistent, steady and reliable leadership and to continue to work towards improving the quality of lives of all Guyanese.
The Central Congress Committee is chaired by the present PPP’s Executive Secretary, Zulfikar Mustapha. This body meets weekly as the momentum intensifies and reports regularly to the Executive Committee of the Party. Party groups across the country prepared motions and resolutions, initiated fundraising activities, and identified delegates, observers and nominees to contest the elections to the Central Committee of the Party.
The Highlight of this Congress, as were others, will be the Central Committee’s Report to be presented by the Party’s General Secretary, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, addressed by His Excellency, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali and elections of Candidates to the Central Committee of the PPP.
As with most of the Congresses of recent times, the Party would be honouring and offering an appreciative gesture and recognition and appreciation to those who would have diligently served the Party for more than 20 years. Perhaps the most watched part of the event, though, will be the election of Party Leaders who would make up the 35-member Central Committee.
The Election for Central Committee Members would be an amiably competitive process where the elected leaders would no doubt be committed, efficient and effective, a hallmark of PPP Leadership.
An essential principle governing the activities of the Party is that of criticism and self-criticism. The proper application leads to a correct identification of our shortcomings, our mistakes and the real source of error, thus making it simpler for
correction. It should be noted that criticism is the identification of errors and drawing attention to whoever is at fault, whereas self-criticism is the acceptance of one’s own mistake, with a willingness to correct the same.

The 31st Congress
The 31st Congress was historic in the sense that it was held during a period when the People’s Progressive Party was in the Opposition. The last Congress was held in the Cinderella County of Essequibo at Anna Regina, on December 17 to December 19. The importance of this Congress was to strategise, regroup and prepare the Party for Local Government (2018) and the General Election (which took place in 2020)
The Party came out with flying colours at both the Local Government Elections (2018) and General and Regional Elections (2020) which proved that the 31st Congress had a positive impact on the success that the Party and Government enjoyed.

The astute leadership of the General Secretary, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, who was elected by the Central Committee after the 31st Congress was of paramount importance to the Party’s many successes. His brilliance and strategic knowledge will continue to be an asset to the People’s Progressive Party. His leadership qualities and skills make him politically savvy to continue leading the Party unconditionally.

The 1st Congress.
The People’s Progressive Party’s 1st Congress was held on March 31 and April 1, 1951, just over seventy-three (73) years ago. The Party Constitution which was adopted in 1951 was later amended at the 6th Congress in 1958 and the 8th Congress in 1960. The Party Constitution was completely rewritten at the 20th Congress, the same that the Party functions with presently.
Those days the Party was organised locally into constituency committees, based on the geographical electoral constituencies. The membership fee was then sixty cents yearly. The General Council consisted of the Chairman, First Vice Chairman, Second Vice Chairman, and the Leader with status like the Chairman, the General Secretary, Asst. General Secretary, Organising Secretary and Treasurer along with fourteen other members.
The highlights of the 1st Congress were, the agenda that included presentations by Dr. Cheddi Jagan, Ashton Chase, Rudy Luck and Sydney King followed by the ratification of the Party Constitution, the nomination of Office Bearers and General Council, Report of the General Secretary, motions and questions from members, installation of new Office Bearers and the outline of the Party’s Programme for 1951.

Party History
The PPP was founded on January 1, 1950, as a merger of the British Guiana Labour Party led by Forbes Burnham and the Political Affairs Committee led by Dr. Cheddi Jagan, and was the first mass party in the country. The People’s Progressive Party was formally launched with Dr. Jagan as Leader, Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham as Chairman and Janet Jagan as Secretary. The first headquarters of the Party was at Dr. Jagan’s Dental Surgery at Charlotte Street, Georgetown. The first issue of the Party’s organ, the Thunder, was published to coincide with the Party’s launching. The first Congress of the Party was held on April 1, 1951, at which time the Party’s constitution was adopted.
It was a multi-ethnic party supported by workers and intellectuals. At the Third Congress of the Party, Burnham made an unsuccessful bid to become Party Leader. The party went on to win the 1953 elections, taking 18 of the 24 elected seats in the House of Assembly, resulting in Jagan becoming Chief Minister.

Sincerely,
JAGNARINE SOMWAR